SilviCast

Sometime the hardest thing and the right thing are the same. It is true of relationships, and it is true of forests. In this episode, we talk with author Ethan Tapper about his new book, How to Love a Forest. A Vermont Forester, Ethan dives deep with us into what it means to love a forest as a landowner and a forester, and to work with those who may not see the potential in restoring their forest. 

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The legacy of the “cutover” has left much of the Lake States—and many other regions—with a dominance of even-aged forest stands. Today, both landowners and foresters increasingly consider converting these stands to uneven-aged management to achieve a range of ecological, economic, and aesthetic goals. However, the outcomes of these efforts—even after multiple stand entries—have sometimes fallen short of expectations. Significant silvicultural challenges remain in determining the most effective approaches for even- to uneven-aged conversion. To explore these challenges, we’re joined by Dr. Ralph Nyland, Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus of Silviculture at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. 

Guest on This Episode

Ralph D. Nyland, Ph.D.

Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus – Silviculture, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

Dr. Nyland worked for 5 years as a forester with the New York Department of Environmental Conservation before earning a Ph.D. in forest management and silviculture from Michigan State University in 1966. In 1967, he joined the faculty at SUNY-ESF and helped form the Applied Forestry Research Institute. He joined the teaching faculty in 1977. Throughout the time at ESF, Professor Nyland studied even- and uneven-aged silvicultural systems, focusing primarily on natural regeneration and tending of northern hardwood stands and age classes. His research also involved long-term monitoring of natural stands following alternative silvicultural treatments, and exploring ways to enhance wildlife habitat and other values of importance in ecosystem management. He authored the book Silviculture: Concepts and Applications (2016, Waveland Press), and is a Fellow of the Society of American Foresters.

Show Notes | Resources

Silviculture: Concepts and Applications (2016, Waveland Press)

Professional Publications by Ralph D. Nyland

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Restoring and reforesting floodplain forests is no small feat—these ecosystems are as fascinating as they are complex. While they face many of the same disturbances as upland forests, bottomland ecosystems are uniquely shaped by water. Adding to this challenge of hydrology are the profound impacts of levies, agriculture, dams, and other disturbances. In this episode of SilviCast, we dive deep into the world of bottomland forest restoration with insights from national experts at the 2025 Northeastern and Southern Forest and Conservation Nursery Meeting. Join us for an engaging panel discussion featuring Dan Dey (recently retired, USFS Northern Research Station), Andy Meier (Lead Forester, US Army Corps of Engineers – St. Paul District), and James Shelton (Manager, Arkansas Baucum State Nursery). 

GUESTS ON THIS EPISODE

Dan Dey, Ph.D.
Retired Research Forester, U.S. Forest Service Northern Research Station
Dr. Dan Dey (retired) was Science Advisor for the USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station. Dan has been a Research Forester since 1987 to present. His personal research emphasis is the ecology and silviculture of eastern forests, woodlands and savannas. He received his Ph.D. in 1991 from the University of Missouri, and since then has worked as a research forester for the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, the Missouri Dept of Conservation and the USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station. He has been conducting research for the US Forest Service since 1998. Before becoming a scientist, Dan worked as a forester on the Ketchikan Ranger District, Tongass National Forest and the Red River Ranger District, Nez Perce National Forest.

Andrew Meier
Lead Forester, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, Mississippi River Environmental Section
Andy Meier is lead forester for the US Army Corps of Engineers – St. Paul District, Mississippi River Environmental Section. In his position he oversees a team responsible for implementation of terrestrial habitat management on 23,000 acres of primarily bottomland forest in close coordination with the US Fish and Wildlife Service and other partners. He also works on large-targeted habitat restoration projects in the Mississippi River focused on re-establishing natural function in a managed river system. He graduated with a BS in forest management from the University of Wisconsin – Madison in 2007 and an MS in forest biology from Purdue University in 2012.

James Shelton
Baucum Nursery Manager, Arkansas Department of Agriculture Forestry Division
Meet James Shelton. #PeopleofForestry

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Sometimes, a simple “silvicultural tweak” can make a big difference in achieving diverse forest management goals. The real challenge lies in knowing when—and how—to make those adjustments. To help with that, several states have created Forestry for the Birds guidebooks, offering practical strategies to enhance forest habitat for birds. In this episode of SilviCast, we’re joined by Christian Nelson, Lake States Coordinator for the Forest Stewards Guild, to discuss the newly released Forestry for Minnesota Birds guidebook and how it can support better habitat outcomes across the region.

Photo Credit: Mark Schocken

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Eastern black walnut holds an almost legendary reputation as one of the most valuable timber species in central and eastern North America. A single, high-quality tree can fetch thousands of dollars—sometimes even influencing the outcome of an entire timber sale. With that level of interest, you’d think we’ve uncovered everything there is to know about this remarkable species. And while researchers and foresters have developed extensive knowledge around its silviculture and genetics, there’s still a lot to learn! In this episode of SilviCast, we delve into the silviculture of black walnut with Lenny Farlee, Extension Forester at Purdue University. 

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Foresters are pretty good at stand-level silviculture. But what if we want to make changes to forest vegetation at a much larger scale? Silviculture at scale to impact landscape-level change is much trickier, whether that’s aiming for a target age-class distribution or meeting the broad habitat needs of birds. Where do we even begin?  In walks the concept of Dynamic Forest Restoration Blocks, or the strategy of breaking up the landscape into manageable and biologically meaningful units where we can focus on specific forest management objectives. Join us on this episode as we talk with pioneers of this concept, Jeff Larkin, professor in the Department of Biology at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Forest Bird Advisor with the American Bird Conservancy, and Dan Heggenstaller, North Central Regional Forester with the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

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Garlic mustard blooms, panic ensues! Many foresters in the eastern hardwood forests of North America can appreciate this sentiment as they see yet another invasive plant, garlic mustard, colonize their woodlands and forests. Maybe they just make note of it on the inventory or maybe they prescribe an aggressive treatment plan of pulling and herbicides. But maybe there is a different approach… time. Join us on this episode of SilviCast as we talk with Dr. Bernd Blossey, Professor at Cornell University, about his interesting and innovative research on garlic mustard invasions. 

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Buckthorn has been the bane of many foresters and forest landowners throughout eastern North America. This long-lived, woody plant is capable of forming dense thickets, degrading native understory plant communities and impeding tree regeneration. While herbicide control measures can be effective, managers have struggled for long-term control of this prolific plant. Join for this episode of SilviCast as we explore ways to disrupt the buckthorn cycle with Dr. Mike Schuster, Researcher at the Minnesota Invasive Terrestrial Plants and Pests Center. 

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It’s hard to turn around these days without seeing or reading something about UAVs or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. Drones are becoming an increasingly important tool in many fields, including within the practice of silviculture. On this episode of SilviCast we explore the soaring use of drones for site preparation and release treatments. Join us for a conversation with Rick Hill, Regional Silviculturist and Reforestation Specialist with Michigan DNR and Kyle Schempp, Project Manager and Drone Pilot at Wildlife and Wetland Solutions. 

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Foresters are increasingly aware of the importance of prescribed fire as a silvicultural tool in the maintenance and management of fire-adapted forest ecosystems.  At the same time concerns remain over the impact of those fires on the timber resource. Join us for a conversation with Mike Saunders, Professor of Silviculture in the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University, as we explore the effects of prescribed fire on tree wounding and timber quality in the oak-hickory forests of North America. 

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