Q is for QGIS (and a lot of other technology)

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and other technology has been transforming forestry and the other natural resource professions for quite awhile but not forever.  Entry into some of these systems can be expensive for the programs, maintenance of the database(s) and user training.

QGIS is a GIS that is open sourced and actually free to download but the point is that for a long time these tools were not available.  At the Society of American Foresters national convention in Portland a group of consulting foresters shared their thoughts on technology, and they were not all the same. With a 60 person shop and support more technology was used.  In a one person office, there were computers, tables and calculators. What I got from the talk is that waiting to start management of a forest until you have all the tools isn't necessary. The important part is to learn about your forest or find someone to help you and then start.

Q is for QGIS (and a lot of other technology)

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and other technology has been transforming forestry and the other natural resource professions for quite awhile but not forever.  Entry into some of these systems can be expensive for the programs, maintenance of the database(s) and user training.

QGIS is a GIS that is open sourced and actually free to download but the point is that for a long time these tools were not available.  At the Society of American Foresters national convention in Portland a group of consulting foresters shared their thoughts on technology, and they were not all the same. With a 60 person shop and support more technology was used.  In a one person office, there were computers, tables and calculators. What I got from the talk is that waiting to start management of a forest until you have all the tools isn't necessary. The important part is to learn about your forest or find someone to help you and then start.