Plantation forestry has been emerging as a strong attraction to the traditional forestry practice due to its acceptability and productivity improvement. After enunciation of National Forest Policy,1988, plantation forestry has been encouraged to generate raw materials for domestic as well as industrial needs. This has accelerated the promotion of social, farm and agroforestry programmes in the wastelands and other marginal farmlands of the country. All these activities warrant a reference material with a compilation of various social and agroforestry programmes coupled with need based management system to create awareness on forestry related activities.
Against this backdrop, this current textbook was attempted through interdisciplinary approaches in order to compile the existing information on social and agroforestry programmes and made them available for all levels of stakeholders to achieve higher productivity and environmental amelioration. Hence, this book entitled “Social forestry and Agroforestry” which includes judicious mixture of all basics and fundamentals coupled with advanced silvicultural technologies. This book was initially targeted for farm under and post graduates and later on cloned to meet the needs of wood based industries, plantation managers, professional foresters, researchers and farmers.
The contents in the book covered wide array of subjects, which traced the history of forestry in India and their role coupled with recent plantation activities. The book incorporated 15 chapters and the first three chapters dealt with role of forests both tangible and intangible benefits along with historical evidences of various forestry activities. This besides, the role of various National Forest Policies in guiding the forest management system have also been dealt. The subsequent three chapters contained issues related to social forestry, social forestry plantations and projects and also joint forest management in Tamil Nadu. The chapters seven to ten dealt with the basic concept, benefits and constraints of agroforestry, classification of agroforestry systems, integrated farming system for different regions and also the role of agroforestry on watershed management.
The trees play major role in augmenting edapho-climatic factors and hence a separate chapter on role of trees on soil and water conservation and soil fertility was included for use by watershed managers. Agroforestry plays a significant role in wasteland development. Hence a separate chapter on classification, extent of wastelands in India and also the development of wastelands through agroforestry was included.
The economic viability of any farming system is a matter of concern. Hence, a separate chapter on economic analysis of agroforestry systems has been incorporated with all tangible and intangible evaluation. Lastly, the book inculcated the silvicultural technologies of important tree species suitable for timber, industrial, biofuel and energy.
Hence, this book is a comprehensive information system with all aspects of forestry and agroforestry, which can be a reference material for graduating students, professional foresters, farmers and others who are venturing for tree husbandry.
Dr.M.P.Divya, working as Associate Professor(Forestry) in the Department of Agroforestry, Forest College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Mettupalayam. She has 12 1/2 years of experience in teaching, research and extension. She has authored 1 book, 3 technical bulletins and published 30 research papers in the National and International journals and also published many popular articles. She has presented many research papers in the various national and international conferences and seminars. She has received the following awards viz., Best Scientist in Agroforestry in 2001 by the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore; Best Environmental Management Award (3rd prize) in 2003 by the Department of Environment, Govt. of Tamil Nadu and the Best Woman Scientist in 2006 (Agricultural Sciences) in the field of Agroforestry by the Science City, Govt.of Tamil Nadu. She has handled 2 external funded schemes as Principal Investigator.
Dr.K.T.Parthiban, Associate Professor, is borne at the faculty of forestry involved in teaching of UG, PG and Ph.D programme in forestry and tree improvement research in timber, industrial wood, energy and biofuel trees. The author is currently involved in 12 externally funded projects in association with various wood and non-wood based industries. He is credential for 8 books and more than 75 research papers in the journal of national and international repute. He has visited many European countries including UK, France, and Republic of Ireland as a part of EEC project. He has been identified as a resource person by more than 100 different organizations as a forestry specialist.
Dr.K.Srinivasan,working as Professor and Head, Department of Agroforestry, Forest College and Research Institute, Mettupalayam. He has obtained M.Sc (Ag.) and Ph.D with specialization in Agronomy from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. He has put up 19 years of service as a teacher and researcher in TNAU. He is a fellow of Indian Society of Agronomy. He has published 65 research articles and 109 popular articles in various National and International journals and also the author for 2 books. He has handled two International funded schemes. He has been awarded Best Research Award 2000 by Gaurav Society of Agriculture. He has specialized in the field of Natural Resource Management in Agriculture and Horticulture crops.
Dr.M.Govinda Rao, belongs to 1984 batch of Indian Forest Service and allotted to Tamil Nadu cadre and has served the Tamil Nadu Forest Department in various capacities viz., District Forest Officer in different divisions and Conservator of Forests in Tirunelveli circle. Presently,he is the Dean (on deputation),Forest College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Mettupalayam. He has revised the working plan for Coimbatore Forest Division and Management Plan for Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary at Srivilliputhur. He has also participated and contributed papers in various National Symposiums and Workshops.
