Outline of forestry
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The following outline is provided as an overview of and guide to forestry:
Forestry Forestry is the science and craft of creating, managing, planting, using, conserving and repairing forests, woodlands, and associated resources for human and environmental benefits. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands. ...
– science and craft of creating, managing, using, conserving, and repairing
forest A forest is an area of land dominated by trees. Hundreds of definitions of forest are used throughout the world, incorporating factors such as tree density, tree height, land use, legal standing, and ecological function. The United Nations' ...
s and associated resources to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human and environment benefits. Forestry is practiced in
plantation A plantation is an agricultural estate, generally centered on a plantation house, meant for farming that specializes in cash crops, usually mainly planted with a single crop, with perhaps ancillary areas for vegetables for eating and so on. Th ...
s and natural stands. Forestry accommodates a broad range of concerns, through what is known as multiple-use management, striving for
sustainability Specific definitions of sustainability are difficult to agree on and have varied in the literature and over time. The concept of sustainability can be used to guide decisions at the global, national, and individual levels (e.g. sustainable livi ...
in the provision of
timber Lumber is wood that has been processed into dimensional lumber, including beams and planks or boards, a stage in the process of wood production. Lumber is mainly used for construction framing, as well as finishing (floors, wall panels, w ...
, fuel wood,
wildlife habitat In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species habitat can be seen as the physical ...
, natural water quality management,
recreation Recreation is an activity of leisure, leisure being discretionary time. The "need to do something for recreation" is an essential element of human biology and psychology. Recreational activities are often done for enjoyment, amusement, or plea ...
, landscape and community protection, employment, aesthetically appealing
landscape A landscape is the visible features of an area of land, its landforms, and how they integrate with natural or man-made features, often considered in terms of their aesthetic appeal.''New Oxford American Dictionary''. A landscape includes the ...
s,
biodiversity Biodiversity or biological diversity is the variety and variability of life on Earth. Biodiversity is a measure of variation at the genetic ('' genetic variability''), species ('' species diversity''), and ecosystem ('' ecosystem diversity'') ...
management,
watershed management Watershed management is the study of the relevant characteristics of a watershed aimed at the sustainable distribution of its resources and the process of creating and implementing plans, programs and projects to sustain and enhance watershed funct ...
,
erosion control Erosion control is the practice of preventing or controlling wind or water erosion in agriculture, land development, coastal areas, river banks and construction. Effective erosion controls handle surface runoff and are important techniques i ...
, and preserving forests as '
sink A sink is a bowl-shaped plumbing fixture for washing hands, dishwashing, and other purposes. Sinks have a tap (faucet) that supply hot and cold water and may include a spray feature to be used for faster rinsing. They also include a drain t ...
s' for
atmospheric An atmosphere () is a layer of gas or layers of gases that envelop a planet, and is held in place by the gravity of the planetary body. A planet retains an atmosphere when the gravity is great and the temperature of the atmosphere is low. A ...
carbon dioxide Carbon dioxide ( chemical formula ) is a chemical compound made up of molecules that each have one carbon atom covalently double bonded to two oxygen atoms. It is found in the gas state at room temperature. In the air, carbon dioxide is t ...
.


Focus of forestry

*
Tree In botany, a tree is a perennial plant with an elongated stem, or trunk, usually supporting branches and leaves. In some usages, the definition of a tree may be narrower, including only woody plants with secondary growth, plants that are ...
– organism, whose species, age, vitality, growth, health, and size, are considered individually or more often, as part of a whole; :*
Forest A forest is an area of land dominated by trees. Hundreds of definitions of forest are used throughout the world, incorporating factors such as tree density, tree height, land use, legal standing, and ecological function. The United Nations' ...
– defined as either a geographic area or delineated by the general composition of individuals; ::*
Biome A biome () is a biogeographical unit consisting of a biological community that has formed in response to the physical environment in which they are found and a shared regional climate. Biomes may span more than one continent. Biome is a broader ...
– ecologically defined by its forest structure, leaf types, tree spacing, and climate


Branches of forestry

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Agroforestry Agroforestry is a land use management system in which trees or shrubs are grown around or among crops or pastureland. Trees produce a wide range of useful and marketable products from fruits/nuts, medicines, wood products, etc. This intentional ...
– integration of forests into agricultural systems in order to optimize the production and positive effects within the system and minimize negative side effects of farming * Boreal forestry – analyzes the particular challenges of forestry in the world's
boreal Boreal may refer to: Climatology and geography *Boreal (age), the first climatic phase of the Blytt-Sernander sequence of northern Europe, during the Holocene epoch *Boreal climate, a climate characterized by long winters and short, cool to mild ...
regions * Close to nature forestry – theory and practice that takes the forest as an ecosystem and manages it as such. It is based on reduced human intervention, that should be directed to accelerate the processes that nature would do by itself more slowly. *
Dendrology Dendrology ( grc, δένδρον, ''dendron'', "tree"; and grc, -λογία, ''-logia'', ''science of'' or ''study of'') or xylology ( grc, ξύλον, ''ksulon'', "wood") is the science and study of woody plants (trees, shrubs, and lianas), ...
– involves the study and identification of economically useful tree species * Energy forestry – includes specifically managing for the production of energy from biomass or biofuel derived from a fast-growing species of tree or woody shrub *
Forest ecology Forest ecology is the scientific study of the interrelated patterns, processes, flora, fauna and ecosystems in forests. The management of forests is known as forestry, silviculture, and forest management. A forest ecosystem is a natural wood ...
– studies the patterns and processes of a forest ecosystem * Forest economics – studies the impact of economics on forest management decisions * Forest hydrology – embodies the effects of changes in forest land use on the movement, distribution, and quality of water in the ecosystem * Forest mensuration – incorporates quantitative measurements of the forest
stand Stand or The Stand may refer to: * To assume the upright position of standing * Forest stand, a group of trees * Area of seating in a stadium, such as bleachers * Stand (cricket), a relationship between two players * Stand (drill pipe), 2 or 3 ...
to determine stand timber volume and productivity/health, and provides a basis off which management decisions can be made * Forest pathology – research of both biotic and abiotic maladies affecting the health of the forest or tree, primarily fungal pathogens and their insect vectors *
Silviculture Silviculture is the practice of controlling the growth, composition/structure, and quality of forests to meet values and needs, specifically timber production. The name comes from the Latin ('forest') and ('growing'). The study of forests and wo ...
– is the art and science of controlling the establishment, growth, composition, health, and quality of forests to meet specific objectives *
Social forestry Social organisms, including human(s), live collectively in interacting populations. This interaction is considered social whether they are aware of it or not, and whether the exchange is voluntary or not. Etymology The word "social" derives from ...
– addresses human-forest interactions, and the importance of community-based
natural resource management Natural resource management (NRM) is the management of natural resources such as land, water, soil, plants and animals, with a particular focus on how management affects the quality of life for both present and future generations (stewardship) ...
*
Sustainable forestry Sustainable forest management (SFM) is the management of forests according to the principles of sustainable development. Sustainable forest management has to keep the balance between three main pillars: ecological, economic and socio-cultura ...
– emphasizes forest management for long-term environmental, social, and economic
sustainability Specific definitions of sustainability are difficult to agree on and have varied in the literature and over time. The concept of sustainability can be used to guide decisions at the global, national, and individual levels (e.g. sustainable livi ...
*
Tropical forestry The tropics are the regions of Earth surrounding the Equator. They are defined in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the Northern Hemisphere at N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Hemisphere at S. The tropics are also referr ...
– is particularly concerned with management and conservation of forests in the
tropics The tropics are the regions of Earth surrounding the Equator. They are defined in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the Northern Hemisphere at N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Hemisphere at S. The tropics are also refer ...
*
Urban forestry Urban forestry is the care and management of single trees and tree populations in urban settings for the purpose of improving the urban environment. Urban forestry involves both planning and management, including the programming of care and ...
– entails the care and management of urban tree populations for the purpose of improving the urban environment *
World forestry In its most general sense, the term "world" refers to the totality of entities, to the whole of reality or to everything that is. The nature of the world has been conceptualized differently in different fields. Some conceptions see the worl ...
– examines forest conservation at a global level


Forest management

Forest management Forest management is a branch of forestry concerned with overall administrative, legal, economic, and social aspects, as well as scientific and technical aspects, such as silviculture, protection, and forest regulation. This includes management fo ...
– comprises the overall administrative, economic, legal, and social aspects of forest regulation * Analog forestry – a management focus that seeks to establish a tree-dominated ecosystem that is similar in architectural structure and ecological function to the naturally occurring climax and sub-climax vegetation community * Bamboo cultivation – farming and harvesting bamboo for commercial purposes such as construction. *
Community forestry Community forestry is an evolving branch of forestry whereby the local community plays a significant role in forest management and land use decision making by themselves in the facilitating support of government as well as change agents. It involv ...
– combination of forest conservation with rural development and poverty reduction objectives, accomplished through instating a legal framework that favors profitable and sustainable forest management *
Ecoforestry Ecoforestry has been defined as selection forestry or restoration forestry. The main idea of ecoforestry is to maintain or restore the forest to standards where the forest may still be harvested for products on a sustainable basis.Rastogi J. (Sum ...
– emphasizes practices which strive to protect and restore ecosystems *
Hardwood timber production Hardwood timber production is the process of managing stands of deciduous trees to maximize woody output. The production process is not linear because other factors must be considered, including marketable and non-marketable goods, financial benef ...
– process of managing stands of deciduous trees to maximize woody output :*
Tree breeding Tree breeding is the application of genetic, reproductive biology and economics principles to the genetic improvement and management of forest trees. In contrast to the selective breeding of livestock, arable crops, and horticultural flowers over t ...
– method of genetically modifying/selecting forest stock for improved growth or vigor characteristics * Mycoforestry – ecological forest management system implemented to enhance forest ecosystems and plant communities through the introduction of mycorrhizal and saprotrophic fungi * Permaforestry – approach to the wildcrafting and harvesting of the forest biomass that uses cultivation to improve the natural harmonious systems. It is a relationship of interdependence between humans and the natural systems in which the amount of biomass available from the forest increases with the health of its natural systems. *
Plantation forestry A tree plantation, forest plantation, plantation forest, timber plantation or tree farm is a forest planted for high volume production of wood, usually by planting one type of tree as a monoculture forest. The term ''tree farm'' also is used to ...
– industrial plantations are established to produce a high volume of wood in a short period of time. Some plantations are managed by state forestry authorities (for example, the Forestry Commission in Britain) and others by paper and wood companies (such as Weyerhaeuser, Rayonier and Plum Creek Timber in the United States, Asia Pulp & Paper in Indonesia). *
Short rotation forestry Short rotation forestry (SRF) is grown as an energy crop for use in power stations, alone or in combination with other fuels such as coal. It is similar to historic fuelwood coppice systems. Species used SRF is the practice of cultivating fast-g ...
– managing a forest that utilizes fast-growing species as a bio-based
energy crop Energy crops are low-cost and low-maintenance crops grown solely for energy production by combustion (not for food). The crops are processed into solid, liquid or gaseous fuels, such as pellets, bioethanol or biogas. The fuels are burned to ...
for use in power stations, alone or in combination with other fuels such as coal :*
Short rotation coppice Short rotation coppice (SRC) is coppice grown as an energy crop. This woody solid biomass can be used in applications such as district heating, electric power generating stations, alone or in combination with other fuels. Currently, the leading ...
(SRC) – focus on species that are able to naturally regenerate through stump sprouts to maximize economic productivity *
Sustainable forest management Sustainable forest management (SFM) is the management of forests according to the principles of sustainable development. Sustainable forest management has to keep the balance between three main pillars: ecological, economic and socio-cultural. ...
– emphasizes practices that maintain forest biodiversity, productivity, regeneration capacity, and vitality, while continuing to fulfill relevant ecological, economic and social functions *
Tree farm In botany, a tree is a perennial plant with an elongated stem, or trunk, usually supporting branches and leaves. In some usages, the definition of a tree may be narrower, including only woody plants with secondary growth, plants that are u ...
– a forest or woodland owned privately where timber crop production is a major management goal


Types of trees and forests

* Types of trees **
List of trees and shrubs by taxonomic family The following is a list of widely known trees and shrubs. Taxonomic families for the following trees and shrubs are listed in alphabetical order, likewise the genera and closely related species. The list currently includes 1351 species. __TOC__ ...
***
List of tree species by shade tolerance A list of tree species, grouped generally by biogeographic realm and specifically by bioregions, and shade tolerance. Shade-tolerant species are species that are able to thrive in the shade, and in the presence of natural competition by other plan ...
– tree grouped by
shade tolerance In ecology, shade tolerance is a plant's ability to tolerate low light levels. The term is also used in horticulture and landscaping, although in this context its use is sometimes imprecise, especially in labeling of plants for sale in commercial ...
, a determinant in successional status ** List of woods – commonly used in the timber and lumber trade * Types of forests ** By ecological factors (climate, composition, etc.) ***
Boreal forest Taiga (; rus, тайга́, p=tɐjˈɡa; relates to Mongolic and Turkic languages), generally referred to in North America as a boreal forest or snow forest, is a biome characterized by coniferous forests consisting mostly of pines, spruc ...
s (taiga) – occupy the
subarctic The subarctic zone is a region in the Northern Hemisphere immediately south of the true Arctic, north of humid continental regions and covering much of Alaska, Canada, Iceland, the north of Scandinavia, Siberia, and the Cairngorms. Genera ...
zone and are generally evergreen and coniferous ****
Coniferous forest Conifers are a group of cone-bearing seed plants, a subset of gymnosperms. Scientifically, they make up the division Pinophyta (), also known as Coniferophyta () or Coniferae. The division contains a single extant class, Pinopsida. All exta ...
s ***
Temperate forest A temperate forest is a forest found between the tropical and boreal regions, located in the temperate zone. It is the second largest biome on our planet, covering 25% of the world's forest area, only behind the boreal forest, which covers abou ...
s – forests in temperate zones **** Broadleaf forests, for example: *****
Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests Temperate broadleaf and mixed forest is a temperate climate terrestrial habitat type defined by the World Wide Fund for Nature, with broadleaf tree ecoregions, and with conifer and broadleaf tree mixed coniferous forest ecoregions. These f ...
**** Evergreen coniferous forests, for example: *****
Temperate coniferous forests Temperate coniferous forest is a terrestrial biome defined by the World Wide Fund for Nature. Temperate coniferous forests are found predominantly in areas with warm summers and cool winters, and vary in their kinds of plant life. In some, needl ...
*****
Temperate rainforest Temperate rainforests are coniferous or broadleaf forests that occur in the temperate zone and receive heavy rain. Temperate rain forests occur in oceanic moist regions around the world: the Pacific temperate rain forests of North American ...
s **** Broadleaf evergreen forests – supported in warm temperate zones. Examples include: *****
Laurel forest Laurel forest, also called laurisilva or laurissilva, is a type of subtropical forest found in areas with high humidity and relatively stable, mild temperatures. The forest is characterized by broadleaf tree species with evergreen, glossy and elo ...
s *** Tropical and
subtropical The subtropical zones or subtropics are geographical and climate zones to the north and south of the tropics. Geographically part of the temperate zones of both hemispheres, they cover the middle latitudes from to approximately 35° north a ...
forests ****
Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests (TSMF), also known as tropical moist forest, is a subtropical and tropical forest habitat type defined by the World Wide Fund for Nature. Description TSMF is generally found in large, discon ...
****
Tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests The tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forest is a habitat type defined by the World Wide Fund for Nature and is located at tropical and subtropical latitudes. Though these forests occur in climates that are warm year-round, and may receive ...
****
Tropical and subtropical coniferous forests Tropical and subtropical coniferous forests are a tropical forest habitat type defined by the World Wide Fund for Nature. These forests are found predominantly in North and Central America and experience low levels of precipitation and moderate va ...
*** By physical structure or developmental stage ****
Old growth forest An old-growth forestalso termed primary forest, virgin forest, late seral forest, primeval forest, or first-growth forestis a forest that has attained great age without significant disturbance, and thereby exhibits unique ecological feature ...
****
Secondary forest A secondary forest (or second-growth forest) is a forest or woodland area which has re-grown after a timber harvest or clearing for agriculture, until a long enough period has passed so that the effects of the disturbance are no longer evident. I ...
*** By dominant tree species, for example ****
Ponderosa pine ''Pinus ponderosa'', commonly known as the ponderosa pine, bull pine, blackjack pine, western yellow-pine, or filipinus pine is a very large pine tree species of variable habitat native to mountainous regions of western North America. It is the ...
forests ****
Douglas-fir The Douglas fir (''Pseudotsuga menziesii'') is an evergreen conifer species in the pine family, Pinaceae. It is native to western North America and is also known as Douglas-fir, Douglas spruce, Oregon pine, and Columbian pine. There are three va ...
forests **
List of types of formally designated forests This is a list of types of formally designated forests, as used in various places around the world. It is organized in three sublists: by forest ownership, protection status, and designated use. By ownership * Church forests of Ethiopia - pr ...
– various institutionally designated types of forest areas, generally classified by use or ownership


Geography of forests

* List of countries by forest area – using data from the CIA's ''World Factbook'', presents the total area in km2 and the percentage of land covered by forests * Lists of forests **
List of old growth forests This is a list of existing old-growth (including "virgin") forests, or remnants of forest, of at least . ecoregion information from "Terrestrial Ecoregions of the World". (NB: The terms "old growth" and "virgin" may have various definitions and ...
– by continent, country, province; with various descriptive information


Map of biomes


* List of life zones by region


Occupations in forestry

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Arborist An arborist, tree surgeon, or (less commonly) arboriculturist, is a professional in the practice of arboriculture, which is the cultivation, management, and study of individual trees, shrubs, vines, and other perennial woody plants in dend ...
– professional responsible for the maintenance of individual trees in an urban forest also called a tree surgeon. * Donkey puncher was the operator of a small steam donkey, a machine used in logging in the 19th and 20th centuries. *
Fire lookout A fire lookout (partly also called a fire watcher) is a person assigned the duty to look for fire from atop a building known as a fire lookout tower. These towers are used in remote areas, normally on mountain tops with high elevation and a ...
– person assigned to spot for fires/smoke atop a fire lookout tower * Forest ecologist – studies patterns, processes, flora and fauna in forest ecosystems * Forest economist – model and analyze economic aspects of forest growth, utilization, and conservation * Forest engineer
civil engineer A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering – the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructure while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing ...
specializing in all aspects of timber and forest operations, including road-building, railways, log transport, etc. *
Forest ranger A ranger, park ranger, park warden, or forest ranger is a law enforcement person entrusted with protecting and preserving parklands – national, state, provincial, or local parks. Description "Parks" may be broadly defined by some systems in thi ...
– responsible for managing and policing human use of the forest; sometimes also acts as educator and interpreter * Forest sociologist – applied social scientist working with a wide variety of stakeholders interested in forests * Forest technician – individual primarily responsible for the marking of timber sales and on-ground land management, often requires a two-year Associate of Science degree *
Forester A forester is a person who practises forestry, the science, art, and profession of managing forests. Foresters engage in a broad range of activities including ecological restoration and management of protected areas. Foresters manage forests to ...
– professional chiefly responsible for the management of forests, requires a Bachelor of Science degree in most countries ** Master forester – forestry expert responsible for forest management and training * Hotshot crew/ Handcrew – a group of wildland firefighters specialized in fire suppression tactics *
Lumberjack Lumberjacks are mostly North American workers in the logging industry who perform the initial harvesting and transport of trees for ultimate processing into forest products. The term usually refers to loggers in the era (before 1945 in the Unite ...
– the typical feller of trees and harvester of the lumber, duties can also include: :*
Log bucking A crew of log buckers with crosscut saws in 1914. Bucker limbing dead branch stubs with a chainsaw, also known as knot bumping Bucker making a bucking cut with a chainsaw Bucking is the process of cutting a felled and delimbed tree into lo ...
– delimbing and partitioning of trees into logs :*
Log driving Log driving is a means of moving logs (sawn tree trunks) from a forest to sawmills and pulp mills downstream using the current of a river. It was the main transportation method of the early logging industry in Europe and North America. Histor ...
– transportation of logs on a river or lake downstream to the mill :* Log scaling – measurement of felled trees to determine the volume of wood going to the manufacturer * Resin extractor – laborer who extracts resin from pine trees *
Rubber tapper Rubber tapping is the process by which latex is collected from a rubber tree. The latex is harvested by slicing a groove into the bark of the tree at a depth of with a hooked knife and peeling back the bark. Trees must be approximately six years ...
– laborer who extracts natural rubber from tropical rubber trees *
Smokejumper Smokejumpers are specially trained wildland firefighters who provide an initial attack response on remote wildland fires. They are inserted at the site of the fire by parachute. In addition to performing the initial attack on wildfires, they ...
– firefighters who parachute into remote areas to fight wildland fires *
Timber cruise Forest inventory is the systematic collection of data and forest information for assessment or analysis. An estimate of the value and possible uses of timber is an important part of the broader information required to sustain ecosystems. When taki ...
r – responsible for assessing forest growth, health, and valuation * Tree planters – help reestablish forests after logging, fires, and other events and circumstances


Silvicultural methods

Silviculture Silviculture is the practice of controlling the growth, composition/structure, and quality of forests to meet values and needs, specifically timber production. The name comes from the Latin ('forest') and ('growing'). The study of forests and wo ...
– practice of controlling the establishment, growth, composition, health, and quality of forests to meet diverse needs and values. Silviculture also focuses on making sure that the treatment(s) of forest stands are used to preserve and to better their productivity. Site preparation *
Controlled burn A controlled or prescribed burn, also known as hazard reduction burning, backfire, swailing, or a burn-off, is a fire set intentionally for purposes of forest management, farming, prairie restoration or greenhouse gas abatement. A contr ...
– use of fire in order to eliminate weeds, brush, or slash, or to release on-site seeds of fire-dependent species *
Stump harvesting In plantation forests in parts of Europe, the tree stumps left after felling are now sometimes pulled out of the ground to supply wood fuel for biomass power stations. The stump is the base of the trunk and the attached woody roots. Tree stumps and ...
– removal of tree stumps either for biomass or to free up space in the soil * Drum chopping – knocking down small trees and brush to clear the ground for planting Planting * Broadcast seeding – scattering of seed either by hand or mechanically over a relatively large area *
Aerial seeding Aerial seeding is a technique of sowing seeds by spraying them through aerial mechanical means such as a drone, plane or helicopter. When the purpose is reforestation, it is known as aerial reforestation. Aerial seeding is considered a broadca ...
– dispersing of seed from an aircraft, used especially in mountainous areas * Treeplanting – transplanting of juvenile seedlings into the ground at a predetermined spacing Intermediate treatments *
Weeding Weed control is a type of pest control, which attempts to stop or reduce growth of weeds, especially noxious weeds, with the aim of reducing their competition with desired flora and fauna including domesticated plants and livestock, and in natu ...
– removal or reduction of herbaceous or woody species around seedlings *
Cleaning Cleaning is the process of removing unwanted substances, such as dirt, infectious agents, and other impurities, from an object or environment. Cleaning is often performed for aesthetic, hygienic, functional, environmental, or safety purposes. ...
– removal of competing saplings of similar age in order to favor saplings of desirable growth characteristics * Liberation cutting – removal of older and established overtopping trees from desirable saplings *
Thinning Thinning is a term used in agricultural sciences to mean the removal of some plants, or parts of plants, to make room for the growth of others. Selective removal of parts of a plant such as branches, buds, or roots is typically known as pruning. ...
– removal of trees to favor the growth of select trees in order to maximize timber production * Ecological thinning – removal of trees to favor the growth of select trees in order to favor the development of wildlife habitat *
Pruning Pruning is a horticultural, arboricultural, and silvicultural practice involving the selective removal of certain parts of a plant, such as branches, buds, or roots. The practice entails the ''targeted'' removal of diseased, damaged, dead, ...
– removal of the lateral branches on the trees in order to improve wood quality *
Pollarding Pollarding is a pruning system involving the removal of the upper branches of a tree, which promotes the growth of a dense head of foliage and branches. In ancient Rome, Propertius mentioned pollarding during the 1st century BCE. The practice ...
– annual removal of lateral branches or main stem in order to encourage growth of branches to provide for firewood, or fruit production Harvest rotations *
Even-aged timber management Even-aged timber management is a group of forest management practices employed to achieve a nearly coeval cohort group of forest trees. The practice of even-aged management is often pursued to minimize costs to loggers. In some cases, the practice ...
:*
Clearcutting Clearcutting, clearfelling or clearcut logging is a forestry/logging practice in which most or all trees in an area are uniformly cut down. Along with shelterwood and seed tree harvests, it is used by foresters to create certain types of fores ...
– harvesting of all stems in a given area regardless of species and size :*
Coppicing Coppicing is a traditional method of woodland management which exploits the capacity of many species of trees to put out new shoots from their stump or roots if cut down. In a coppiced wood, which is called a copse, young tree stems are repeate ...
– cutting vigorous juvenile trees near the ground, regeneration comes from new shoots coming up from the stump :* Seed-tree – cutting of all trees save widely spaced residual trees, which will provide natural seedstock for the following generation and are later cut * Uneven-aged timber management :*
Selection Selection may refer to: Science * Selection (biology), also called natural selection, selection in evolution ** Sex selection, in genetics ** Mate selection, in mating ** Sexual selection in humans, in human sexuality ** Human mating strateg ...
– harvesting of selected trees in a stand, removing either merchantable timber or to favor the growth of desirable individuals (a thinning) :*
Shelterwood Shelterwood cutting is the progression of forest cuttings leading to the establishment of a new generation of seedlings of a particular species or group of species without planting. This silvicultural system is normally implemented in forests t ...
– removal of merchantable trees in succession, establishing a multiaged stand :*
Variable retention Variable retention is a relatively new silvicultural system that retains forest structural elements for at least one rotation in order to preserve environmental values associated with structurally complex forests. Some examples for environmental va ...
– removal of trees of varying density across a landscape, in order to retain structural diversity *Other :* Salvage logging – harvesting of trees killed by natural disturbances in order to maximize economic returns that would otherwise be lost :*
Sanitation harvest In forestry and silviculture, a sanitation harvest or sanitation cutting is a harvest of trees for the purpose of removing insects or diseases from a stand of trees. Sanitation harvesting is used to prevent the diseases or pests from spreading to ...
– removal of individual trees affected by a pathogen in order to diminish the possibility the entire stand being affected :* Biomass harvest – harvesting of small wood for energy purposes, either following a commercial harvest or for its own sake, such as in energy forestry :*
Underwater logging Underwater logging is the process of logging trees from underwater forests. When artificial reservoirs and dams are built, large areas of forest are often inundated; although the trees die, the wood is often preserved. The trees can then be felle ...
– harvesting of trees from underwater forests flooded during construction of artificial dams or reservoirs


Environmental issues pertaining to forests

*
Afforestation Afforestation is the establishment of a forest or stand of trees ( forestation) in an area where there was no previous tree cover. Many government and non-governmental organizations directly engage in afforestation programs to create forests ...
– the process of establishing a forest on previously unforested land, for reasons of timber harvesting, conservation of biodiversity, or
soil decontamination Soil contamination, soil pollution, or land pollution as a part of land degradation is caused by the presence of xenobiotic (human-made) chemicals or other alteration in the natural soil environment. It is typically caused by industrial activity ...
, among many *
Biodiversity conservation Conservation biology is the study of the conservation of nature and of Earth's biodiversity with the aim of protecting species, their habitats, and ecosystems from excessive rates of extinction and the erosion of biotic interactions. It is an int ...
– examines forests broader role in supporting a variety of (socio)ecological systems *
Carbon sequestration Carbon sequestration is the process of storing carbon in a carbon pool. Carbon dioxide () is naturally captured from the atmosphere through biological, chemical, and physical processes. These changes can be accelerated through changes in lan ...
– focus on forests' broader ecological functioning in consumption of carbon dioxide *
Conservation Conservation is the preservation or efficient use of resources, or the conservation of various quantities under physical laws. Conservation may also refer to: Environment and natural resources * Nature conservation, the protection and manageme ...
– focus on sustainability of forest resources and preservation of forest-based biodiversity *
Deforestation Deforestation or forest clearance is the removal of a forest or stand of trees from land that is then converted to non-forest use. Deforestation can involve conversion of forest land to farms, ranches, or urban use. The most concentrated ...
– the removal of trees in a forested area without sufficient regeneration, resulting in
desertification Desertification is a type of land degradation in drylands in which biological productivity is lost due to natural processes or induced by human activities whereby fertile areas become increasingly arid. It is the spread of arid areas caused ...
in arid areas and loss of
habitat In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species habitat can be seen as the physical ...
and
biodiversity Biodiversity or biological diversity is the variety and variability of life on Earth. Biodiversity is a measure of variation at the genetic ('' genetic variability''), species ('' species diversity''), and ecosystem ('' ecosystem diversity'') ...
**
Deforestation by region Rates and causes of deforestation vary from region to region around the world. In 2009, two-thirds of the world's forests were located in just 10 countries: Russia, Brazil, Canada, The United States, China, Australia, The Democratic Republi ...
*
Ecological restoration Restoration ecology is the scientific study supporting the practice of ecological restoration, which is the practice of renewing and restoring degraded, damaged, or destroyed ecosystems and habitats in the environment by active human interrupt ...
– the role of trees in restoring degraded natural and built environments *
Flood control Flood control methods are used to reduce or prevent the detrimental effects of flood waters."Flood Control", MSN Encarta, 2008 (see below: Further reading). Flood relief methods are used to reduce the effects of flood waters or high water level ...
– addresses forests ecological role in natural regulation of rainfall * Forest dieback – where trees on the periphery of a stand are killed by
acid rain Acid rain is rain or any other form of precipitation that is unusually acidic, meaning that it has elevated levels of hydrogen ions (low pH). Most water, including drinking water, has a neutral pH that exists between 6.5 and 8.5, but ac ...
or
parasites Parasitism is a close relationship between species, where one organism, the parasite, lives on or inside another organism, the host, causing it some harm, and is adapted structurally to this way of life. The entomologist E. O. Wilson ha ...
*
Forest fragmentation Habitat fragmentation describes the emergence of discontinuities (fragmentation) in an organism's preferred environment (habitat), causing population fragmentation and ecosystem decay. Causes of habitat fragmentation include geological processe ...
– occurring when forests are cut down in a manner that leaves relatively small, isolated patches of forest, resulting in high amounts of edges and subsequent loss in
wildlife habitat In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species habitat can be seen as the physical ...
and biodiversity *
Forest transition Forest transition refers to a geographic theory describing a reversal or turnaround in land-use trends for a given territory from a period of net forest area loss (i.e., deforestation) to a period of net forest area gain. The term "landscape turn ...
– shift from a period of net forest area loss (deforestation) to a period of net forest area gain (afforestation) for a given region or country * High grading – type of selective logging that removes the highest timber quality trees, resulting in poor genetic stock for subsequent generations *
Illegal logging Illegal logging is the harvest, transportation, purchase or sale of timber in violation of laws. The harvesting procedure itself may be illegal, including using corrupt means to gain access to forests; extraction without permission, or from a ...
– the unlawful harvest, transportation, purchase or sale of timber, contributing to deforestation, corruption, and destabilization of international markets


Forest resource assessment

Forest inventory Forest inventory is the systematic collection of data and forest information for assessment or analysis. An estimate of the value and possible uses of timber is an important part of the broader information required to sustain ecosystems. When taki ...
– systematic collection of data and forest information for assessment or analysis. An estimate of the value and possible uses of timber is an important part of the broader information required to sustain ecosystems.


Timber metrics

:*
Diameter at breast height Diameter at breast height, or DBH, is a standard method of expressing the diameter of the trunk or bole of a standing tree. DBH is one of the most common dendrometric measurements. Tree trunks are measured at the height of an adult's breast ...
(DBH) – measurement of a tree's diameter standardized at 1.3 meters (about 4.5 feet) above the ground :*
Basal area Basal area is the cross-sectional area of trees at breast height (1.3m or 4.5 ft above ground). It is a common way to describe stand density. In forest management, basal area usually refers to merchantable timber and is given on a per hectar ...
– defines the area of a given section of land that is occupied by the cross-section of tree trunks and stems at their base :* Tree taper – the degree to which a tree's stem or bole decreases in diameter as a function of height above ground :* Girard form class – an expression of tree taper calculated as the ratio of diameter inside the bark at 16 feet above ground to that outside the bark at DBH, primary expression of tree form used in the United States :* Quadratic mean diameter – diameter of the tree that coordinates to the stand's basal area :* Leaf Area Index – the ratio of total upper leaf surface of the forest canopy divided by the surface area of the land on which the vegetation grows :* Tools ::* Biltmore stick – utilizes ocular trigonometry to quickly measure diameter and height ::*
Diameter tape A diameter tape (D-tape) is a measuring tape used to estimate the diameter of a cylinder object, typically the stem of a tree or pipe. A diameter tape has either metric or imperial measurements reduced by the value of π. This means the tape me ...
– cloth or metal tape that is wrapped around the bole, scaled to diameter ::*
Caliper A caliper (British spelling also calliper, or in plurale tantum sense a pair of calipers) is a device used to measure the dimensions of an object. Many types of calipers permit reading out a measurement on a ruled scale, a dial, or a digital d ...
– two prongs connected to a measuring tape are placed around the most average part of the bole to determine diameter ::* Relascope – multiple-use tool that is able to find tree height, basal area, and tree diameter anywhere along the bole ::*
Clinometer An inclinometer or clinometer is an instrument used for measuring angles of slope, elevation, or depression of an object with respect to gravity's direction. It is also known as a ''tilt indicator'', ''tilt sensor'', ''tilt meter'', ''slope ...
– common tool used to measure changes in elevation and tree height ::*
Cruising rod A cruising rod is a simple device used to quickly estimate the number of pieces of lumber yielded by a given piece of timber. Similarly to a yardstick, it is a rod with markings. The estimation is carried out as follows. Standing at arm's length ...
– similar to a caliper, calculates the number of pieces of lumber yielded by a given piece of timber by measuring its diameter ::* Hemispherical photography – estimates solar radiation and characterize plant canopy structure/density using photographs taken looking upward through an extreme wide-angle lens


Surveying techniques

:* Traversing – method of surveying used to establish sampling plots along a line or path of travel :*
Chain A chain is a serial assembly of connected pieces, called links, typically made of metal, with an overall character similar to that of a rope in that it is flexible and curved in compression but linear, rigid, and load-bearing in tension. ...
– equivalent to 66 feet, widely used distance in surveying practices in the United States and other countries influenced by imperial Great Britain :* Line plot survey – plots taken at a regular predetermined distance along the traverse path :* Tools ::* Pacing – quick method used to survey in the field, requiring calibration of one's "paces" (pair of footsteps) to a known distance (often a chain) ::*
Hand compass A hand compass (also hand bearing compass or sighting compass) is a compact magnetic compass capable of one-hand use and fitted with a sighting device to record a precise bearing or azimuth to a given target or to determine a location. Hand or ...
– a compact magnetic compass with a sighting device used to determine the location of plots for a given bearing ::*
Wedge prism The wedge prism is a prism with a shallow angle between its input and output surfaces. This angle is usually 3 degrees or less. Refraction at the surfaces causes the prism to deflect light by a fixed angle. When viewing a scene through such a pris ...
– optical instrument typically made of glass ground at slight angles to refract light passing through it from the smaller width side of the prism to the thicker width side of the prism, calibrated to a desired plot size (basal area factor) ::*
Angle gauge An angle gauge is a tool used by foresters to determine which trees to measure when using a variable radius plot design in forest inventory. Using this tool a forester can quickly measure the trees that are in or out of the plot. An angle gauge ...
– similar in principle to a wedge prism, although it must be held a fixed distance from the eye ::* GPS – global satellite navigation systems used to determine the position of oneself and plots ::* GIS – an information system capable of integrating, storing, analyzing, and displaying forest geographic information collected in the field


Timber volume determination

:* Site index – a species specific measure of site productivity and management options, reported as the height of dominant and co-dominant trees ( site trees)in a stand at a base age such as 25, 50 and 100 years :*
Stocking Stockings (also known as hose, especially in a historical context) are close-fitting, variously elastic garments covering the leg from the foot up to the knee or possibly part or all of the thigh. Stockings vary in color, design, and transpare ...
– a quantitative measure of the area occupied by trees relative to an optimum or desired level of density which varies according to management purpose even on the same site ::*
Stand Density Index Stand density index (SDI; also known as Reineke's Stand Density Index after its founder) is a measure of the stocking of a stand of trees based on the number of trees per unit area and diameter at breast height (DBH) of the tree of average basal ar ...
– a measure of the stocking of a stand of trees based on the number of trees per unit area and DBH of the tree of average basal area :* Volume table – a chart based on volume equations that uses correlations between certain aspects of a tree to estimate the standing volume :*
Stand density management diagram A stand density management diagram is a simple Mathematical model, biological model relating forest yield to forest density at any stage of a particular forest stand's development.Kershaw, J. A., and B.C. Fischer. 1991. A stand density management di ...
– model that uses current stand density to project future stand composition :* Units of measurement ::* Cord – very common measure, equivalent to 128 cubic feet (3.62 m3), corresponding to a pile of wood, bark, and air 4 feet wide by 4 feet high and 8 feet long ::* Stère – invented in France, equivalent to a cubic meter of cut wood with space for air ::*
Board foot The board foot or board-foot is a unit of measurement for the volume of lumber in the United States and Canada. It equals the volume of a length of a board, one foot wide and thick. Board foot can be abbreviated as FBM (for "foot, board mea ...
– specialized unit of measure for lumber in North America, equivalent to the volume of a one foot length of a board one foot wide and one inch thick


Stand growth assessment

:*
Increment borer An increment borer is a specialized tool used to extract a section of wood tissue from a living tree with relatively minor injury to the plant itself. The tool consists of a handle, an auger bit and a small, half circular metal tray ( the core ...
– specialized tool used to extract a section of wood tissue from a living tree with relatively minor injury to the tree, used often for tree growth analysis :*
Mean annual increment The mean annual increment (MAI) or mean annual growth refers to the average growth per year a tree or stand of trees has exhibited/experienced up to a specified age. For example, a 20-year-old tree that has a stem volume of has an MAI of /year. MA ...
(MAI) – refers to the average growth per year a tree or stand of trees has exhibited at a specific age :* Periodic annual increment (PAI) – describes the average annual change in tree diameter between the beginning and ending of a growth period, used more often than MAI for percental growth :*
Ecological yield Ecological yield is the harvestable population growth of an ecosystem. It is most commonly measured in forestry: sustainable forestry is defined as that which does not harvest more wood in a year than has grown in that year, within a given patch o ...
-the amount of wood volume in any given year whose harvesting would be considered sustainable :* Growth and yield modelling – entails the creation of models of prospective tree growth and harvest yield for management purposes * Economics :* Stumpage – the price charged by a land owner to loggers for the right to harvest standing timber on that land :*
Optimal rotation age In forestry, the optimal rotation age is the growth period required to derive maximum value from a stand of timber. The calculation of this period is specific to each stand and to the economic and sustainability goals of the harvester. Economical ...
– the age at which the harvesting of stumpage will generate the maximum revenue or economic yield


Harvesting

Logging Logging is the process of cutting, processing, and moving trees to a location for transport. It may include skidding, on-site processing, and loading of trees or logs onto trucks or skeleton cars. Logging is the beginning of a supply cha ...
– cutting, skidding, on-site processing, and loading of trees or logs onto trucks or skeleton cars. The term is sometimes used in a narrow sense to mean moving wood from the stump to somewhere outside the forest, usually a sawmill or a lumber yard. However, in common usage, the term may be used to indicate a range of forestry or silviculture activities...


Harvesting methods

*
Felling Felling is the process of cutting down trees,"Feller" def. 2. and "Felling", def. 1. ''Oxford English Dictionary'' Second Edition on CD-ROM (v. 4.0) © Oxford University Press 2009 an element of the task of logging. The person cutting the trees ...
– process of cutting down a tree *
Bucking Bucking is a movement performed by an animal in which it lowers its head and raises its hindquarters into the air while kicking out with the hind legs. It is most commonly seen in herbivores such as equines, cattle, deer, goats, and sheep. Most r ...
– splitting of a felled and delimbed trees into logs * Scaling – measurement of felled trees to determine the volume of merchantable wood * Skidding – transportation of logs from the site of felling to the landing along the ground * Forwarding – transportation of logs from the site of felling to the landing above the ground, usually to minimize soil disturbance but limits the size or amount of logs that can be moved at once *
Hauling Haulage is the business of transporting goods by road or rail between suppliers and large consumer outlets, factories, warehouses, or depots. This includes everything humans might wish to move in bulk - from vegetables and other foodstuffs, to cloth ...
– long-distance transportation of logs from the landing to their final destination, usually with a semi-truck but occasionally with a train * Woodchipping – grinding of logs into chips for engineered wood, mulch, paper, or fuel *
Cut-to-length logging Cut-to-length logging (CTL) is a mechanized harvesting system in which trees are delimbed and ''cut to length'' directly at the stump. CTL is typically a two-man, two-machine operation with a harvester felling, delimbing, and bucking trees and ...
(CTL) – an expensive but efficient system where trees are felled, delimbed, and bucked to scale directly at the felling site *
Cable logging High Lead logging in Western Oregon Cable logging, also referred to as skyline logging, is a logging method primarily used on the West Coast of North America with yarder, loaders, and grapple yarders, but also in Europe (Austria, Switzerlan ...
– skidding using a wire cable attached to the felled trees, most common in areas with steep topographic relief, variations include :*
High lead logging High lead logging is a method of cable logging using a spar, yarder and loader. It was developed by Oscar Wirkkala. It is accomplished with two lines (cables) and two winches (or cable drums). The mainline or yarding line extends out from one ...
– a cable is anchored to a tree at the top of the hill: :*
Skyline logging Skyline logging (or skyline yarding) is a form of cable logging in which harvested logs are transported on a suspended steel cable (a cableway or "highline") from where the trees are felled to a central processing location. The skyline's ca ...
– a carriage is used alongside the main cable to provide leverage * Shovel logging – transport of multiple logs close to the logging road using a stationary loader, often used to minimize soil disturbance *
Heli-logging Heli-logging, or helicopter logging, is a method of logging that uses helicopters to remove cut trees from forests by lifting them on cables attached to a helicopter. Helicopter logging is often used in inaccessible areas of forests. Because the us ...
– transport of logs from the forest to the landing via helicopter, most commonly used in inaccessible areas or to minimize impact on the soil *
Log driving Log driving is a means of moving logs (sawn tree trunks) from a forest to sawmills and pulp mills downstream using the current of a river. It was the main transportation method of the early logging industry in Europe and North America. Histor ...
– transportation of individual logs on a waterway to a mill or port downstream *
Timber rafting Timber rafting is a method of transporting felled tree trunks by tying them together to make rafts, which are then drifted or pulled downriver, or across a lake or other body of water. It is arguably, after log driving, the second cheapest mean ...
– transportation downstream of multiple logs bundled together into a raft, considered less dangerous than log driving


Harvesting tools


Timber felling tools

* Hand :*
Axe An axe ( sometimes ax in American English; see spelling differences) is an implement that has been used for millennia to shape, split and cut wood, to harvest timber, as a weapon, and as a ceremonial or heraldic symbol. The axe has ma ...
– primitive tool used felling and splitting :*
Chainsaw A chainsaw (or chain saw) is a portable gasoline-, electric-, or battery-powered saw that cuts with a set of teeth attached to a rotating chain driven along a guide bar. It is used in activities such as tree felling, limbing, bucking, pru ...
– portable mechanized all-purpose saw, the most common tool used in hand-felling :*
Crosscut saw A crosscut saw (thwart saw) is any saw designed for cutting wood perpendicular to (across) the wood grain. Crosscut saws may be small or large, with small teeth close together for fine work like woodworking or large for coarse work like log ...
– saws that have teeth that are designed to cut wood at a right angle to the direction of the wood grain, used for felling and bucking :* Bucksaw – a type of crosscut saw used by one or two people to buck felled trees into sawlogs * Mechanized :* Feller buncher – vehicle with an attachment that can rapidly cut and gather several smaller trees before felling them :* Harvester – first half of the CTL system, vehicle that cuts, delimbs, and bucks the logs "to length"


Log transportation tools

* Ground :* Peavey – a traditional tool consisting of a wooden lever handle with a movable metal hook with a sharp tip, used to spear the log for handling and moving :*
Cant Hook A cant hook or pike or a hooked pike is a traditional logging tool consisting of a wooden lever handle with a movable metal hook called a dog at one end, used for handling and turning logs and cants, especially in sawmills. A peavey or peavey ...
– tool with the same premise as the peavey but with blunt teeth-bearing tip :*
Yarder A yarder is piece of logging equipment that uses a system of cables to pull or fly logs from the stump to a collection point. It generally consists of an engine, drums, and spar, but has a range of configurations and variations, such as the swing ...
– in cable logging, a piece of equipment utilizing a pulley system of cables to pull or fly logs from the stump to the landing :* Forwarder – second half of the CTL system, the vehicle that carries logs clear off the ground from the felling site to the roadside landing :*
Skidder A skidder is any type of heavy vehicle used in a logging operation for pulling cut trees out of a forest in a process called "skidding", in which the logs are transported from the cutting site to a landing. There they are loaded onto trucks (or ...
– vehicle that drags logs along the ground from the felling site to the roadside landing ::*
Michigan logging wheels Michigan logging wheels are a type of skidder that was introduced in the 19th-century United States logging industry as a state-of-the-art technology for transporting lumber and timber over rough terrain. They proved most valuable in the winter ...
– historical skidder, consisting of a specially designed large set of wooden wagon wheels and could be used in unfrozen soil conditions ::* Skid cone – a steel or plastic cone placed on the end of a log while being skidded, in order to ease its transportation or protect residual trees * Water :* Splash dam – a dam built to temporarily raise the water level of a river to float timber downstream :*
Flume A flume is a human-made channel for water, in the form of an open declined gravity chute whose walls are raised above the surrounding terrain, in contrast to a trench or ditch. Flumes are not to be confused with aqueducts, which are built to t ...
– chutes specifically constructed to transport lumber and logs down mountainous terrain to a sawmill by using flowing water. ::* Timber slide – chutes constructed parallel to a river in order to avoid damage to timber rafts caused by rapids or waterfalls :*
Boom Boom may refer to: Objects * Boom (containment), a temporary floating barrier used to contain an oil spill * Boom (navigational barrier), an obstacle used to control or block marine navigation * Boom (sailing), a sailboat part * Boom (windsurfin ...
– barriers placed in a river, designed to collect and or contain floating logs felled from nearby forests


Forest products

Forest product A forest product is any material derived from forestry for direct consumption or commercial use, such as lumber, paper, or fodder for livestock. Wood, by far the dominant product of forests, is used for many purposes, such as wood fuel (e.g. ...
– any material derived from a forest for direct consumption or commercial use, such as lumber, paper, or forage for livestock. Wood is by far the dominant forest product, used for fuel (as firewood or charcoal), structural materials in the construction of buildings, or as a raw material, such as wood pulp used in the production of paper. All non-wood products derived from forest resources are called non-timber forest products.


Primary forest products

*
Lumber Lumber is wood that has been processed into dimensional lumber, including beams and planks or boards, a stage in the process of wood production. Lumber is mainly used for construction framing, as well as finishing (floors, wall panels, w ...
(also "timber") – structural material for the construction of buildings or furniture making *
Paper Paper is a thin sheet material produced by mechanically or chemically processing cellulose fibres derived from wood, rags, grasses or other vegetable sources in water, draining the water through fine mesh leaving the fibre evenly distribu ...
– made from
wood pulp Pulp is a lignocellulosic fibrous material prepared by chemically or mechanically separating cellulose fibers from wood, fiber crops, waste paper, or rags. Mixed with water and other chemical or plant-based additives, pulp is the major raw ...
derived from the timber stock
pulpwood Pulpwood is timber with the principal use of making wood pulp for paper production. Applications * Trees raised specifically for pulp production account for 15% of world pulp production, old growth forests 9% and second- and third- and more gene ...
*
Paperboard Paperboard is a thick paper-based material. While there is no rigid differentiation between paper and paperboard, paperboard is generally thicker (usually over 0.30 mm, 0.012 in, or 12 points) than paper and has certain superior attributes ...
– a thick packaging material derived from paper, cardboard is the generic term * Veneer – thin layers of high-quality wood, often decorative but also the primary product in
plywood Plywood is a material manufactured from thin layers or "plies" of wood veneer that are glued together with adjacent layers having their wood grain rotated up to 90 degrees to one another. It is an engineered wood from the family of manufactured ...
*
Multilaminar veneer Multilaminar wood veneer uses plantation wood to reproduce decorative effects that are typical of quality wood species (often protected and rare). This aids the preservation of biodiversity and complies with the principles of sustainable forest ma ...
– like veneer, but utilizes plantation wood in accordance with the principles of sustainable forest management * Oriented strand board – mainly used in structural insulated panels, has largely replaced plywood *
Fiberboard Fiberboard (American English) or fibreboard (British English) is a type of engineered wood product that is made out of wood fibers. Types of fiberboard (in order of increasing density) include particle board or low-density fiberboard (LDF), med ...
– a cheaper and denser form of plywood, used when cost is considered most important. Often used as the underlying structure in car
dashboard For business applications, see Dashboard (business). A dashboard (also called dash, instrument panel (IP), or fascia) is a control panel set within the central console of a vehicle or small aircraft. Usually located directly ahead of the drive ...
s *
Drywall Drywall (also called plasterboard, dry lining, wallboard, sheet rock, gypsum board, buster board, custard board, and gypsum panel) is a panel made of calcium sulfate dihydrate (gypsum), with or without additives, typically extruded between thic ...
– a
gypsum Gypsum is a soft sulfate mineral composed of calcium sulfate dihydrate, with the chemical formula . It is widely mined and is used as a fertilizer and as the main constituent in many forms of plaster, blackboard or sidewalk chalk, and drywa ...
plaster placed inside two sheets of paper, used commonly as the finishing step in construction of interior walls and ceilings * Wood-plastic composite – made from recycled materials, is crack- and split-resistant and used commonly outdoors


Secondary forest products

* Fuel **
Firewood Firewood is any wooden material that is gathered and used for fuel. Generally, firewood is not highly processed and is in some sort of recognizable log or branch form, compared to other forms of wood fuel like pellets or chips. Firewood ca ...
– the most unprocessed form of wood fuel, supplies the majority of the developing world's energy needs ** Pellets – a byproduct from
sawmill A sawmill (saw mill, saw-mill) or lumber mill is a facility where logging, logs are cut into lumber. Modern sawmills use a motorized saw to cut logs lengthwise to make long pieces, and crosswise to length depending on standard or custom sizes ...
ing, is formed from compacted
sawdust Sawdust (or wood dust) is a by-product or waste product of woodworking operations such as sawing, sanding, milling, planing, and routing. It is composed of small chippings of wood. These operations can be performed by woodworking machine ...
, easy to transport and has a high combustion efficiency **
Cellulosic ethanol Cellulosic ethanol is ethanol (ethyl alcohol) produced from cellulose (the stringy fiber of a plant) rather than from the plant's seeds or fruit. It can be produced from grasses, wood, algae, or other plants. It is generally discussed for use as a ...
and Biomethanol
second generation biofuels Second-generation biofuels, also known as advanced biofuels, are fuels that can be manufactured from various types of non-food biomass. Biomass in this context means plant materials and animal waste used especially as a source of fuel. First-gener ...
that are a potential replacement for
gasoline Gasoline (; ) or petrol (; ) (see ) is a transparent, petroleum-derived flammable liquid that is used primarily as a fuel in most spark-ignited internal combustion engines (also known as petrol engines). It consists mostly of organic c ...
**
Charcoal Charcoal is a lightweight black carbon residue produced by strongly heating wood (or other animal and plant materials) in minimal oxygen to remove all water and volatile constituents. In the traditional version of this pyrolysis process, ...
– derived from tar, is used extensively in cooking, industry, and water purification, among others **
Black liquor In industrial chemistry, black liquor is the by-product from the kraft process when digesting pulpwood into paper pulp removing lignin, hemicelluloses and other extractives from the wood to free the cellulose fibers. The equivalent material i ...
– a byproduct from pulp production, can be gasified and used as a
syngas Syngas, or synthesis gas, is a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, in various ratios. The gas often contains some carbon dioxide and methane. It is principly used for producing ammonia or methanol. Syngas is combustible and can be used as ...
* Byproducts **
Cork Cork or CORK may refer to: Materials * Cork (material), an impermeable buoyant plant product ** Cork (plug), a cylindrical or conical object used to seal a container ***Wine cork Places Ireland * Cork (city) ** Metropolitan Cork, also known as G ...
– used to stop
wine bottles A wine bottle is a bottle, generally a glass bottle, that is used for holding wine. Some wines are fermented in the bottle while others are bottled only after fermentation. Recently the bottle has become a standard unit of volume to describe sal ...
and as the core in
baseballs A baseball is a ball used in the sport of the same name. The ball consists of a rubber or cork center wrapped in yarn and covered with white natural horsehide or cowhide, or a synthetic composite leather. A regulation baseball is 9 to 9¼ inche ...
**
Tar Tar is a dark brown or black viscous liquid of hydrocarbons and free carbon, obtained from a wide variety of organic materials through destructive distillation. Tar can be produced from coal, wood, petroleum, or peat. "a dark brown or black bi ...
– mainly used as a sealant for
shingles Shingles, also known as zoster or herpes zoster, is a viral disease characterized by a painful skin rash with blisters in a localized area. Typically the rash occurs in a single, wide mark either on the left or right side of the body or fac ...
and watercraft hulls **
Turpentine Turpentine (which is also called spirit of turpentine, oil of turpentine, terebenthene, terebinthine and (colloquially) turps) is a fluid obtained by the distillation of resin harvested from living trees, mainly pines. Mainly used as a special ...
– derived from tar, historically used extensively to thin oil-based paints and a protective furniture wax **
Rubber Rubber, also called India rubber, latex, Amazonian rubber, ''caucho'', or ''caoutchouc'', as initially produced, consists of polymers of the organic compound isoprene, with minor impurities of other organic compounds. Thailand, Malaysia, and ...
– wide range of commercial and industrial uses,
tires A tire (American English) or tyre (British English) is a ring-shaped component that surrounds a Rim (wheel), wheel's rim to transfer a vehicle's load from the axle through the wheel to the ground and to provide Traction (engineering), t ...
and tubes are the largest consumer uses **
Creosote Creosote is a category of carbonaceous chemicals formed by the distillation of various tars and pyrolysis of plant-derived material, such as wood or fossil fuel. They are typically used as preservatives or antiseptics. Some creosote types were ...
– historically been used as a
disinfectant A disinfectant is a chemical substance or compound used to inactivate or destroy microorganisms on inert surfaces. Disinfection does not necessarily kill all microorganisms, especially resistant bacterial spores; it is less effective than s ...
,
laxative Laxatives, purgatives, or aperients are substances that loosen stools and increase bowel movements. They are used to treat and prevent constipation. Laxatives vary as to how they work and the side effects they may have. Certain stimulant, lubri ...
, and to treat coughs ** Tall oil – a cheap alternative for use in
soap Soap is a salt of a fatty acid used in a variety of cleansing and lubricating products. In a domestic setting, soaps are surfactants usually used for washing, bathing, and other types of housekeeping. In industrial settings, soaps are us ...
s,
lubricant A lubricant (sometimes shortened to lube) is a substance that helps to reduce friction between surfaces in mutual contact, which ultimately reduces the heat generated when the surfaces move. It may also have the function of transmitting forces, t ...
s, and
drilling fluid In geotechnical engineering, drilling fluid, also called drilling mud, is used to aid the drilling of boreholes into the earth. Often used while drilling oil and natural gas wells and on exploration drilling rigs, drilling fluids are als ...
* Ecosystem services **
Carbon sequestration Carbon sequestration is the process of storing carbon in a carbon pool. Carbon dioxide () is naturally captured from the atmosphere through biological, chemical, and physical processes. These changes can be accelerated through changes in lan ...
– a technique for long-term storage of carbon to combat global warming **
Water purification Water purification is the process of removing undesirable chemicals, biological contaminants, suspended solids, and gases from water. The goal is to produce water that is fit for specific purposes. Most water is purified and disinfected for hu ...
riparian forest A riparian forest or riparian woodland is a forested or wooded area of land adjacent to a body of water such as a river, stream, pond, lake, marshland, estuary, canal Canals or artificial waterways are waterways or engineered chann ...
s act as
biofilter Biofiltration is a pollution control technique using a bioreactor containing living material to capture and biologically degrade pollutants. Common uses include processing waste water, capturing harmful chemicals or silt from surface runoff, and ...
s to capture and biologically degrade pollutants **
Outdoor recreation Outdoor recreation or outdoor activity refers to recreation done outside, most commonly in natural settings. The activities that encompass outdoor recreation vary depending on the physical environment they are being carried out in. These activitie ...
– provides the natural infrastructure needed for
ecotourism Ecotourism is a form of tourism involving responsible travel (using sustainable transport) to natural areas, conserving the environment, and improving the well-being of the local people. Its purpose may be to educate the traveler, to provide fund ...
**
Land rehabilitation Land rehabilitation as a part of environmental remediation is the process of returning the land in a given area to some degree of its former state, after some process ( industry, natural disasters, etc.) has resulted in its damage. Many projects ...
– the restoration of degraded land to its former state, largely accomplished through
phytoremediation Phytoremediation technologies use living plants to clean up soil, air and water contaminated with hazardous contaminants. It is defined as "the use of green plants and the associated microorganisms, along with proper soil amendments and agronom ...


History of forestry


History of forestry, by period


Ancient forestry

* Primitive forest management :*
Shifting cultivation Shifting cultivation is an agricultural system in which plots of land are cultivated temporarily, then abandoned while post-disturbance fallow vegetation is allowed to freely grow while the cultivator moves on to another plot. The period of cu ...
::* Shifting cultivation under stress * History of forestry in China :*Forestry in the Zhou Dynasty (Chow) (1045–256 BCE) :*Forestry in the Qin Dynasty (Chin) (221–206 BCE) :*Forestry in the Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 220 A.D.) :*Forestry in the Three Kingdoms (220–280 A.D.) :*Forestry in the Jin Dynasty (266–420 A.D.) :*Forestry in the Southern and Northern Dynasties (Sung) (420–589 A.D.) :*Forestry in the Sui Dynasty (581–618 A.D.) :*Forestry in the Tang Dynasty (618–907 A.D.) :*Forestry in the Liao Dynasty (907–1125 A.D.) :*Forestry in the Song Dynasty (960–1279 A.D.) :*Forestry in the Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368 A.D.) :*Forestry in the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644 A.D.) :*Forestry in the Qing Dynasty (Ch'ing) (1644–1911) :*Forestry in the Republic of China (1912–1949)


Early modern forestry

* Pre-mechanical forestry :* Horse-drawn logging * Forestry#History, History of forestry in Europe :* History of forestry in Austria-Hungary :* History of forestry in France :* History of forestry in Germany :* History of forestry in Russia :* History of forestry in Sweden * Naval forestry :* Naval stores industry * Colonial forestry :* British timber trade :* Mahogany#History of American mahogany trade, History of American mahogany trade :* History of forestry in Burma :* Indian Forest Service, History of forestry in India :* History of forestry on Java :* History of forestry in Mexico :* History of forestry in Trinidad and Tobago


Modern forestry

* Forestry during World War I * Forestry in the Alps * Forestry in Brazil ** Deforestation in Brazil *** As a Environmental issues in Brazil#Deforestation, major environmental issue ** Forest governance in Brazil ** Selective logging in the Amazon rainforest * Forestry in Chile * Forestry in China * Mechanized forestry * Scientific forestry :* Selective cutting, Selective forestry :*
Controlled burn A controlled or prescribed burn, also known as hazard reduction burning, backfire, swailing, or a burn-off, is a fire set intentionally for purposes of forest management, farming, prairie restoration or greenhouse gas abatement. A contr ...
:*
Heli-logging Heli-logging, or helicopter logging, is a method of logging that uses helicopters to remove cut trees from forests by lifting them on cables attached to a helicopter. Helicopter logging is often used in inaccessible areas of forests. Because the us ...
:* Reafforestation :* Plantation forestry * Boreal forestry * Tropical forestry


Contemporary forestry

*
Urban forestry Urban forestry is the care and management of single trees and tree populations in urban settings for the purpose of improving the urban environment. Urban forestry involves both planning and management, including the programming of care and ...
* Plant a million trees * Environmental forestry :* Forest aesthetics * Forest restoration :* Analog forestry * Ecological forestry


History of forestry institutions


History of forestry law

* History of forestry law :United States ::* Forest Reserve Act of 1891 ::* Multiple Use – Sustained Yield Act of 1960 required multiple use of federal forest land ::* Organic Act of 1897 ::* Right of Way Act of 1901 – an act relating to rights of way through certain parks, reservations, and other public lands (H.R. 11973) ::* Transfer Act of 1905 – an act providing for the transfer of forest reserves from the Department of Interior to the Department of Agriculture (H.R. 8460, Public Resolution No. 34) ::* American Antiquities Act of 1906 ::* Appropriations Act Forbidding Further National Forests ("An Act Making appropriations for the Department of Agriculture for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and eight", 1907) – also forbidding renaming Nature reserve, forest reserves to United States National Forest, National Forests (H.R. 24815, Public Act No. 242:2) :Hong Kong ::* Forests and Countryside Ordinance (1997) :India ::* Indian Forest Act, 1927 ::* Forest Rights Act (India) – a historic law passed in 2006 protecting the rights of scheduled tribes and other forest dwellers :International ::* International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1983 ::* International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1994 * Forest rights :* Right of Way Act of 1901, USA, relating to rights of way through certain parks, reservations, and other public lands. H.R. 11973 :* Forest Rights Act (India)


History of forestry agencies

* History of forestry agencies :* Canadian Forest Service (Canada) :* Indian Forest Service (India) :* Corpo Forestale dello Stato (Italy) :* Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Japan) :* Korea Forest Service (S. Korea) :* CONAFOR Comisión Nacional Forestal (Mexico) :* New Zealand Forest Service (NZ) :* Department of Forest Conservation (Sri Lanka) :* Forestry Commission (United Kingdom) :* United States Forest Service, History of the United States Forest Service (USA)


History of forestry organizations

History of forestry organizations * European Forest Institute#History, History of the European Forest Institute * Food and Agriculture Organization#History, History of the Food and Agriculture Organization * Forest History Society#History, History of the Forest History Society * Forest Stewardship Council#History, History of the Forest Stewardship Council * International Tropical Timber Organization#History, History of the International Tropical Timber Organization * International Union of Forest Research Organizations#History, History of the International Union of Forest Research Organizations * Royal Forestry Society#History, History of the Royal Forestry Society of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland * Society of American Foresters#History, History of the Society of American Foresters


= Historic schools of forestry

= List of historic schools of forestry :* Biltmore Forest School, near Asheville, North Carolina – the first school of forestry in North America :* French National School of Forestry, Nancy, est. 1824 :* History of the Imperial Forestry Institute at Oxford :* History of the New York State College of Forestry – the first four-year college of forestry in North America :* History of the Pennsylvania Forestry Academy :* Imperial Forestry School, Dehadrun, India :* Mining and Forestry Academy, Schemnitz, Austria-Hungary :* Royal Saxon Academy of Forestry :* Saint Petersburg Forestry Institute


History of forestry as a profession

* History of forestry as a profession


History of forestry research

* History of forestry research :* Forest Research Institute Malaysia :* Forest Products Laboratory USA


History of forestry conferences

* History of forestry conferences :* First International Forestry Exhibition, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1884 :* World Forestry Congress – the largest and most significant gathering of the world forestry sector, held since 1926 under the auspices of the FAO :* International Union of Forest Research Organizations, IUFRO World Congress


History of forestry science and technology

*Silviculture, History of silviculture *History of forestry technology :* History of the chainsaw :* History of the crosscut saw :* History of the mechanization of forestry :* Remote sensing, Use of remote sensing in forestry :* Computer modeling, Use of computer modeling in forestry


Forestry education

* List of forest research institutes, Forest research institutes – formal forest (or forestry) research institutes around the world * List of forestry technical schools, Forestry technical schools – specializing in technical or practical training in forestry * List of forestry universities and colleges, Forestry universities and colleges – institutions worldwide providing graduate and/or undergraduate education leading to a degree in forestry * List of historic schools of forestry, Historic schools of forestry – schools of forestry throughout history


Forestry organizations

* Confederation of Forest Industries


Governmental forestry agencies

* List of forestry ministries – government forestry agencies, by country


International forestry organizations

* ASEAN-ROK Forest Cooperation * Avoided Deforestation Partners * Center for International Forestry Research * Coalition for Rainforest Nations * Collaborative Partnership on Forests * Commonwealth Forestry Association * Community Forestry International * Congo Basin Forest Partnership * Conservation International * European Arboricultural Council * FERN * Forest Peoples Programme * Forest Stewardship Council * The Forest Trust * Forestry Information Centre * Forests Monitor * Foundation for Environmental Education * Global Forest Coalition * Global Forest Information Service * Global Forest Information System * International Analog Forestry Network * International Association of Students in Agricultural and Related Sciences * International Forestry Students' Association * International Society of Arboriculture * International Tropical Timber Organization * International Union for Conservation of Nature * International Union of Forest Research Organizations * NICOL Forests UK * Plant A Tree Today Foundation * Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification * Rainforest Action Network * Rainforest Alliance * Rainforest Foundation Fund * RECOFTC – The Center for People and Forests * Resource Extraction Monitoring * Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil * Sustainable Forestry Initiative * Taiga Rescue Network * Trees 4 Children * Tropenbos International * United Nations REDD Programme * United Nations Forum on Forests * World Rainforest Movement


Forestry publications

* List of forestry journals – academic journals in forestry and related fields


Notable people

* John Evelyn (1620–1706) – known for his knowledge of trees, and his treatise ''Sylva, or A Discourse of Forest-Trees and the Propagation of Timber'' (1664) * (1763–1832) – Austro-Hungarian founder of the , 1809, later to become the Mining and Forestry Academy, in what today is Banská Štiavnica, Slovakia * Heinrich Cotta (1763–1844) – German silviculturist and pioneer of modern scientific forestry, founder of the Royal Saxon Academy of Forestry * Georg Ludwig Hartig (1764–1837) – prominent forest manager, author, and founder of one of the first dedicated schools of forestry in Europe; affiliated in his later years with the University of Berlin * Alfonse Romanovich Vargas de Bedemar (1816–1902) – "one of the founders of the Russian school of forest mensuration" * Franklin B. Hough, Franklin B. Hough, MD (1822–1885) – chief of the Division of Forestry, United States Division of Forestry, the "father of American forestry" * Dietrich Brandis, Sir Dietrich Brandis (1824–1907) – considered the "father of tropical forestry" * Wilhelm Philipp Daniel Schlich, Sir William Schlich (1840–1925) – founder of Oxford University's forestry program * Bernhard Fernow (1851–1923) – laid the groundwork for the United States Forest Service, founding dean of the New York State College of Forestry at Cornell, first professional forestry school in the United States * Gifford Pinchot (1865–1946) – first chief of the United States Forest Service and proponent of the Wise use, Wise Use Movement * Carl A. Schenck (1868–1955) – responsible for incorporating German scientific management techniques into American forest management, and founder of Biltmore Forest School, the first forestry school in the United States * Károly Bund (1869–1931) – early academic and practical forester whose work in the Hungarian National Forestry Association increased treeplanting and intensified efforts to protect natural forests, indigenous tree species, and forestry workers in Austria-Hungary * Robert Scott Troup (1874–1939) – founder of Oxford's Imperial Forestry Institute * Theodore Salisbury Woolsey, Jr. (1880–1933) – used scientific forestry to help France address timber shortages during World War I * Aldo Leopold (1887–1948) – cofounder of The Wilderness Society (United States), The Wilderness Society along with Robert Marshall (''below''), prominent naturalist writer and environmental ethicist * Kenneth Dupee Swan (1887–1970) – notable photographer for the USDA Forest Service * Bob Marshall (wilderness activist), Bob Marshall (1901–1939) – cofounder of The Wilderness Society, which helped pass the Wilderness Act, which created the first legal definition of wilderness and conserved some of national forest land in the United States * Walter Bitterlich (1908–2008) – world-renowned Austrian scientist, best known for the invention of variable plot sampling * Jack C. Westoby (1913–1988) – Chief Forester, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, "father of world forestry"Leslie, Alf. 1989. "Obituary: Jack C. Westoby, C.M.G., 1913-1988," ''New Zealand Forestry'', August, p.28.
Accessed: May 7, 2012. * Sakari Pinomäki (1933–2011) – pioneer of mechanized forest harvesting vehicles, decreasing the time required for harvesting and risk to loggers * Stephen C. Sillett (1968–) – revolutionized the approach and methodology of studying plant and animal life in old growth canopies of large trees


Allied fields

* Botany – study of plant life and development that explains the biological basis of trees, such as structure, growth, reproduction, metabolism, response to disease, and chemical properties * Conservation biology – conscientious management of forests can preserve or enhance biodiversity of dependent species * Dendrochronology – method of scientific dating based on the analyses of tree-ring growth patterns, analysis of long-lived individual trees can provide insight into climatic conditions of the past * Ecology – whose principles are the main scientific basis of forestry * Ecophysiology – study of an organism's physiology to environmental conditions that explains the success of a particular tree species' growth, reproduction, survival, and abundance * Environmental history, Forest history – documents natural and human history of forests and forest use * Natural resource management – brings together planning, management, conservation and sustainability of human use of natural resources, including forests * Rural sociology – studies human perceptions, interactions and use of forests and associated resources * Soil science – physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil greatly determines the success of tree species and individuals


See also

* Outline of ecology


References


External links


State of the World's Forests (SOFO)
– a report issued by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations on forest and forestry trends worldwide, last published in 2009
Forestry ImagesThe Forestry CommissionThe Forestry GuildSylva Foundation

International Wood Collectors Society

Xiloteca Manuel Soler
(One of the largest private collection of wood samples)
Rainforest AllianceUNU Open Educational Resource on Forestry, Forest Economics and Forest Policy
{{DEFAULTSORT:Forestry Forestry, Outlines of sciences, Forestry Wikipedia outlines, Forestry Forestry-related lists,