The nature of the land at Merck Forest today represents the result of centuries of natural changes over-laid by generations of human activities.You can’t have good forestry without good loggers. Good forestry begins with skilled foresters making forest management plans, but the forester must have as their partner a skilled logger who can properly carry out those plans. Trees must carefully be felled and skidded without damaging their neighbors, roads must be built and water- barred to protect delicate soils and the ground itself must be managed both to prevent damage and to enhance germination of tree seedlings.