Forestry

There are many ramifications in science, including forestry . The concept refers to the formation and cultivation of forests, very similar to agriculture, which is better known by the general population . It is a discipline that investigates and deals with issues related to forests and crops, in addition to the different techniques that can be applied to forests to achieve adequate production .

What is forestry?

The practice of forestry consists of all the various treatments that can be applied to forests to maintain and improve their usefulness for any purpose. Forestry also guarantees the long-term continuity of essential ecological functions and the health and productivity of forest ecosystems .

features

The main characteristics of forestry are:

• It is based on the study of productions in a staggered manner.
• One of the most fundamental notions of forestry is exploitation .
• It depends largely on the origin of the forests.
• It is a science that adapts to the different purposes it pursues .
• The most important means or mechanism of action in floriculture is felling .

What is it for

The general objective of forestry is to ensure that most of the available growing space in a forest is filled with plants useful for life and that they are practical. These plants that are considered useful often include species that are used in wood , but increasingly forage plants and other types of forest vegetation are also included . Long ago, silvicultural systems were designed to maximize the production of wood crops, but at present considerations have been included ecological additional objectives and resources. A silvicultural system generally has the following basic objectives :

• Meet the goals and objectives of the land owner.
• Provide timely availability of different natural resources.
• Produce different predictable crops in the long term.
• Balance biological / ecological and economic concerns to ensure resource renewal.
• Prevent regeneration .
• Use effectively in increasing space and site productivity .
• It is also concerned with forest health issues . 

History

Forestry began in the Stone Age and continued to advance until it reached the feudal lords of Central Europe who took advantage of forests as a source of resources. It spread to the 17th century in Germany and early foresters sought to regenerate useful species to ensure long-term sustainability . Forestry it born out of necessity as a result of operating without restrictions in natural places that eventually caused a serious shortage of wood. As time passed, foresters compared the results of manipulating their facilities with changes in natural settings and found that similar patterns existed . They also observed some species that regenerated in certain ways, using specific seedbeds and environments for germination and growth .

On this basic knowledge they will begin to experiment with different cutting patterns , leaving uniform trees in different densities and small openings of different sizes and shapes. Finally, they understood that certain species could be handled at certain sites with a similar treatment program to produce predictable returns over time and categorized programs of treatment in silvicultural systems we know today.

Types of forestry

There are two different types of forestry, one that is intensive and the other extensive.

• Intensive is the type of forestry in which a large and wide variety of used techniques of forest management and silvicultural the sole purpose of being able to maximize the productivity of a particular forest area .
• Extensive : when it is practiced at a low operating cost per hectare with a small investment , acting preferably in small agricultural properties and in rural enterprises. When well conducted, it serves the economic , natural and social environments by distributing small areas of natural forests in the sense of obtaining services , production and protection of the environment. 

Tools

The main tools used in forestry practice are the following:

• Chainsaws : used to increase work productivity using less effort. They are used to cut trees for longer and with fewer interruptions.
• Tractors : used to pull any tool that does not have a motor.
• Inoculators : works to mix the seed before sowing to protect the seed from fungi.
• Scythe : it is an instrument to be able to cut flush with the ground that is formed by a curved blade with a handle.
• Ax : a cutting tool used to cut firewood.

Advantage

Forestry is an activity capable of providing a good economic return , helping the environment through the afforestation of different desert areas that have a low number of trees. It provides labor in the entire production line that goes from preparing the land to sawing the wood.

Disadvantages

The main disadvantage is when people engaged in forestry does not know the terrain in which they are working and therefore can damage the good medium environment , the species of both animals and trees and wildlife in general inhabit the place.

Forestry in the world

• Spain : in this country forestry has generated agross added value of 6,635 million euros . The forestry industry sector registers low rates: 12.8% in the wood and cork industry ; and 6.7% in the paper industry (2013 data). The exports have improved significantly.
• Argentina :  the largest area of ​​forests that have been cultivated in Argentina are in the province called Corrientes with more than 474 thousand hectares. The country has also genetically improvedsome of the characteristics associated with the quality of the wood .
• Mexico : theannual national timber production rises to 9.49 million cubic meters, and is 95 percent composed of wood fromcold temperate climate species. In the countryappropriate biological and ecological principles are appliedto forest stands to maintain their usefulness depending on the purposes.
• Ecuador : they seek to visualize productive forestryto achieve higher yields , improve productivity, plan the demand for wood and to establish a productive activity that can generate employment and reduce costs in order to raise the competitive level.

Importance

Forestry is very important because it can help meet the different goals of sustainable development . Is an area that can get to contribute so significantly to overcome the challenges currently facing the forest and while minimizing the changes climate. It is an activity that can help to create investments in logging companies and increase managed farms that can generate employment for many families.

It is also a source of life for many plant and animal species , many of them in danger of extinction. It also provides many environmental benefits because it helps purify the air through carbon fixation , cleans and feeds rivers and supplies the different sources of drinking water, bringing a large number of benefits to man.

Forestry books

Some important forestry books to read are as follows:

• Silviculture Guide for Tropical Forests
• The climate change , forests and forestry.
• Forestry of the jungles .
• Stand dynamics.

Examples

• Tool control.
• Control of number of trees.
• Community practices.