Book excerpt: Geographic Information System Skills for Foresters and Natural Resource Managers provides a resource for developing knowledge and skills concerning GIS as it applies to forestry and natural resource management. This book helps readers understand how GIS can effectively be used by professional foresters and land managers to conduct spatial analyses or address management decisions. Through topics presented, readers will improve their ability to understand GIS data sources, identify GIS data types and quality, perform common spatial analysis processes, create GIS data, produce maps, and ultimately develop the skills necessary to use GIS analysis to answer real-world questions. This book will be of great benefit to GIS users looking to directly apply techniques to real-world data or foresters and natural resource scientists who use GIS in their research. - Presents unique reflections, diversions, inspections and translations within the text to encourage readers' critical thinking skills - Includes a companion website to enhance the reflections, diversions, inspections and translations with additional resources - Designed with examples, discussions and case studies from seasoned natural resource professionals with decades of combined professional experience