Michael Brown

Michael Brown didn’t grow up planning to be a forester. An outdoorsman at heart, he spent his childhood hiking, biking, skiing, and exploring New England’s wild places. When he started college at the University of Vermont, he was an English major—unsure what career path to follow.

That changed when a friend encouraged him to take a forestry seminar with professor John Shane. That one class sparked a passion for forestry, leading him to switch majors and earn a degree in Forestry with a concentration in wildlife biology and a minor in Geospatial Technologies.

Since then, Michael has built a career helping landowners understand, manage, and care for their forests.

Building a Forestry Business

After graduation, Michael gained hands-on experience working for consulting forestry firms in northern Vermont and New Hampshire, specializing in:

• Timber sales

• Current Use management

• Conservation planning

In 2018, he founded Birdseye Forestry, a consulting business based in central Vermont. Today, he manages nearly 10,000 acres across the Mad River Valley, the Champlain Valley, and the Northeast Kingdom. His work includes:

• Helping landowners enroll and maintain Current Use status (clients range from 10 to 1,800 acres).

• Timber sale planning and management, balancing financial return with long-term forest health.

• Boundary marking and trail maintenance to help landowners define and access their woodlands.

• Invasive species control and riparian buffer planting to enhance ecological resilience.

• Subcontracting municipal forestry work.

While he stays busy juggling forestry work and raising two young children, Michael loves the variety that comes with the job.

“Every landowner has a different vision for their property, and I enjoy helping them achieve it.”

The Rewards & Challenges of Forest Management

For Michael, timber sale management is one of the most rewarding aspects of his work. It allows him to:

• Meet a diverse range of landowners

• Understand their stewardship goals

• Develop forestry plans tailored to their needs.

He also enjoys the unexpected discoveries that come with working in the woods—finding old homestead foundations, long-forgotten stone walls, or breathtaking hidden overlooks. These glimpses into Vermont’s history and natural beauty make the job even more special.

However, forestry comes with challenges.

“Some of the best forestry work for long-term forest health just isn’t feasible without a strong wood market.”

Michael notes that the decline of the low-grade wood market makes certain forest improvement projects financially difficult for landowners.

And, of course, there’s fly season—a minor but unavoidable inconvenience for anyone working deep in the Vermont woods.

“Luckily, head nets make it manageable,” he jokes.

Vermont Woodlands & Advocating for Landowners

Michael became a VWA Certified Consulting Forester in 2018 and is an active member of the Forester Advisory Committee. This group helps guide VWA’s services for landowners and foresters, providing insight into what members need and how the organization can best support them.

He believes strongly in the role of a consulting forester as an advocate for the landowner.

“Foresters are here to help landowners achieve their goals.”

As a third-party expert, a consulting forester ensures that the landowner’s interests—and the health of the forest—remain the top priority in any project. Whether working with loggers, conservation groups, or municipalities, his role is to balance all factors to benefit both the land and the landowner.

Looking Ahead

Michael is committed to stewarding Vermont’s forests in a way that‘s both environmentally responsible and sustainable for his business. He believes that a well-managed forest benefits everyone—landowners, wildlife, loggers, and the broader community.

His advice for landowners?

“Find a forester you trust. Forestry is a long game, and having the right guidance makes all the difference.”