Forestry, wildlife, and other natural-resource professionals manage ecosystems. Ecosystems bring together diversity in a way that considers all life-forms within a unified system. Patton, Fox, and Bailey present introductory students with an integrated, balanced approach to ecosystem management based on the concept of diversity--a natural phenomenon of life with different levels of recognition that can change over time and space. Applying decades of teaching, research, and management experience, the authors introduce readers to each major life-form. Sections on significant forces that have shaped our landscape and how it is managed orient students in the field. Insightful approaches to the planning process are highlighted. Specific instruction on effective management practices includes inventory design, decision support system development, and database organization. Carefully curated library recommendations and appendices comprised of invaluable data sets prepare readers to navigate an extremely complex planning environment.--Back cover.