Positive Impact Forestry

Our unique set of tools and new approach to forestry

At EcoForesters, we believe that positive impact forest stewardship has the power to restore balance and diversity to our Appalachian forests.

Our forest stewardship approach utilizes techniques such as crown-thinning to enhance the health and growth of dominant, vigorous canopy trees by reducing competition from surrounding, undesirable trees. Patch harvesting mimics natural disturbance patterns and enhances structural diversity by naturally regenerating young trees amidst the older ones. 

Other positive impact forestry actions typically include: invasive species control, vine control, crop tree release, timber stand improvement, erosion control, tree planting, and timber harvests. These techniques provide forests with qualities more commonly found in “old growth” than even-aged forests, while also frequently enhancing aesthetics. When working with landowners to apply positive stewardship actions on their properties, our process typically involves three steps:

Step 1:

Assessing the landowner’s forests to understand its history, current state, and likely future condition.

Step 2:

Prescribing and implementing actions that will meet the landowner’s long-term stewardship objectives and EcoForesters’ sustainability mission.

Step 3:

Monitoring the forests over time and adapting stewardship as necessary.

These methods ensure future forest productivity, and over time, restore healthy forest conditions. Positive impact forestry can transform a forest’s unsustainable trajectory toward a more vigorous and vibrant forest to benefit current and future generations.

Learn more about sustainable timber management, or check out the services we provide to landowners.