A Landowner's Guide to Managing Your Woods: How to Maintain a Small Acreage for Long-Term Health, Biodiversity, and High-Quality Timber Production - Paperback

by Anne Larkin Hansen (Author), Mike Severson (Author), Dennis L. Waterman (Author)

Whether you have a few acres of trees in the suburbs or a small commercial forest, you can encourage a healthy and sustainable ecosystem through proper woodland management. This introductory guide shows you how to identify the type, health, and quality of your trees and suggests strategies for keeping your woodland thriving.

Front Jacket

Make the Most of Your Woodlands

Whether you own a few acres of woodland or many, A Landowner's Guide to Managing Your Woods will help you become an active and effective steward of your forest. Beginning with an explanation of the natural processes governing forest development, the authors present active steps you can take to guide your woodland toward a state of health and beauty and sustainably produce one of the world's greatest renewable resources -- wood.

The steps of stewardship include:
*Assessing your forest type, soils, terrain, and climate
*Determining what trees and wildlife will do best on your land
*Working with a forester and a logger to create and implement a sustainable, long-term plan
*Developing wildlife habitat and trail systems
*Pruning and thinning trees to improve health and growth rate.

The authors -- a landowner, a logger, and a forester -- all manage their own woodlands using sustainable practices. Their advice and insights will help your forest provide income while remaining healthy, productive, and beautiful for future generations to enjoy.

Author Biography

Steve and Ann Larkin Hansen, authors of Maintaining Small-Farm Equipment, have run a family farm in Wisconsin for the last 20 years. While Steve has kept their farm equipment running smoothly, Ann has authored books, including The Organic Farming Manual, A Landowner's Guide to Managing Your Woods, Finding Good Farmland, Making Hay, and Electric Fencing. She has also served as a regional editor for The Country Today and a contributing writer to Mother Earth News.

Mike Severson is a Certified Master Logger, licensed arborist, and tree surgeon. He is dedicated to sustainable forestry and education for good forest management.

Dennis L. Waterman is a professional consulting forester who serves private landowners with small acreages. His services include forest stewardship management plans; timber harvest; and forest inventory, mapping, and appraisals.