Putting Forests First: Ecological Forestry and an Ethical Worldview - David Foster

An essay written and read by David Foster.David Foster is an ecologist, Director Emeritus of the Harvard Forest, and President Emeritus of the Highstead Foundation. He co-founded the Wildlands and Woodlands Initiative in 2005 and was lead writer of Wildlands in New England: Past, Present, and Future in 2023.--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