Forest ecosystems include a great variety of communities of organisms interacting with their
physical environment: multi-aged natural forests even-aged monocultures and secondary forests
invaded by foreign species. The challenge is to sustain their ability to function by adapting
to changing climates and satisfying a multitude of human demands. Our first chapter sets the
scene with a discussion about the effects of forest management on ecosystem services. Details
about forest observational infrastructures are introduced in the second chapter. The third
chapter presents methods of analysing forest density and structure. Models for estimating the
shape and growth of individual forest trees are introduced in chapter 4 models of forest
community production in Chapter 5. Methods and examples of sustainable forest design are
covered in chapter 6. New scientific contributions continue to emerge as we are writing and
this work is never finished. We hope to continue with regular updates replacing obsolete
sections with new ones but the general aim remains the same to introduce a range of methods
that will assist those interested in sustaining forest ecosystems.
