About Silvics of North America
The Updated Silvics of North America Project (USNAP) is currently conducting a full revision to the Silvics of North America (SNA)! This project is a collaborative effort by the USDA Forest Service, the Canadian Forest Service (Le Service canadien des forêts), and the National Forestry Commission (Comisión Nacional Forestal; CONAFOR).
Many exciting features will be incorporated into the SNA for the very first time. One of the primary updates is that the SNA will now be published digitally as opposed to hardcopy books. The digital publication will be interactive and free to access, will support readability across devices (e.g., tablets, cell phones, laptops), and will include the option to download as a PDF file for offline reading. Chapters will also be published in Spanish and French for the first time to ensure equal access to users throughout North America.
In addition to the new access methods, chapter content is also being updated. This will include an expanded species list (especially for Canada and Mexico), new range and projection maps, and new chapter sections on important topics such as disturbances, goods and services, urban forestry, and research gaps. All SNA chapters will be newly written, peer reviewed, and individually citable. Once a chapter is published, it will be put on a maintenance schedule to assess the need for future updates so that the SNA continually reflects modern science.
To see key project details at a glance, download the USNAP Fact Sheet in your preferred language:
The Silvics of North America has been the go-to reference for foresters and natural resource managers in the United States since 1965 and is considered an essential resource for understanding the fundamental silvics and species ranges of important trees species in North America. Though it was updated in 1990, the 30-plus years since have seen significant changes in species importance, improvements in understanding of species ecology, growth and genetics, and a better understanding of how weather variability will impact individual species.
Read Bringing the Silvics of North America into the 21st Century from The Forestry Source to learn more about the need for this revision and how the framework for leading this project will be structured.
Since 2019, more than 135 leading forestry experts from throughout North America have come together to address what content and format should be reflected in the revised Silvics of North America. Thanks to these contributions, we are pleased to share the USNAP Chapter Outline, which details the revised structure for the chapters. Chapter sections, headings, and subheadings are formatting delineations which will be standard for all chapters. Author Guidance statements describe what information authors should address for each topic in the chapter, but delineations found within are for informational purposes only. Customization of the outline may be approved according to need on a per species basis and can be requested in the application process.
Please view the Chapter Outline in your preferred language below:
In the USNAP’s analysis of the Silvics of North America, it was identified that the 1990 publication lacks information regarding species importance, use, and management from the perspective of indigenous communities. To honor the history of land management in North America and align with federal priorities it is an important goal of the USNAP to consider traditional knowledge held by these communities on an individual species basis. However, traditional knowledge will only be included and shared in the updated SNA if:
- Representatives of the communities who hold this knowledge:
- Desire it to be shared with assurance of free, prior, and informed consent.
- Provide the knowledge, or
- Review the knowledge submitted by authors.
- The sharing of this information aligns with federal agency practices regarding consultation and engagement with communities who hold this knowledge.
The USNAP will be taking more time to ensure capacity to meet the above goals, and as such, information regarding species importance, use, and management in indigenous communities will not be included at this time. Until otherwise indicated, this information should not be included by authors, or accepted by reviewers. The one exception is that chapters are allowed to reference published material describing traditional knowledge if it has been produced, and reviewed by the members of the indigenous community which holds that knowledge.
It should be noted that the USNAP aims to create a dynamic SNA which will be updated continuously, and this information could be added on an individual chapter basis at a later date. Additionally, contributors should remember that the goal is not necessarily to include or exclude this information, but rather to ensure a thorough consultation process that would allow for the inclusion of this material if desired by knowledge holders.