For those managing forests, contemporary biodiversity challenges require us to think more broadly about the past, consider what actions or processes produced the forests we now have, and evaluate post‐treatment conditions of forest structure, composition, and function. The forest ecology literature is replete with studies that suggest that when forest management activities become more focused on outputs, whether timber products or wildlife population objectives, variability and complexity that drive stand‐level biodiversity are lost.  In response, ecological forestry (or "new forestry") has become increasing applied to public and private forest lands, with the following precepts: 1) context—the importance of planning and management at larger (landscape) spatial scales; 2) continuity—the maintenance of forest structure, function, and biota between pre‐ and post-harvest ecosystems; 3) complexity—the need to create and maintain structural and compositional complexity and biological diversity, including spatial heterogeneity at multiple spatial scales; and 4) timing—the importance of applying silvicultural treatments at ecologically appropriate time intervals. For more, see Franklin et al. 2018 Ecological Forest Management. Waveland Press and Palik et al. 2020 Ecological Silviculture. Waveland Press.

The New Forestry

This paper from the journal BioScience during the "Spotted Owl controversy" in the Pacific Northwest is often referenced as one of the first to outline an ecosystem approach to forest management.

Natural Disturbances as a Model

This product of the US Forest Service outlines how natural disturbances can be used as a model to guide forest treatments. The first author, Dr. Jerry Franklin, is considered by many to be one of the foremost proponents of ecological forestry.

​Future Forests in Changing Climate and Environment 
This article challenges the idea of using natural models as a guide to silviculture because the world has changed, and continues to change, due to human activities, invasive species, changing climate, etc.

Climate Change and Future Forests
This article discusses options to manage forests based on uncertainty due due to human activities, invasive species, etc.

Forest History: Dauerwald and Near-Natural Forestry
This webinar, given by retired University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point professor Dr. Hans Schabel, has two parts: Dr. Shabel first summarizes the history of forestry, from Europe to North America, and then covers contemporary concepts of sustainable forestry on private lands in the Upper Midwest.

Ecological Forestry: Response to a Critique

This article from the Journal of Forestry is a response to a critique of the application of ecological forestry.

Aspen Management in the Lake States and Ecological Forestry

This article in the journal The Wildlife Society Bulletin illustrates how ecological forestry can be used to provide a better ecological basis to aspen management for game and non-game wildlife habitat.

Ecological Forestry and Wildlife Habitat
This article in The Wildlife Professional discusses ways habitat management for wildlife can better emulate natural disturbances through ecological forestry.

Ecological Forestry and Private Lands
This document, published by the US Forest Service, discusses ecological forestry principles in the context of private lands.

Forest Disturbances and Development
Disturbances are anything that alter biomass in forests. This paper cover aspects of disturbances within the context of ecologically-based forest management.

Timber-Focused vs Ecology-Focused Management
This handout uses figures from two recent texts to make comparisons of the differences in forest management approaches and related forest outcomes.