Introduction to Forestry

When you think of “life” you think about plants, trees and water. Such has been the undisputed relationship of man-kind with nature. Forestry, agriculture and environmental science, all focus upon exploring and enhancing our co-existence with nature, “More than being a subject it is knowledge valuable for our existence. In India, the professional forestry education was started in the year 1985 and currently offered at several State Agricultural and Central Universities. The Forestry and Agroforestry has also been included as a subject in various undergraduate program of State Agricultural and other conventional universities. This text book covered all the aspect of forest like silviculture, forest mensuration, forest management, forest utilization and agroforestry. This book integrates the latest global developments in forestry science and practice and their relevance for the sustainable management of forests. Besides, the book can also be used for reference material for the graduates aspiring for State and Central Forest Service Examinations. The wide range of experience of the contributing authors equip them especially well to identify missing content from other texts in the area and address topics currently covered in corresponding college courses.

Dr. B. Sivakumar Ph.D., Assistant Professor(Forestry) Agricultural College & Research Institute Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Vazhavachanur, Thiruvannamalai

Dr. B. Muralidharan M.Sc. (Horti.), Ph.D., Teaching Assistant (Horti) Department of Horticulture Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Coimbatore

•  History of Indian Forestry................................................................ 1 History, Gupta Period, Mughal Period, Early British period, Charter of the Indian Forest, Awakening of Organized Forest Management World Wars, Forestry in Independent India, Forest Types in India, Status of Indian Forests 
• Role of Forest .................................................................................... 17 Productive Role, Timber, Industrial Wood, Fuel, NTFP, Protective Role, Earth’s Air Purifier, Climate Amelioration, Soil and Water Conservation, Wildlife Habitat
•  Forest and Forestry......................................................................... 49 Definition of Forest and Forstry, Classification of Forest, Forestry, Silviculture, Objectives of Silviculture 
• National Forest Policy, 1988 .......................................................... 53 Definition, Preamble, Basic Objectives, Essentials of Forest Management, Strategy 
• Forest Regeneration ........................................................................ 65 Forest Regeneration, Natural Regeneration, Artificial Regeneration, Quality Planting Stock Production Techniques-Clonal Forestry Techniques 
• Silvicultural Techniques of Important Trees ............................107 Eucalyptus, Teak, Casuarina, Subabul, Ailanthus, Melia 
• Forest Mensuration .......................................................................141 Objectives, Diameter Measurements, Instruments used in Diameter Measurement, Height Measurement, Methods of Height Measurement, Volume Estimation of Standing and Felled Trees 
• Social Forestry ................................................................................163 Social Forestry, Concepts, History, Objectives, Componetns of Social Forestry, Benefits of Social Forestry, Urban Forestry, Importance of Urban ............................ Forestry, Management of Urban Forestry 
• Agroforestry ...................................................................................171 Agroforestry, Agroforestry Concepts, Objectives and Classifications, Distinction between Social Forestry and Agroforestry, Agroforestry Systems & their Applications for Different Agroclimatic Zones of Tamil Nadu 
• Tree and Crop Combination in Agroforestry ..........................201 Tree Crop Interaction in Agroforestry 
• Forest Utilization ...........................................................................211 Forest Utilization, Solid wood-timber and its products, Non-wood Forest Products (fibres, flosses, grasses, bamboos and canes), Non-wood forest products (oil, tannin, dyes, gum, resins) 
• Botanical Name and Common Name of Important Trees ......................................223
• Glossary ...........................................................................................231
• References .......................................................................................237