Reading the Forested Landscape: A Natural History of New England

All throughout the year I spend as much time as possible in the woods of Vermont where I live, and this book has been a great help in interpreting and understanding the forest. Not all woods are the same - a day's hike in the woods can bring you through second growth, third growth, and old growth forest - each change distinctive and easily seen but almost always ignored by the hiker. Why is this part of the forest all second growth and a half-mile away there are few trees but much ground cover? Why is another part of the same forest covered with many ancient trees yet there is a large section of nothing but saplings right in the center of it? Tom Wessels has written a fine book that will make you curious and then knowledgeable about the changes you see in the woods.Every chapter starts with an etching that illustrates the type of forest disturbance that's explained in the chapter. The etching actually is a forensic illustration loaded with clues that you can examine and use to determine the past history of the forest and the types of events that caused it to be the way it is. It could be logging, fire, beavers, blowdowns, blight, or even farming. Some of the clues are almost Holmesian in their simplicity. For instance, some old, low damage to a tree may not indicate much, but if the damage is to a number of successive trees, they may indicate disturbance by logging since the tree wounds could have been caused by logging skidders; and that may give the reason only first growth or ground cover is to be seen.There is an excellent appendix with a New England chronology, reading list, a good summary of disturbance types and clues, a list of plant indicators, and a glossary.Use this book as a guide and interpreter of what you've seen in the forest, and I guarantee you will never look at a forest the same way again. The woods will be loaded with messages and clues and stories that only you will be able to see and decipher.Note: Even though this book is centered on New England forests many of the lessons it teaches can be applied to forested areas in other parts of the country as well.

It is hard to find a book on natural history that doesn't vilify human beings existence on the earth. Mr. Wessels seems to pardon us for our ignorance in this book as he describes our integration into the landscape of New England. I appreciate that although he does describe the effects of our infantile knowledge of the impact we have on the environment, he doesn't get wrapped around the axle on our social, political and economically driven shortcomings that have lead to some rather unprecedented changes we have sadly caused. Instead of this book being a statement, it is a rich base of knowledge that will not elude it's readers that have the basic knowledge of the terrain, flora and fauna that we can find in our own back yards today. With the modern descriptions of our area, he gives a natural history of the ground we stand on in the North East. With the natural history Mr. Wessels gives us a better understanding of the environment that we are a part of. He does not dwell on the loss of the American Chestnut, the American Elm or the great stands of White Pine that once were extensive and brood over their loss. He simply gives us lessons on what the forests were, and why they aren't there anymore. Mr. Wessels does not appear to be an alarmist or someone who wants to treat every change in recent history as an omen to an impending doomsday right around the corner. He instead addresses all of these issues with fact and compassion for the forest and forgiveness for humanity's occasional ignorance. He finishes in the last chapter with hope for the future of the natural history that we will be a part of. This is truly the best book I can recall written on the general history of an area of the United States-even if the emphasis is on the forested areas of our region. Tom Wessels is one of the greatest spokesmen for our environment's, past present and future. He approaches this topic with a level head and a writing style that is not condescending. His writing conveys his passion and knowledge that you can perceive and appreciate throughout this amazing account of our region of the world. His Students at Antioch are very fortunate to have him as their mentor.

Really well done book. Very informative and enlightening as you walk through the New England forests. Keep in mind this is a book about New England forest. It may not be as applicable in other parts of the country.

I first saw the author on his youtube videos and immediately had to buy the books. Being new to NE, this book has created a lot of fun research on our own property about its past history. Really a great piece of reading. Very educational and concise, without a lot of fluff. 100% recommended for anyone who enjoys a stroll in the woods.

I’ve been looking for this type of knowledge for a while. This is an easy to understand knowledge packed book