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Research in tropical forestry is confronted with the task of finding strategies to alleviate pressure on remaining forests, and techniques to enhance forest regeneration and restore abandoned lands, using productive alternatives that can be attractive to local human populations. In addition, sustainable forestry in tropical countries must be supported by adequate policies to promote and maintain specific activities at local and regional scales.

Here, a multi-disciplinary approach is presented, to better the understanding of tropical forest ecology, as a necessary step in developing adequate strategies for conservation and management. The authors have long experience in both academic and practical matters related to tropical forest ecology and management.

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Like no other book currently available, The Forests of Michigan explores the natural history, ecology, and economic importance of the rich and varied forests that cover over half of the state's 37.3 million acres.
The Forests of Michigan tells how the forests returned after the Wisconsin glacier retreated, and how they recovered from the onslaught of unrestrained logging and wildfire that virtually wiped them out. The emphasis of the book is a view of sustainability that builds not only upon the lessons learned from native peoples' attitude and use of trees but also on the latest scientific principles of forest ecology and management.
Written in an engaging style, The Forests of Michigan sees the forest and the trees, offering a hearty serving of information as well as many anecdoctal delights.
Donald I. Dickmann is Professor of Forestry at Michigan State University and holds a doctorate from the University of Wisconsin. He is the author of The Culture of Poplars and Poplar Culture in North America.
Larry A. Leefers is Associate Professor in the Department of Forestry at Michigan State University. He holds a doctorate in forest economics from Michigan State University.
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Customer Reviews (1)

Wonderful MI Forest Resource
There are few books that offer so much information in such a readable a format. I picked it up thinking that it was mostly a reference book but as I read, I found I was wrong. It is a wonderfully readable blend of history, science and folklore, perfect for preparing to discuss or explain forest issues to others. The authors are not shy about exposing scams and consequences. It is a great book that adds depth for both the recreational reader and the forestry expert. Well researched and thoughtfully assembled. ... Read more

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Revealing the role of fire in the growth and maintenance of a forest, an introduction to this type of organic recycling explains how fire provides new food sources for wildlife while clearing the way for new generations of trees. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Good book about how fire affects forests.
We are planning a trip to Yellowstone and this book has gotten me excited to see the different kinds of forests that exist throughout the park.Not only does the book cover how fire affects forests, but how time affects forests -- by looking at the types of growth in a forest you can tell howold it is (i.e. how long it's been since the last major fire). Fascinating.The only slight critique I have is that I wish the book were longer -- it'sa good length for upper elementary and middle school children, but highschoolers and adults will want more. ... Read more

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This revision maintains the position of Forest Ecosystems as the one source for the latest information on the advanced methods that have enhanced our understating of forest ecosystems. Further understanding is given to techniques to explore the changes in climatic cycles, the implications of wide-scale pollution, fire and other ecological disturbances that have a global effect. The inclusion of models, equations, graphs, and tabular examples provides readers with a full understanding of the methods and techniques.

* Includes a revised section on important advances in regional scale analyses

* Features an update to global scale analyses including revised color images

* Provides a detailed comparison of predicted vs. observed tree diversity across 65 eco-regions

* New companion website includes modeling software exercises and tutorials and video clips ... Read more

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Look closely. Look very closely. Is it ? flakes of oatmeal? A moldy orange? Give up? Just turn the page and, lo and behold, it's a spotted toadstool! See what looks like gummy candy revealed as a millipede, a woolly scarf as frost on leaves, and many more surprises when you look closely through the forest. The Looking Closely series takes children on a journey of discovery through four environments -- the forest, the shore, the desert and the garden. Frank Serafini's camera lens enlarges each world through the magic of close-up photography.Young eyes will rediscover our planet as a place of beauty, mystery and delight. Readers are first challenged to guess the identity of each closeup photograph. The next page reveals the entire photograph of the plant, animal or natural object accompanied by a simple but detailed description of the habitat. By inspiring children to ask questions and use their imaginations, these books help build problem-solving skills. They also encourage curiosity about environments that, examined this closely, are full of unexpected wonders. ... Read more

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Breathtaking wildlife illustrations and imaginative use of gatefolds make for an enchanting look into the sprawling life of a forest’s ecosystem, first by day then at night.

This beautifully illustrated new title for kids 7-10 explores the forest and all the daytime and nocturnal activities of the animals that inhabit it. The book features stunning illustrations of wild animals in their forest habitat during the day, followed by a section showing the different set of animals that inhabit the same scene at night.

Each day-night section has an introduction explaining the unique characteristics of the forest habitat and how the various creatures thrive within it. Each species is then featured individually in the pages following the gatefolds. Kids will be enriched and entertained for hours as they are pulled into the enchanting world of the wild. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Beautifully illustrated & informative guide
The forest is a magical and mysterious place, both by day and by night. Day & Night in the Forest shows us the different kinds of forests and the animals that live there.

This beautifully illustrated book includes a four-page spread for both the daytime and nighttime scenes. Then, following the spreads, the conifer forest, dense forest, mixed forest and forest edge are shown in detail, along with the animals that live in that habitat.

Each forest type is explained in greater detail, and a paragraph for each animal describes a little about his activities in the daytime or at night. Eating habits, nesting behavior, and the ability to camouflage themselves and blend into their surroundings are some of the topics covered.

While this is not a comprehensive guide to forest life, Day & Night in the Forest is so beautifully illustrated that it will join our bird and wildlife books as a reference. Anyone who loves nature and forest animals will enjoy this book.

Reviewer: Alice Berger ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (3)

Bravo to Jeff Forester
Kudo's to Jeff Forester for doing proper research and then telling it like it is.This book is well written, has great photo's, and is a must for anyone interested in the effects that we have on our environment.

Top-notch book on forest ecology
Journalist Jeff Forester gives us a well-balanced history of American logging and its effects on both the American psyche and forest ecology.A solid, well-documented and engaging read.

AMust-Read for Anyone Who Loves the Woods
Every time I've been camping, fishing, hunting or hiking in the woods, I've had a hankering to see them the way they looked when the pioneers first got to this country--you know, Laura Ingalls Wilder envy. And this book really helped me visualize the virgin landscape while understanding how the forests came to look as they do now.
I don't typically read non-fiction, but Forester (the author, not some guy in tan khakis & cap) really has a personal, close up and easy-to-read perspective on the North Woods and the book flows like a novel. Laura Ingalls couldn't have described the changing forest management models any more descriptively: from the fire-setting Indians and small-time pioneer loggers to the huge lumber barons and the birth of environmentalism. The book ends with great food for thought on the current land management practices and restoration forestry (trying to make the woods look like it used to using fire, as the Indians did).
Fascinating story. Incredible photographs. ... Read more

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This book could be about any forest because most forests grow the same way. First, the land is open and green. Then, the changes begin.

"Careful explanation, an elegant, reverent style, and beautiful illustrations highlight this chronology of a forest's growth." -- Booklist.

Customer Reviews (2)

Agreat way to teach about how a forest begins and changes!
This 55 page little book is absolutely fabulous for teaching kids (and their parents) about how a forest is created.An excellent job of showing how a forest is ever changing and what type of trees are shade tolerant, which trees show up first and which animals need which ecosystem.The black and white artwork is exact, gives a calming affect and keeps the eye looking for other critters. I'd recommend every teacher and school library to carry this book.

Great ecology book
We are using this book during Ecology Day Camp at the organization where I work.It is written in a way that is very understandable for children and the language and pictures are engaging.It does a very good job of helping children grasp the concept of succession and the broader idea of change in nature. ... Read more

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THIS EDITION IS INTENDED FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. ... Read more

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Ages 4 to 8 years.Young readers will be delighted to learn all about temperate mixed forests, which are filled with a wide variety of interesting plants and animals. A Forest Habitat explains how the habitat changes as the seasons change. ... Read more

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Much of the world's forested land is dominated by mixed-speciesstands. Understanding the complex structure and dynamics of thesemixtures is a necessary step in the process of formulating appropriatesilvicultural systems for their management. David M. Smith, ProfessorEmeritus of Silviculture at Yale University, has devoted much of hiscareer to the study of the structure, development, and silviculturaltreatment of these kinds of stands. This volume is presented byProfessor Smith's collegues to honor the contributions he has made tothe field. It contains both reviews of past work and results ofcurrent studies of mixed stands: topics range from analysis of forestdynamics in unmanaged stands to studies of silvicultural systemsapplied to mixtures, with examples drawn from boreal, temperate, andtropical regions. Much of the work stresses the importance ofunderstanding the characteristic growth patterns of individual specieswithin mixed stands, and how species interactions shape developmentalpatterns.
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Lyrical words and lush, naturalistic paintings introduce children to the tropical rain forest and the animals that live within its wet, green world. From swinging monkeys and upside-down-hanging sloths to graceful caimans and stalking jaguars, Here Is the Tropical Rain Forest envelops young readers in a stunning jungle while teaching them an important lesson about the ecosystem. Madeleine Dunphy’s rhythmical, cumulative text shows how each plant and animal of the rain forest is inextricably linked with the others in a chain of life. Michael Rothman’s deeply hued and shadowed paintings brilliantly evoke this singular environment. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Very helpful for teaching children about the importance of this ecosystem
Rain forests once covered 14% of the earth's land surface; now they cover a mere 6%.The world's rain forests are currently disappearing at a rate of 6000 acres every hour. As an avid birdwatcher I have been fortunate enough to have spent some time in parts of the Amazonian rain forest and have marveled at it's beauty as well as it's diversity of wildlife.It is extremely important that children understand the importance of this essential ecosystem since they will be the ones effected by it's absence or it's survival."This Is the Tropical Rain Forest" is one of the Web of Life series of children's books and it's goal is to do exactly that.

In this book we are introduced to the ecosystem (the rain forests of Central and South America as used as examples) and it's inhabitants one species at a time as well as learning about how they interact.The repetition of the prose will help with the children's retention while reinforcing the interdependence of the plants and animals that inhabit this environment.

I have several of the books in this series and the artwork in "Here Is the Tropical Rain Forest", by Michael Rothman, is my favorite.The detail in the reproductions of his original watercolors are better than some field guidebooks that I have owned.The animals are portrayed in realistic poses and settings.

At the end of the book is several pages that give more detail about the ecosystem and it's plight. I have given my copy of this book to a local elementary school and they were thrilled to have it and will be using it while they introduce the children to the world's different ecosystems, including the all important rain forests.

DISCLAIMER: Although I was not paid for this review, I did receive the book for free from the author in the hope that I would review it. Thank you.

Lyrical verse enhanced by beautiful illustrations capture life in the tropical rainforest
The "Here is..." series of books featuring animals in their natural habitats by author Madeleine Dunphy are well-written and educational. Most are also beautifully illustrated with vibrant full-color pictures which enhance the cumulative verse style employed by the author.

In "Here is the Tropical Rainforest", Dunphy focuses on the animals that inhabit the jungles of Central and South America, i.e. the three-toed sloth, the blunt-headed tree snake, the red-rumped agouti, the toad-headed turtle, the common caiman, etc. all of which are beautifully illustrated with great attention to detail. The cumulative style employed here makes this book a perfect read-aloud for young children (ages 4-8), and may also motivate beginning/intermediate readers. My five-and-a-half-year old daughter enjoyed reading this book, and was fascinated by the abundant and interesting life in the rainforest. I would highly recommend this series of books for children ages 4-8.

Here is the Tropical Rain Forest
Here is the Tropical Rain Forest is a delightful book to introduce the American Tropics to children.The story by Madeleine Dunphy follows a food web from figs to harpy eagles and jaguars.The illustrations by Michael Rothman are outstanding.

A first ecology lesson that is lovely, poetic, and fun!
I highly recommend this book for its beautiful illustrations, and its elegant approach to teaching kids ecology: A cumulative verse format, which kids love to repeat and memorize. ... Read more

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National forests are fast becoming the most visited tourist attractions in America - 300 million visitors in 1988, according to the National Parks Service, and the demand for knowledge about them is greater than ever. This book is packed with projects and activities, requiring no special tools or equipment, that add to the excitement of learning about forests; a fact-filled "walk through the woods" that separates scientific fact from popular myth and folklore; and a realistic look at the long-term future of our forests with an explanation of the major threats to their survival and their ability to adapt. ... Read more

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This book addresses the ecology and management of freshwater forests and wetlands located along sea costs by assessing the current research, comparing data from different geographic regions, and integrating applications and ideas from foresters, land-use managers, and water-resource managers. This volume fills a gap in the forestry and wetlands literature as it takes a worldwide view of natural resource management, covering the United States, Japan, Asia, Australia, South America, Mexico, and Canada. ... Read more

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A deeply informed and searching work on the most pressing ecological issue of our time. A great deal of attention has been focused recently on the destruction of the rain forests. This book explains why the forests are being felled, how this destroys the land, the animals, the people, and the world's climate. ... Read more