Begun in 2009, the Northern Forest Futures Project takes a long-term, large-scale perspective by applying scenario analyses and other forward-looking analytical tools to help society understand the magnitude and consequences of cumulative forest changes anticipated over the next 50 years. Forests in the Northeast and Midwest are not just part of the landscape, they are part of all of our lives in the form of forest industry and sustainable rural communities (jobs, investment, tax base, economic activity), and outdoor recreation including hunting, birdwatching, camping, skiing, boating, and hiking. Forests give us clean water and clean air, renewable energy, and they sequester vast quantities of carbon from the atmosphere, partially offsetting carbon emissions associated with climate change. Research developed in the Northern Forest Futures Project gives forest owners, managers, and other decisionmakers information to guide sustainable management of the 174 million acres of public and private forests in the Northern United States.

"Southern forests provide innumerable benefits. Forest scientists, managers, owners, and users have in common the desire to improve the condition of these forests and the ecosystems they support. A first step is to understand the contributions science has made and continues to make to the care and management of forests. This book represents a celebration of past accomplishments, summarizes the current state of knowledge, and creates a vision for the future of southern forestry research and management. Chapters are organized into seven sections: "Looking Back," "Productivity," "Forest Health," "Water and Soils," "Socioeconomic," "Biodiversity," and "Climate Change." Each section is preceded by a brief introductory chapter. Authors were encouraged to focus on the most important aspects of their topics; citations are included to guide readers to further information."