Ecological Silviculture: Foundations and Applications by Brian J. Palik, Anthony W. D
343 pages, $74.95 list
1-4786-3847-8
978-1-4786-3847-6
eBook availability
Ecological Silviculture
Foundations and Applications
Classical silviculture has often emphasized timber models, fundamentally based in production agriculture. This book presents silvicultural methods based in natural forest models—models that emulate natural disturbances and development processes, sustain biological legacies, and allow time to take its course in shaping stands. These methods, dubbed “ecological forestry,” have been successfully implemented by foresters for decades managing a wide variety of forestlands. Ecological silvicultural strategies protect threatened and rare species, sustain biological diversity, and provide habitat for game and non-game species, all while providing timber in profitable ways.
Reactions
“This is a great resource when attempting to bring management more in line with natural forest processes. The applications in specific forested settings was particularly helpful. It is a welcome change of pace to the textbooks currently available that focus on more traditional forestry approaches.” — Kent Montgomery, Central Lakes College
Table of Contents
Part I: A BACKGROUND ON ECOLOGICAL FORESTRY AND SILVICULTURE

1. Forestry in the Twenty-First Century
A Context for Forestry in the Twenty-First Century / Our Beliefs for Ecological Silviculture / What You Will Learn from This Book

2. What Is Ecological Forestry?
Ecological Forestry and Timber-Focused Forestry: A Comparison / Relationship of Ecological Forestry to Other Ecological Approaches / What to Remember about Ecological Forestry

3. An Overview of Silviculture
What Is Silviculture, Classically? / Historical Operating Paradigms / The Major Silvicultural Systems and Associated Methods and Treatments / Silviculture: An Ecological Approach / Ecological Operating Principles / Moving Forward

Part II: FOREST DYNAMICS RELEVANT TO ECOLOGICAL SILVICULTURE

4. Natural Disturbances and Biological Legacies
The Nature of Natural Disturbance / Biological Legacies Defined / Functions of Biological Legacies / A General Model of Disturbance and Legacy Creation / What to Remember about Natural Disturbance and Biological Legacies

5. Forest Development Patterns and Processes
Forest Development Stages / Recovery Periods between Disturbance Events / What to Remember about Forest Development Patterns and Processes

6. Natural Disturbance Archetypes
Archetype 1: Forests Initiated by Infrequent Severe Disturbance / Archetype 2: Forest Characterized by Frequent Low-Severity Fire Disturbance / Archetype 3: Forests Characterized by Gap-Scale Wind Disturbance / Archetype 4: Forest Development with Mixed-Severity Disturbances / Utility of the Forest Archetypes

Part III: APPLYING PRINCIPLES OF NATURAL MODELS TO SILVICULTURE

7. Incorporating Continuity into Silviculture: Legacy Retention in Regeneration Harvests
Biological Legacies Revisited / Legacy Retention in Practice / Legacy Retention in Classical Regeneration Systems / Retaining Biological Legacies: What, How Much, Where, and Over Time / What to Retain? / How Much to Retain? / How and Where to Retain Legacies? / How to Account for Retention over Time / Landscape Considerations / What to Remember about Managing for Continuity with Legacy Retention

8. Managing for Complexity, Diversity, and Heterogeneity in Established Stands
Revisiting Complexity/Diversity in Maturing Stands / The Complexity of Thinning: Timber Production versus Ecological Motivations / Modifying Selection Systems to Enhance Spatial Heterogeneity / Decadence Creation / The Complexity of Time: Silvicultural Interventions at Ecologically Appropriate Time Intervals / What to Remember about Managing for Complexity/Diversity in Established Stands

9. The Context of Silviculture at Landscape Scales
Landscape Organization and Silviculture / Areas of Special Concern / Shades of Green Landscapes / What to Remember about Landscape Context

Part IV: ECOLOGICAL SILVICULTURAL SYSTEMS FOR MAJOR ARCHETYPES

10. An Introduction to Ecological Silvicultural Systems

11. Silviculture for Archetype 1 Ecosystems: Forests Subject to Infrequent Severe Disturbances
The Douglas-Fir-Western Hemlock Ecosystem / The Evolution of Timber-Focused Silviculture in the Douglas-Fir-Western Hemlock Forest / Ecological Silviculture for the Douglas-Fir-Western Hemlock Forest / Examples of Ecological Silviculture in Practice / What to Remember about Silviculture for Archetype 1 Ecosystems

12. Silviculture for Archetype 2 Ecosystems: Forest Characterized by Frequent Low-Severity Fire Disturbance
Ponderosa Pine and Dry Mixed-Conifer Forests of Western North America / Evolution of Timber-Focused Silviculture in Ponderosa Pine and Dry Mixed-Conifer Forests / The Shift to Fire Risk Reduction, Restoration, and Resilience / An Ecological Silvicultural System for Ponderosa Pine and Dry Mixed Conifer Forest / Examples of Ecological Silviculture in Practice / What to Remember about Silviculture for Archetype 2 Ecosystems

13. Silviculture for Archetype 3 Ecosystems: Forests with Frequent Gap-Scale Disturbance Regimes
Northern Hardwood Forests as a Natural Resource / Evolution of Timber Production Silviculture for Northern Hardwood Forests / Current Challenges to Northern Hardwood Silviculture / An Ecological Silvicultural System for Northern Hardwood (Archetype 3) Ecosystems / Examples of Ecological Silviculture in Practice / What to Remember about Silviculture for Archetype 3 Ecosystems

14. Silviculture for Archetype 4 Ecosystems: Forests with Mixed-Severity Disturbances
The Great Lakes Red Pine Ecosystem / Timber-Focused Silviculture for Red Pine Forests / An Ecological Silvicultural System for Red Pine (Archetype 4) Ecosystems / Examples of Ecological Silviculture in Practice / What to Remember about Silviculture for Archetype 4 Ecosystems

Part V: ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

15. Ecological Silviculture for Riparian Forests
What Is a Riparian Forest, Functionally? / Riparian Forests in Space and Time / Riparian Forests as Ecotones / Ecological Silviculture for the Riparian Ecotone / Ecological Guidelines for Riparian Silviculture

16. Silviculture in the Face of Climate Uncertainty
A Background on Climate Change and Forests / Incorporating Climate Change Uncertainty into Silvicultural Considerations / Silvicultural Strategies and Approaches to Adapt Forests to Climate Change / Silvicultural Approaches / What to Remember about Silviculture in the Face of Climate Change Uncertainty

17. Summary and Conclusions: Why Ecological Silviculture Matters
Five Major Themes of Ecological Silviculture / Ecological Silviculture's Place in the Forest Landscape / Preventing the Forest Management Divergence / Conclusions

Species List
Glossary of Terms