So What’s Interesting About Active Forest Management?

Michael Ahr, at the Hagenstein Lecture thought many small landowners are getting interested in active forest management, but what is interesting about it?  I don’t think there is any one answer to the question as the diversity of what a forest owner would like to do is probably as diverse as the flora and fauna (above and below ground) in any one stand.  Some may want to lead with wildlife, others a steady stream of income or perhaps a place in the forest made as resilient as possible to fire, climate and pests.

What’s so interesting about active forest management it’s all the directions it can go.  Starting with listening, more listening, probably more listening, learning about the stands, soils, wildlife and then writing it all down and making some decisions.  I once heard a State Forester asked if one acre of forest could provide clean water, timber harvest and meet the wildlife needs for all of the species expected to live in the forest.  He said no, but that given the whole forest all of the needs could be met.

You may not have a “whole forest” but many of a forest owners wants can be met, it might just take new practices.