Forestry:
Definition:
The forestry profession includes the science and practice of establishing, managing, using, and conserving forests, trees, and related resources sustainably to fulfill desired goals, needs, and values.
By visiting this link you can easily understand the career and scope of forestry: 1
Ancient history:
At
least 750,000 years ago, Homo erectus was thought to have used wood for fire.
The Kalambo Falls site in Tanzania contains the earliest indication of the use
of timber for building, which dates to about 60,000 years ago. Scattered trees
along riverbanks were used just like they are today: for fuel, construction,
and handles for tools. These early structured towns were situated along streams
that flowed across the dry regions of India, Pakistan, Egypt, and Mesopotamia.
The Hebrew Bible's authors frequently discuss the use of wood. Images of the
wooden plow and other wooden instruments being used to prepare the soil for
sowing can be seen in Egyptian tombs. Wooden boats were constructed by
carpenters and shipbuilders as early as 2700 BCE.
The Romans were very interested in trees and brought
tree seedlings from all over the Mediterranean and Germany, creating groves
that were similar to those in Carthage, Lebanon, and other places. When the
Roman Empire fell, conservation efforts in the Mediterranean region came to an
end, and unrestricted sheep and goat grazing, fires, and cutting, which led to
the devastation of the forests, returned. In turn, this led to significant soil
erosion, the silting of streams and harbors, and the transformation of the forest
into the maquis, a scrubby brush cover.
The modern development in the field of Forestry:
German foresters had such a strong reputation in the 19th century that they were employed throughout the majority of continental European nations. Early American foresters received their education in European institutions, including the famed conservationist Gifford Pinchot. The philosophy of responsible control, however, had to struggle against timber traders looking for rapid riches. In China, although woods originally covered over 30% of the country's area, decades of overlogging, overgrazing, and fires have brought this proportion to a low of only about 7%. China has made significant efforts to improve land usage, including the building of reservoirs and a massive program of forest planting that expanded wooded areas to 20% by 2015.
Occurrence and distribution:
Closed forests of
broad-leaved and coniferous species and open forests or savannas encompass
around 4,000,000,000 hectares or about one-third of the world's total land
area. Because different tree species have different traits, local factors
largely affect the type and distribution of forests around the world. There is
an odd alliance of trees and other vegetation that is best suited to compete
with other plants for that site for each combination of temperature, rainfall,
and soil. With forest along streams and scatted single trees or tiny groves,
the open forest is typically a tropical grassland that has been disturbed by
fire. Closed thorn forests frequently surround savannahs.
In particular, in heavily
populated areas, trees outside of areas designated as forestland, such as those
in windbreaks, along rights-of-way, or around farm fields, are valuable
resources. For instance, farmers in Rwanda maintain woodlots and pastures with
trees on about 20% of the country's farmland. The aggregate area of the
nation's natural forests, state plantations, and municipal plantations is
greater than these dispersed tree areas. Over 90% of the farms in Kenya's
Kakamega District have scattered trees that are kept trimmed for fuelwood and
animal fodder. Even in France, where wood for fuel is not commonly used, trees
outside of forests cover over 883,000 hectares.
Importance of Forestry:
1. It is bringing back forests:
Forests used to be cut down and left untended. Currently, 1.7 billion seedlings are planted worldwide on average each year. This translates to six saplings being planted for each tree that is harvested.
2. Maintain water quality:
Watersheds are managed
carefully by foresters. These are the places where we get our drinking water,
as well as riparian zones, which are the lands that border lakes, rivers, and
streams. Foresters in these places place a high priority on protecting the
purity of the water. Forests contribute to the natural processes that clean
water so that it is safe for us to drink. These processes involve the trees,
soil, and microorganisms. The soils that are essential for water retention,
filtration, and quality are protected and nurtured by forest cover.
3. Remove air pollution:
A mature tree can take in
roughly 13 pounds of carbon dioxide annually. This indicates that a forest
removes 1.47 tonnes of carbon dioxide for every tonne of wood it produces.
4. Helps wildlife:
Different methods are used
by foresters to help wildlife. For instance, thinning and harvesting foster the
development of numerous food sources.
5. Good for soil maintenance:
For the growth and management of forests, forestry professionals and managers of natural resources rely on soils. The ability of foresters to understand soil qualities, match species with soils, and prescribe practices that not only promote forest growth but also increase and protect soil productivity and minimize soil erosion are all essential to successfully growing forests and producing forest products.
