Lecture 1: Basic Terms Related To Forestry PDF

LECTURE 1: BASIC TERMS RELATED TO FORESTRY Dr. Gagan Mehta Assistant Professor Agricultural economics 1. Forestry: Forestry has been defined as the theory and practice of all that constitutes the creation, conservation and scientifi...

LECTURE 1: BASIC TERMS RELATED TO FORESTRY Dr. Gagan Mehta Assistant Professor Agricultural economics 1. Forestry: Forestry has been defined as the theory and practice of all that constitutes the creation, conservation and scientific management of forests and the utilization of their resources. 2. Silviculture: The terms silviculture, commonly refers only to certain aspects of theory and practice of raising forests crops. OR Silviculture pertains to the establishment, development, care and reproduction of forests crops. 3. Pollarding: This is a process in which the branch of a plant is cut off above the browsing height in order to produce a flush of new shoots.  Pollarding is carried out at a height which is above the reach of browsing animals. It has been widely adopted on salix trees in Kashmir Valley. (Willow), Hard-wickia binata in A.P. (Anjan), Grewia robusta (Silver oak type) 4. Coppice: When certain plants or seedling are cut from near ground level, they produce a flush of fresh shoots. This is known as coppicing Eg: Willow (Salix spp.) , Poplar, Alder (Alnus spp.), Acacia spp. etc.  5. Lopping: It pertains to the cutting of branches or even young stems. This leads to the development of new shoots. It is carried out on Diospyros (Temburni) for bidi industry, also in number of broad leaved species for fuel and fodder and as Quercus leucotrichophora (Indiana oak), morus etc, for rearing silkworm.  In other words it is the trimming of tree branches to reduce and modify the size of the tree. 6. Pruning: Means the cutting of branches from the bole in order to maintain the quality of timber. It helps to protect trees against disease to aid health for a long life. 7. Taungya system: It was first evolved in Burma in 1850 as a mode of replanting vast teak areas. Taungya is a Burmas word. (Toung hill, ya - cultivation). This is a modified from of shifting cultivation of which the labour has permission to raise crop on the land, but, with this, they are responsible for planting, of the forest species, also for protection and well being of the plantation. After about five years or so, they are required to move to another patch of land. 8. Seed orchards: are plantations which may raised exclusively with the aim of producing seed. 9. Seed Production areas or seed stands: Which are area set aside exclusively for the purpose (i) to produce seed of high quality from genetically superior trees available in the stand (ii) to concentrate seed collecting operation in a small sphere or area. The seed stands are established by removal of the inferior trees, seed orchards are plantation of genetically superior trees isolated to reduce pollination from genetically inferior once. Seeds orchards may be of two types: (i) Clonal: raised by grafting clones of superior trees on 2-3 year old seedlings (2) Seedling: raised from seeds of superior trees. 10. Pricking out: When the seedlings have to be kept in the nursery for more than a year, it must be transferred to beds, other than the seedling beds. This is known as pricking out or to transplant small seedlings individually in to nursery beds or boxes. 11. Wind breaks: Is a protective plantation in a certain area, against strong winds. It is usually comprised of a few rows of trees (or shrubs) spaces at 0.5 to 2.5 m apart.) 12. Shelter belts: is a wide zone of trees, shrubs and grasses, planted in rows, usually at right angles to the direction of the prevailing winds. Its aims are: a. To deflect the air current. b. To reduce the velocity of prevailing winds c. To provide general protection d. To protect the leeward area from the desiccating effects of hot winds 13. Tending: Tending is a board terms given to operation which are carried out for the well being of forest crops, at any stage of it life, involving operation both on the crop itself and on its competing vegetation e.g. weeding, cleaning, thinning, improvement feeling etc. However, tending does not include operation concerning, regeneration such as regeneration feeling, soil working, control burning etc.  14. Felling: Felling comprise of removal of trees either singly or in small groups scattered all over the forest. 15. Afforestation: Establishing a forest by artificial means on an area on which not forest vegetation has existed for a long time in the past. 16. Reforestation: Re-establishing a forest, by artificial means on an area which previously bore forest vegetation, and which may have been felled or otherwise cleared in the recent past. 17. Basal area: The area of the cross section of a stem at breast height, when applied to a crop, the sum of basal areas of all the stems or the total basal areas per unit area. 18. Bole: The main stem of a tree. 19. Breast height: Almost universally adopted as the standard height for measuring the girth, diameter and a basal areas of standing trees. India 4‟6” (1.37m). In U.K. and most commonwealth countries 4‟.3” (1.30m) 20. Crown: The upper branchy part of the tree above the bole. 21. Dendrology: The identification and systematic classification of trees. 22. Reserved forests: An area notified under the provisions of India Forest Act or the State Forest Acts having full degree of protection. In Reserved Forests all activities are prohibited unless permitted. 23. Protected forests: An area notified under the provisions of India Forest Act or the State Forest Acts having limited degree of protection. In Protected Forests all activities are permitted unless prohibited. 24. Unclassed forest: An area recorded as forest but not included in reserved or protected forest category. Ownership status of such forests varies from state to state. 25. Log: The stem of a tree or a length of stem or branch after felling and trimming. 26. Logging: process of harvesting trees, sawing them into appropriate lengths, and transporting them (skidding) to a sawmill. 27. Pole: A young tree from the time when the lower branches begin to fall off to the time when rate of height growth begins to slow down and crown expansion becomes marked. 28. Raft: An assemblage of logs, timbers or bamboos tied together or enclosed within a boom for transport by floating. 29. Scrub: Inferior growth consisting chiefly of small or stunted trees and shrubs. 30. Stand: An aggregation of trees or other growth possessing sufficient uniformity in composition, constitution, age arrangement or condition, to be distinguished from adjacent crops and forming a silvicultural unit.