Learning From the Forest: A Fifty-Year Journey Towards Sustainable Forest Management

The landscape around Hinton, Alberta, encompasses some of the finest timber forests to be found on the eastern slopes of the Rockies, but its natural legacies also include abundant wildlife, scenic vistas, turbulent streams, a mighty river, and beneath the surface, a wealth of coal, crude oil, and natural gas. "Learning from the Forest is the story of how this landscape has been shaped by man, most particularly by the succession of foresters who have managed the publicly owned forest for fifty years. The Foothills Model Forest project encourages a wide range of forest uses, including recreation and wildlife, as well as timber supply. "Learning from the Forest documents the long-term commitment that this approach requires, and tells of the advances made at Hinton in science, technology, and management over five decades. Managing a whole forest is always a work in progress, but much can be learned from the insights of these forward-thinking foresters.