Positive Impact Forestry
A Sustainable Approach To Managing Woodlands
288 pages
6 x 9
9 photos, 19 illustrations
Book Description
Positive Impact Forestry is a primer for private woodland owners and their managers on managing their land and forests to protect both ecological and economic vitality. Moving beyond the concept of "low impact forestry," Thom McEvoy brings together the latest scientific understanding and insights to describe an approach to managing forests that meets the needs of landowners while at the same time maintaining the integrity of forest ecosystems. "Positive impact forestry" emphasizes forestry's potential to achieve sustainable benefits both now and into the future, with long-term investment superseding short-term gain, and the needs of families—especially future generations—exceeding those of individuals.
Thom McEvoy offers a thorough discussion of silvicultural basics, synthesizing and explaining the current state of forestry science on topics such as forest soils, tree roots, form and function in trees, and the effects of different harvesting methods on trees, soil organisms, and sites. He also offers invaluable advice on financial, legal, and management issues, ranging from finding the right forestry professionals to managing for products other than timber to passing forest lands and management legacies on to future generations.
Positive Impact Forestry helps readers understand the impacts of deliberate human activities on forests and offers viable strategies that provide benefits without damaging ecosystems. It speaks directly to private forest owners and their advisers and represents an innovative guide for anyone concerned with protecting forest ecosystems, timber production, land management, and the long-term health of forests.
Named the "Best Forestry Book for 2004" by the National Woodlands Owners Association.
Contents
Foreword \ Senator James Jefford
Preface
Chapter 1. Forestry's Past Is Prologue
-Evolution of Forest Use and Management
-What Is Positive Impact Forestry?
-Evolution of Forest Conservation and Stewardship
-Defining Sustainability
-An Ecosystem Approach to Managing Forests
Chapter 2. Understanding Forest Ecosystems
-Species Succession and Tolerance
-Form and Function in Trees
-Stress and Disturbance in Forests
-The Hidden Forest of Soils
-The Importance of Avoiding Injury to Roots
-Practical Application of Forest Site Concepts
Chapter 3. Creating Disturbances in Forests through Silviculture
-The Impact of Stocking on Growth
-Forest Reproduction Methods
-Trading Timber Volume for Value
-Evaluating Timber Investments
-Focusing on Value in Crop Trees
-Common Silvicultural Misconceptions
Chapter 4. Harvesting and Selling Timber
-The Realm of Forestry Professionals
-The Nature of Stumpage
-Knowing When to Harvest
-Negotiating a Timber Sale
-Essential Elements of a Timber Sale Contract
-Trading Timber for Services
-Ecosystems and Ethics
Chapter 5. Positive Impact Harvesting Practices
-Low-Impact Logging
-Designing Access That Protects Soils and Streams
-Safe and Productive Tree-Felling Techniques
-Alternative Timber Harvesting and Extraction Systems
Chapter 6. Managing Forests for Wildlife and Nontimber Products
-Good Wildlife Management Is Good Forestry
-Nontimber Forest Products
-The Threat of Invasive Exotic Species
Chapter 7. The Future of Forests and Forest Products
-Forest Regulation
-Climate-Induced Changes in Forests
-Green Certification of Forest Practices and Products
-Forest Prologue
-Parcelization of Forests and Fragmentation of Purpose
Chapter 8. Intergenerational Planning Methods for Forests
-Estate Planning for Forests
-Keeping Forests in the Family
-Conservation Easements and Land Trusts
Epilogue
Appendix A: Online Resources
Appendix B: Forestry-Related Internet Sites of Interest
Appendix C: Public Sources of Forestry Assistance
Glossary
Literature Cited
Index
