Forest Forensics: A Field Guide to Reading the Forested Landscape

I liked the two other books I have by Tom Wessels (Reading the Forested Landscape; The Granite Landscape) and thought I would try this one. It's a small book but the coated paper adds weight for the 160 pages. The weight is not a major issue for me but probably would be for long-distance hikers. There are 64 single page photos and 19 photos across 2 facing pages. Photo quality is just fine to very good in nearly all cases. Only two photos didn't work well for me - 4A2 Plow trough adjacent to stone wall, where the break in slope you're supposed to notice unfortunately falls directly in the gutter between the two facing pages, and 5A1 Subtly pillowed and cradled ground - it just looked like pretty flat and featureless ground in this photo, covered with pine needles and oak leaves. It is not easy to photograph subtle landscape features in forest light and shade, so to have issues with only 2 photos in over 80 is not strong criticism. An earlier reviewer was offended by the observation that a flat-topped stump suggests the area was logged. That's a real example certainly, and while there are also more subtle points raised, focusing on them misses the main value of the book to me. It is rare that someone with Tom Wessel's experience in landscape interpretation (or anything else) provides people without that background with the opportunity to participate in his thought process, by sharing publicly what observations he thinks are important, and what his decision-tree logic looks like as he thinks his way through the evidence to answer such questions as what happened, in what order, and when, in an area that is now forest. The heart of the book is in a 7-page section at the beginning, outlining observations/evidence related to Agriculture; Old Growth and Wind; and Logging and Fire evidence. The photographs and brief text are designed to clarify points made in the decision tree statements. You don't need a PhD in forest ecology to use this book, and if you had one you might find it overly simple but as a geologist, it works for me. I found myself saying "aha" as I looked through the photos - thinking of one example after another that I've seen in New England woods over the past 50+ years. His observations about sheep's wool being thick enough to keep them from feeling the barbs in barbed wire fences even helped explain why our bus driver in southern Iceland had to pull over one afternoon a few summers ago and go running back up the road, to untangle a sheep that was caught halfway through the fence along the highway.I think it's a deceptively simple book, and one that I'm glad to have. I recently met someone who teaches at an environmental school in Jackson Hole, who had studied with Tom Wessels. She confirmed my sense that he would be a great person to spend time in the field with. Until that ever happens, the Forest Forensics book will have to stand in.

Loved this book. I found the subject absolutely fascinating, especially since I spend so much time in the woods. It is well written and the pictures really help define the subject matter. My wife would be the only person to have anything negative to say about the book since our hikes tend to get completely derailed as I inevitably end up wandering around the woods describing everything that I’ve read about recently. I highly recommend the book. The author also has great videos on YouTube which are great companions to the book.

I have 65 acres, half wooded, half fields, and old stone walls. I found "Reading The Forested Landscape" to be very interesting and informative. Little did I know!

Photos should be on slick photo paper to provide very in depth detail. However, it would significantly increase the cost of the book. I am a retired forest scientist and phtotographer and knew much of this, but found this book intriguing to read and learned from it.

This is not my normal read but I have been hiking a lot in the woods and a friend recommended Tom Wessels video series which is where I discovered this book. It very informative but I will have refer to this often as a reference on my explorations. If you what to learn more about the woods this book is a great place to start.

It's terrific reading this and then going out and discovering various things, clues that give understanding. Well written.

This little volume was of interest as an addition to my personal naturalist library. It was a bit more focused on New England than I anticipated which limits its value here in the Blue Ridge but the general principles are of value.

Forest forensics is CSI meets AMC. This is wonderful book, if you live in the northeastern US or Canada and spend time in the outdoors. You will come to see the landscape around you in a whole new way - to read the history of the impacts of hurricanes, farming, logging etc. The book has clear descriptions tied to beautiful color plates, so you understand exactly what he's talking about. For example, only large rocks in rock wall indicate that the adjoining land was a hay field, small rocks indicate regular crop cultivation which causes small rocks to surface. Upon first read, even before you take to the field, you will begin to say "Ah ha", as you recall seeing various forms of rock fences, tree forms, or stumps. Not only does he help you read the events of the past, but date them. This book is very accessible and just plain fun. And best of all, while this book helps you answer lots of questions, your observations will reveal a new level of subtly and leave you with even more questions. If you enjoy the woods, whether kayaker, backpacker, weekend hiker or skier, buy this book. You will see the world around you in a new way.

I wanted to love this book, but I was expecting something more like The Lost Art of Reading Nature’s Signs, in the form of a guidebook with a key. The book points to evidence of fire, logging and farming, but as someone who has spent a lot of time in the bush, I feel like I confident in my ability to do that already. This guidebook doesn’t help me level up in the way I’d hoped to.

Interesting topic, with minimal information. Pictures are helpful for visual description, but rather in cheap quality and difficult for navigation with references. It’s quite a fascinating topic, sad that the book did not pursue further in details.

Kindle is not a good format for this book. It might be excellent as a paperback you could take with you into the woods, flipping back and forth between various references.