Understand how forests actually work through rigorous empirical evidence

Classical approaches to forest ecology often were shaped around appealing concepts that were poorly grounded in real forests. Now in its Second Edition, Forest Ecology: An Evidence-Based Approach replaces those misconceptions with insights that rely on observable science. This revised edition examines features common to all forests alongside site-specific factors that determine forest structure, function, and future trajectories.

New to this edition are updated topics in forest policy and management and expanded coverage of the role of people in forest ecology. The book retains its concise structure designed for use in a single semester course. A core framework built on three direct questions guides readers through empirical evaluation of forest patterns, clearly focusing on to best understand the dynamic nature of forests.

Readers will also find:

• A method for distinguishing appealing ecological stories from those that accurately describe real forest systems and processes
• Coverage of deterministic and indeterminant interactions among forest components across multiple scales of space and time
• Empirical treatment of plant and animal interactions grounded in the vast observational data now available on forests
• Analysis of environmental features that shape forest ecosystems, from site-specific conditions to broad landscape-level drivers
• An approach praised by educators internationally for inspiring critical and creative thinking in students and early-career researchers

Forest Ecology is the companion text for upper-level undergraduate and graduate courses in forest ecology. Students and instructors seeking an empirically rigorous alternative to conventional textbooks will find a concise, semester-ready resource that strengthens scientific reasoning and deepens understanding of forest systems.

Dan Binkley is Adjunct Professor in the School of Forestry at Northern Arizona University, following a career as a professor and scientist at Duke University and Colorado State University. Recognized internationally as one of the most well-known and well-respected forest ecologists in the world, Binkley brings decades of research and teaching experience to his rigorous, empirically grounded approach to understanding how forests work.