Forestry Basics

Forestry is a complex subject that ties in concepts from multiple subject areas. Understanding some of the terms and at least the basics of these concepts is key to sound forestry and natural resources management.

Forestry Glossary
A list of forestry terms and their definitions

Riparian Buffers: What are they and How do they Work?
http://www.soil.ncsu.edu/publications/BMPs/buffers.html
An article summarizing what riparian zones are and how they work.  The most general function of riparian forest buffer systems is to provide control of the stream environment.

Forest Practices Illustrated
http://www.dnr.wa.gov/node/1268
An illustrated guide to using BMPs in forest management

Montana Forestry Best Management Practices
http://dnrc.mt.gov/divisions/forestry/docs/assistance/practices/finalbmp_versionforweb10_1_15.pdf
Guidance resource illustrating riparian buffer zones and the BMPs that help protect them.

Riparian Buffer BMP Manual
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/deq/wrd-nps-bmp-rb_456916_7.pdf
A document detailing the benefits of riparian buffers, appropriate uses for them, and how to create and manage them.

Riparian Forest Buffers for Trout Habitat Improvement
https://www.extension.umn.edu/environment/agroforestry/components/RFB-literature-review.pdf
A publication based on scientific article review that examines the benefits, design, establishment and maintenance of riparian forest buffers.

BMP landowner guides
http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/forestmanagement/guides.html
A collection of guides to help understand and implement forestry BMPs. Covers crossings, managing for trout, and general practices.

Water Quality Management on Forest Land
https://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/fmg/nfmg/docs/WaterQualityBooklet_57739_7.pdf
A guidebook for landowners that describes responsible actions necessary for maintaining high quality water normally associated with their land.

Wisconsin Forest Management Guidelines
https://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/fmg/nfmg/docs/wi/bmpwisconsincomplete.pdf
Goal of this document is to establish basic, sensible concepts that outline responsible resource management at the site-level 

Sustaining Minnesota Forest Resources
http://mn.gov/frc/documents/council/site-level/MFRC_FMG&Biomass_2007-12-17.pdf
These voluntary site-level forest management guidelines provide valuable decision-making tools for landowners, resource managers and loggers.  It has a "what to do" and a "why we do it" section

Effects of Forest Disturbance on Hydrologic Processes and Watershed Response 
https://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfd/pubs/docs/lmh/Lmh66/Lmh66_ch07.pdf
Describes how changes in forest cover, brought about by logging, insects, disease, fire, or forest regrowth, affect hydrologic processes at both the stand and watershed scale. 

Riparian Forest Stewardship
https://www.msuextension.org/forestry/Resources/pdf/EB0118.pdf
Explains what a riparian forest is, the benefits of it, and how to protect it.