Introduction to Forest Ecology and Silviculture - Third Edition

Forest ecology is the study of life in areas where the predominant vegetation is trees. The word ecology is derived from an ancient Greek word oikos, meaning" house," and the suffix ology, meaning "study of." The central idea of viewing a community of plants and animals - that exist in the same place and time - as a house is crucial to understanding how ecology relates to forest management practices and timber harvesting. Just as members of a household influence one another, changes in forests influence the plants and animals that live there. Human use of forests can have major impacts. For this reason, it is important that woodland owners, loggers, and foresters understand the nature of changes brought about by management practices - especially timber harvesting - and how to work with forest ecosystems, rather than against them.