ABOUT
Ethan Tapper is a Vermont-based forester, ecologist, author, educator, and content creator who is widely recognized for his work in forest stewardship and conservation. He holds degrees in forestry and natural resources from the University of Vermont and has worked as a professional forester since 2012 in both the public and private sectors.
Tapper is the author of the bestselling books How to Love a Forest: The Bittersweet Work of Tending a Changing World (2024), which won the 2025 New England Book Award for Nonfiction, and The Forest Year: Finding Hope in a World Worth Saving (2026). He also co-authored the children's book Willow and the Storm (2025), which explores themes of forest ecology and resilience.
After serving as Chittenden County Forester for the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation and earning several regional and national forestry awards, he founded his own consulting firm, Bear Island Forestry, in 2024.
Today, Tapper manages his consulting forestry business from his 175-acre working forest in Vermont while continuing to write, create educational content, advocate for healthy ecosystems, and perform with his punk band, The Bubs.
Learn more here
Find more about Ethan on his website using the link above