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Abstract
Forests have been tied to social progress since the dawn of agriculture 10 thousand years ago. Silviculture, groomed the oldest application of ecological principles, contains all the skills needed to produce forests with the myriad conditions valued by modern society. Historically, we have been success-makers. Yet, our profession faces a crisis. Often we are seen as tree killers, more concerned with timber harvests than with managing forests for multiple uses. Perceptions trace to critical rhetoric by those who are unusually effective communicators. Silviculturists have not responded effectively. We tend to be "doers, not sayers," but we must break this mold. We stand at the brink between the demise of our profession and a chance to establish our proper place at the table of wise forest management. Moving positively demands commitment to professional renewal and more effective ways of communicating our art. Avenues vary from more effective writing, through one-on-one mentoring and outreach to other disciplines, to involvement in educational programs with a broad ripple effect.
Parent Publication
Citation
Powers, Robert F.; Aune, Philip S. 1997. Communicating silviculture: values and benefits for the new millennium. In: Communicating the role of silviculture in managing the national forests: Proceedings of the National Silviculture Workshop. 1997 May 19-22; Warren, PA.: Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-238. Radnor, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 3-9.
