Why Forest Management?
Nature abhors a void in the upland central hardwood forest, and replenishes any available forest opening with a variety of tree seedlings. Nature is extremely efficient, to the point that she provides almost every forest with too many trees. As the trees grow and require more space, quiet but desperate battles for dominance occur. Survival of the fittest ultimately results in a forest composed of the best competitors. While nature's way is good, guiding nature results in a significant improvement in forest health, growth, and value. The concept of forest management is simple. Forest management gives selected trees a helping hand by offering them more sunlight and nutrients. Selected trees are chosen for wildlife, value, thriftiness, and many other criteria. Forestland owner goals, such as aesthetics, wildlife habitat, and long-term investment determine the specific forest management strategies applied in their forest.
The professional consulting forester's mission is a simple one. This country must wisely utilize its natural resources to meet the needs of the future. As stewards tending our forest resources today, we are preparing them for our children and grandchildren. America's forest resources are renewable and can be managed in a sustainable manner for a variety of products, both tangible and intangible. Forest management benefits not only the landowner and those who directly use the forest, but additionally all of society by providing clean air, water, noise abatement, wildlife habitat and many other amenities.