Ecological Forestry and Slow Wood: Perspectives from Around the Region - Brian Donahue

An essay written and read by Brian Donahue.Brian Donahue is Professor Emeritus of American Environmental Studies at Brandeis University, and a farm and forest policy consultant. He co-founded and for 12 years directed Land’s Sake, a nonprofit community farm in Weston, Massachusetts, and now co-owns and manages a farm in western Massachusetts. He sits on the boards of the Massachusetts Woodland Institute, the Friends of Spannocchia, and The Franklin Land Trust. His new book, Slow Wood, is available through Yale University Press.--This piece is part of our series exploring ecological forestry featured in the Spring 2025 Issue of From the Ground Up.Read all the submissions in our Ecological Forestry collection:Ecological Forestry and Slow Wood: Perspectives from Around the Region by Brian DonahueEcological Forestry: Origins and Principles by Tony D’AmatoPutting Forests First: Ecological Forestry and an Ethical Worldview by David FosterRelationships: The Essence of Low Impact Forestry by Sam F. BrownThe Practice of Ecological Forestry: Seeking Diversity, Balance, and Adaptation in the Woods by Rick MorrillWorst-First and Femelschlag: Ecological Forestry with the Foundation for Sustainable Forests by Guy Dunkle and Annie Socci MaloneyThe Maine Woods Initiative: The Appalachian Mountain Club’s Approach to Ecological Forestry by Carolyn ZiegraManaging for Diversity: Insurance for the Future Forest by Ben FarinaExemplary Forestry: Integrating Climate Resilience, Biodiversity, and Wood Production by Robert T. Perschel