Inserting ecology into forestry practices: A Mitchell legacy

Background/Question/Methods: Understanding of the structure, function, and composition of forest ecosystems has expanded dramatically during the last several decades.  Application of that science to management of forests has fallen far behind in terms of both management philosophies (i.e., the models on which management is based) and detailed ecological knowledge of specific species and forest types.  

Results/Conclusions: Dr. Robert Mitchell  greatly contributed to both expansion of specific knowledge in longleaf pine ecosystems and in developing a newly emergent management philosophy, termed "ecological forestry".  Ecological forestry is an approach to management of forest ecosystems based on natural models in contrast with production forestry, which is based on agronomic models.  This approach is now being widely utilized in management of forest ecosystems throughout the world.