Introduction to Indian forest and terms related to forestry

1. Introduction - Introduction to
Indian forest, target area,
productivity - Definitions of basic
terms related to forestry
K. NAGANJALI
Asst. Professor
Dept. of Agronomy

2. Forests in India cover about 23.8 %.
Estimates of the area currently classified as forest
land
in India vary widely from as high as 75 million
hectares to as low as less than 40 million hectares.
This represents 23 and 12 per cent respectively of
total land area of the country (327.7 m ha) of the
total geographical area as against 33.3% (109 m
ha) enunciated in the National forest policy, 1988.
In Telangana state the forest area is 27, 292 sq. km.
accounting for 24.35 % of total geographical area.

3. Increase the area under forestry from the existing
percentage of forest cover, the State Govt. of Telangana
has initiated a flagship programme, “Telangana Ku
Haritha Haram” for taking massive afforestation - green
cover of the state to the desired level of 33.3% from the
existing 24.35% of the total geographical area of the
state.
Obj: Covers atleast one-third of the state's geographical
area.

4. The thrust areas identified to achieve the above are
two-fold:
1) Initiatives in notified forest areas and
2) Initiatives in areas outside the notified forest areas.
The first objective - by a multi-pronged approach of
rejuvenating degraded forests, ensuring more effective
protection of forests against smuggling, encroachment,
fire, grazing, intensive soil & moisture conservation
measures following the watershed approach.

5. Major fillip - second objective.
In the areas outside the notified forest, massive tree
planting activities is being taken up in areas;
 Road-side avenues
 River and canal bank, barren hill,
 Tank bunds and foreshore areas,
 Institutional premises,
 Religious places, housing colonies,
 Community lands,
 Municipalities,
 Industrial parks, etc.
National Forest Policy of India :
33.3% of the total geographical area - ecological

6. Problems faced by the indian forestry :
 As compared to the world average of 1.6 ha per capita
forest area, India has only 0.11 ha per capita
forest.
 The country has lost about 43.4 m ha of forest area
during 1951-52 to 1982–83 @ 1.5 m ha/annum
 The productivity of Indian forest is also very low 0.5
m3/ha when compared to the world average of 2
m3/ha - of
 Over exploitation
 Overgrazing
 Excess maltreatment of forest area in the past.

7. In India most of the forests (95%) are owned and
managed by the Govt. in contrast to the
management of forests by private sector in the
European countries
 Forests occupy 23.8 % {contribute not much (1%)}
towards the National economy when compared
to agriculture (35%), many reasons have been
attributed to the low revenue.
Removal of large amount of forest produce by the
local population in the form of rights and
concessions as well as illicit removals being the
main ones.

8.  Lack of proper investment in reforestation &
afforestation programmes (the investments never
exceeded 0.75% of the total plan outlay in the
public sector).
During the five year plans, large scale development and
rehabilitation works were launched in the forestry.
 With the introduction of conservation and forest
management, the work of demarcation of forest
areas and working plan preparation was taken up.
 The area covered under working plans constitutes about
66% of total forest area (present).

9. The word forest is derived from Latin word ‘Foris’
means outside.
 Forests are areas covering practically all
uncultivated and untended lands fairly extensive
stretch of land covered with rather tall and dense
tree growth.
 Defined as an area set aside for the production of
timber and other forest produce and is under
woody vegetation for certain benefits which it
provides.
Forestry :
Forestry stands for the theory and practice of
constitution & management of forests and
utilization of their products.
It also stands for scientific management of forests for
the continuous production of goods and services.

10. Branches of Forestry :
1. Silviculture : Refers to certain aspects of theory and
practice of raising forest crops method of raising
tree crops, their growth and aftercare up to the time
of final harvesting.
2. Forestry soils : Refers to the composition, physical and
chemical characters and behavior of the soil upon
which forest is to be established
3. Dendrology : Refers to description, classification and
recognition of tree species.
4. Forest menstruation : Deals with the measurement of
forest produce.
5. Forest Management : Is the practical application of
science, technique and economics to a forest estate
for the production of certain desired results.

11. 6. Forest utilization : Harvesting, marketing, conversion
and putting the forest produce for a variety of uses
like timber, fuel, pulp wood etc.
7. Wood technology : Structure, physical, mechanical
properties and behaviour of wood under varying
conditions.
8. Forest policy and Administration : Deals with the rules,
regulations, laws and procedures that helps to
conserve forests.
9. Forests protection : Knowledge of the behavior of the
forest enemies viz., Fire, Insects, Diseases, Wind,
Animal and protection from them.
10. Agroforestry : Integration of crops, forest plants or
livestock simultaneously or sequentially on the same
piece of land for sustainable land management.

12. Basic terms related to forestry –
Annual Ring - Trees in climates where growth stops or
slows during a portion of the year will form annual
rings - determine tree age and rate of growth.
Basal Area - The cross-sectional area in square feet of a
tree trunk measured at 4.5 feet above the ground.
Biltmore Stick - A tool used to measure a tree’s diameter
at breast height.
Often times they include a scale to measure the
height of a tree as well.

13. Canker - An imperfection on the trunk, limb or twig of
a caused by an organism that kills a part of the
tree's tissue.
Canker causing organisms sometimes exist in some sort
of a balance with the host, never killing enough
tissue to cause death.
Cankers tend to weaken trees at the points where they
are growing causing the tree to eventually break.

14. Canopy - A layer or multiple layers of branches and
foliage at the top of a forest's trees.
The collection of individual tree crowns is the canopy.
Carrying Capacity - The maximum number or biomass of
organisms of a given species that can be sustained
or survive on a long-term basis within an
ecosystem.
Clear-Cut Harvest - A harvest and regeneration practice
that removes all trees within a given area.
Used most commonly in forests that require full sunlight
to regenerate or areas where young forests are the

15. Competition - The struggle between trees to obtain
sunlight, nutrients, water, and growing space.
Every part of the tree, from the roots to the crown
competes for space and food.
Conservation - The protection, improvement, and wise
use of natural resources for present and future
generations.

16. Crop Tree - Tree selected for quality, species, size,
timber potential, or wildlife value that is favored
for growing to final harvest.
Crown - The branches and foliage at the top of an
individual tree.
Crown-Class - A tree classification system based on the
tree's relative height, foliage density, and ability to
intercept light.
Crown-class measures past growth performance and
calls attention to crop trees that could benefit
from future thinning and harvest operations.

17. There are 4 classifications:
Dominant Trees - Larger-than-average trees with broad,
well-developed crowns.
These trees receive direct sunlight from all sides and
above.
Codominant Trees - Average-to-fairly large trees with
medium-sized crowns that form the forest canopy.
These trees receive full light from above but are crowded
on the sides.
Intermediate Trees - Medium-sized trees with small

18. Intermediate trees receive little direct light, are poor
crop trees, and should be removed during thinning
operations.
Suppressed Trees- Small trees that grow below the tree
canopy and receive no direct sunlight from any
direction.
Suppressed Trees- Small trees that grow below the tree
canopy and receive no direct sunlight from any
direction.
Cull - A tree or log of marketable size that is useless for
all but firewood or pulpwood because of
crookedness, rot, injuries, or damage from disease

19. Den tree - A tree that has a hole in its stem that can be
used as shelter by wildlife such as birds and small
mammals.
Dendrology – The study of trees and their identifying
characteristics.
Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) - The diameter of a
tree measured in inches at breast height 4.5 feet
above the ground.
Diameter tape - Usually a steel or cloth tape graduated
with numerals that are 3.1416 inches apart.

20. When placed around a tree at d.b.h., the tree's diameter
can be read directly in inches.
Same result could be obtained by using a standard
measuring tape and dividing the reading by
3.1416.
Forest Type - Groups of tree species commonly growing
in the same stand because their environmental
requirements are similar.
Forester – Professional with experience in a broad
range of forest-related topics including forest and
wildlife ecology, economics, legal issues, and the
growing and harvesting of forest products.

21. Foresters - hold a state certification which is generally
based on experience, training, and ongoing
continuing education.
Like an architect designing a building, a forester designs
the harvest plan.
Forestry - The science, art, and practice of managing
and using trees, forests, and their associated resources.
Mast - Fruits or nuts used as a food source by wildlife.
Soft mast include most fruits with fleshy
coverings, such as persimmon, dogwood seed, or
black gum seed.
Hard mast refers to nuts such as acorns and beech,
pecan, and hickory nuts.

22. Mixed Stand - A timber stand in which less than 80
percent of the trees in the main canopy are of a single
species.
Non timber Forest Products - All forest products except
timber, including resins, oils, leaves, bark, plants other
than trees, fungi, and animal or animal products.
Pole timber - Trees from 5 to 7 inches in diameter at
breast height.
Preservation - Maintaining forests in an undisturbed,
unmanaged state.
Pulpwood - Wood used in the manufacture of paper, fiberboard,
or other wood fiber products. Pulpwood-sized trees are usually a
minimum of 4 inches in diameter.

23. Regeneration Cut – Any silvicultural practice with the
intent to reestablish a new stand of seedlings.
Root Collar - The transition zone between stem and root
at the ground line of a tree or seedling.
Sapling - A small tree, usually between 2 and 4 inches
diameter at breast height.
Seedling - A tree, usually less than 2 inches diameter at
breast height.
Seed Year - A year in which a given species produces a
large seed crop over a sizable area.
Shelter wood Harvest - Removing trees on the harvest area in a
series of two or more cuttings so new seedlings can grow from
the seed and in the partial shade of older trees.

24. Silviculture - The art, science, and practice of
establishing, tending, and reproducing forest
stands of desired characteristics.
Slash - Tree tops, branches, bark, or other residue left
on the ground after logging or other forestry
operations.
Softwoods (Conifer Trees) — Trees that are usually
evergreen, bear cones, and have needles or scale-
like leaves such as pine, spruce, fir, and cedar.
Stand - An easily defined area of the forest that is
relatively uniform in species composition, age
structure and condition and can be managed as a

25. Sustainable Forestry - A holistic, conservation ethic based
on environmental balance and health that helps
ensure forests will be managed in ways that have the
potential to meet the social, physical and economic
needs of the present while ensuring similar options
for the future.
This includes a suite of policies, plans and practices that
seeks to sustain an array of forest benefits at a
particular location.
Sustained Yield - Management of forestland to produce a
relatively constant amount of wood products,
revenue or wildlife.

26. Thinning – An intermediate silvicultural practice that
reduces tree density and competition between trees in a
stand.
Tolerant Species - A species of tree that has the ability to
grow in the shade of other trees and in competition with
them.