Forestry
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Forestry is the study of forest growth, yield of forest products, integrated with other resource values including societal, cultural, and traditional values. Wikipedia defines Forestry as "the science and craft of creating, managing, planting, using, conserving and repairing forests and woodlands for associated resources for human and environmental benefits." Forestry can be thought of as a form of Applied Ecology, applying the principles of Ecology to basis forest management decisions on sound scientific, social, and economic principles to ensure greater likelihood of achieving forest management objectives.
Introduction Forests are an assemblage of individual trees, often varying widely in age, form, vigor, and species. Most Forestry study programs begin with Dendrology or "Silvics", the study of individual tree species and their unique adaptations for survival and growth. Each species has a life history strategy which affects their expressed and potential ecological niche, inter-species competition.
Silvicultural Methods This chapter addresses the interventions to manipulate species assemblages, forest structure and size, often resulting in the yield of forest products such as sawlogs, roundwood (pulpwood), or fuelwood.
Harvest Operations Primary transportation of felled trees from the stump to accumulation points, where secondary transportation or even tertiary transportation to a processing location.
Forest Management Regulation of forest yields over time is a desirable for long-term planning, with the result being a calculated expected yield and rotation and/or harvesting interval.
Forest Economics Comparision of management alternatives on the basis of anticipated financial return is the fundamental application of forest economics.
Forest Pathology Many insects prey upon forest tree species and they are also susceptible to disease complexes perpetuated by pathogens such as fungi. The diagnosis and treatment of such infestations and diseases is often important to maintaining healthy forests.
Forest Disturbances Forests are often adapted to events such as ice-storms, tornados, wildfire, seasonal flooding, and other deleterious environmental events. Its important to understand the cycle, severity, and effects of these events to calculate risk for forest management and incorporate resilience and resistance into planned management activities and techniques.