Resources for basics of forest management

I need to learn the basics of managing a forest. I see (and even own) books on advanced topics such as food forests, silvopasture, coppicing, and so on. But I’m looking for the basics. Things like tree identification, tree health identification, how to choose which trees to harvest(like how to selectively space apart the trees taken down), and how to choose trees for specific projects. My primary concern is with the holistic management/health of the forest.

Looking around permies, I see a book called Getting Started In Your Wood, but I don’t see any reviews(lots of links on that thread though).

Ben Law’s Woodland Way also caught my attention.

There are plenty of books from the library and Amazon that seem to delve into this, but I trust the permies recommendations much more. Website and YouTube recommendations are appreciated as well. I am a bit sick of spending so much time looking at an iPad or computer screen though. I would prefer physical books.

Oh, and I don’t own this new book Coppice Forestry , which sounds like it might be good for these basics as well.

I'm also interested in this topic. I'm also trying to find the best resources for my locality. I'm beginning to think the best way to learn is to find someone who knows and go for a walk with them.

My father-in-law's friend seems to be able to identify trees in our local forest without thinking. He quickly told me what a tree was, what it was traditionally used for, and its other virtues.

I kind of wish I could get his knowledge in a book with pictures.

I placed a hold on a book from from the library that seems popular on Amazon for a conventional approach. I keep finding again and again that it’s necessary to understand the conventional way of doing things in order to comprehend the language and context in which permaculture practices are expressed. I’ve had to learn a lot more about conventional building methods than I ever wanted to just in order understand the lingo of building so I could then read a book on alternative building practices and understand what was being said. It’s also necessary to communicate with officials, consultants, store employees.

With that in mind, this book is what I’m looking at:
A Landowner’s Guide To Managing Your Woods

I encourage you to pursue by all means despite apparent obstacles.  I'm a non-professional family forester seasonally working >208ac family lands in southern Catskills NY.  On the basis of previous forest, fire, tree, nursery work I was accepted as our management forester for a state tax relief program.  Now they're tightening requirements though I'm aiming to stay in charge of our own planning & operations, helping with community forestry, expanding our forestry, by continually upgrading my skills in GIS, drone inventory, hardwoods regeneration, climate contingency stocking, agro-forestry.  You'll find inventory doable with an angle gauge, diameter tape, helper, & perhaps tree ID reference.   Stand analyses, delineations, prescriptions differ a bit among forest types, forester approaches, management objectives.   With a narrative & treatments/ harvest schedule & specifications that's a plan.  Here's a reading list I just put together for a friend:

McEvoy, T (2005) Owning & Managing Forests, A Guide to Legal, Financial, and Practical Matters

Jacke, D, Toensmeier, E (2005) Edible Forest Gardens, Ecological Design & Practice for Temperate-Climate Permaculture, Vols I & II

Mudge, K, Gabriel, S (2014) Farming the Woods, An Integrated Permaculture Approach to Growing Food & Medicinals in Temperate Forests

Krawczyk, M (2022) Coppice Agroforestry, Tending Trees for Product, Profit, & Woddland Ecology

https://www.twisted-tree.net/abundant-propagation/abundant-propagation?ss_source=sscampaigns&ss_campaign_id=644fdbcddeb9be261ffc628d&ss_email_id=644ff9db7dc5ef7b45ed442b&ss_campaign_name=Abundant+Propagation&ss_campaign_sent_date=2023-05-01T17%3A42%3A35Z

https://www.kysu.edu/academics/college-acs/school-of-ace/pawpaw/index.php

There are other practical publications available from USFS, state forestry departments, university & research programs.  Hope that's useful for you.

 

You might find these interesting:

https://permies.com/wiki/161047/Finding-Mother-Tree-Discovering-Wisdom

https://permies.com/wiki/156769/Started-Wood-Julian-Evans-Rolls