Forestry is the branch of science which deals with the scientific rearing of forest trees so as to achieve maximum benefit. Thus, forestry is a science by which we study nature, work with nature but do not compete with nature.
The word forest had been derived from the Latin word Foris which means outside i.e. the land outside the boundary of villages or cities covered with trees and shrubs. A nation with more covered areas with forest is supposed to be more rich than the country with less covered areas. A forest not necessarily consists of plants only but also variety of animals. Forests like other biomes are ecosystem comprised both biotic and abiotic environment. We derive a lot of things for both, domestic as well as industrial uses. Hence it should be our constant endeavour to see that the forest wealth does not go waste unnecessarily. A judicious use of forest and forest products for the benefit of mankind for a longer duration without hampering its ecosystem is known as forestry. In other words forestry is defined as the scientific and rational approach to forests.
Forests on one hand determine the climate, water cycle etc. and on the other not only provide natural shelter to a large number of animals but also yield valuable things. Forests play important roles in the economy of any country. Some of the important uses of forests are as follows :
(i) Forests provide natural habitat for wild life.
(ii) They play positive and effective role in the floor control and soil erosion.
(iii) Forests regulate constant supply of fresh water through timely rain domestic and industrial uses.
Though we get innumerable things from forests but important products of commercial utility are:
(a) Timber (b) Plywood
(c) Paper (d) Lac
(e) Gum (f) Resin
(g) Fuel (h) Drugs
(i) Animal Food
(I) Animal hides
The types of forests with their climatic characteristics are is follows :
(i) Deciduous evergreen forests have severe winter and warm summer.
(ii) Tropical forests have very hot summer and moderate winter.
(iii) Sub-tropical forests have hot summer with cold winter.
(iv) Coniferous evergreen forests have warm summer with pronounced winter.
In India only two types of forests namely, broad leaved evergreen forests and deciduous forests mainly consisting of needle-leaved plants are found.
Forest management
With constant fall in the forest areas and its products it became necessary to develop ways and means not only to increase areas covered by forests but also maintain a constant supply of forest products. Keeping this in view, forest management was developed where efforts are being made to stop wasteful approach, pest and fire control. Other methods, that are practised under forest management, are block cutting and reforestation.
All the above methods are directed towards the common aim—the conservation of forests which means scientific rearing and tending of forest trees and judicious use of forest and fores products.
The important methods of conservation of forests are:
(a) Block-cutting.
(b) Prevention of forests fires.
(c) Prevention of plant diseases.
(d) Reforestation.
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