Excellent forestry is forestry that is ecologically, economically, and socially responsible. Excellent forestry goes beyond meeting minimum best management practices and places the long-term viability of the forest above all other considerations. It uses nature as a model and embraces the forest's many values and dynamic processes. Excellent forestry is different in each ecoregion, but is always guided by science, place-based experience, and continuous learning and discovery. Wherever it is practiced, excellent forestry recognizes the forest's intrinsic value as well as human dependence on forest products and services.

Excellent forestry balances human and natural components as part of a larger whole. Some management approaches focus on aspects of excellent forestry without neglecting that larger whole. For instance, ecological forestry is the set of practices that emphasizes the maintenance or enhancement of the full suite of ecological values, doing so while allowing for human use. Community forestry is the management of forests with the express intent of benefiting neighboring communities and engaging them in management decisions, while utilizing forestry practices that are ecologically sound.

Thus, ecological forestry and community forestry are two related pathways to and components of excellent forestry. Simply put,