Forestry

Forestry is the art, science, and practice of studying and managing forests and plantations, and related natural resources. Silviculture, a related science, involves the growing and tending of trees and forests. Modern forestry generally concerns itself with assisting forests to provide timber as raw material for wood products; wildlife habitat; natural water quality regulation; recreation; landscape and community protection; employment; aesthetically appealing landscapes; and a 'sink' for atmospheric carbon dioxide. A practitioner of forestry is known as a forester.

Forestry education

The first dedicated forestry school was established by Georg Hartig at Dillenburg in Germany in 1787, though forestry had been taught much earlier in central Europe. The first in North America was established near Asheville, North Carolina, by George Vanderbilt after he saw the devastation logging had caused in the area. The grounds of his Biltmore Estate are almost entirely managed forest, which has grown from bare ground to mature trees since 1895. Early North American foresters went to Germany from the nineteenth century to study forestry. Some early German foresters also emigrated to North America.

Related Topics:
Georg Hartig - Dillenburg - Germany - Europe - North America - Asheville - North Carolina - George Vanderbilt - Logging - Biltmore Estate - 1895

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Today, an acceptably trained forester must be educated in general biology, botany, genetics, soil science, climatology, hydrology, and economics. Education in the basics of sociology and political science is often considered an advantage.

Related Topics:
Biology - Botany - Genetics - Soil science - Climatology - Hydrology - Economics - Sociology - Political science

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An interesting scope of work opens up for foresters interested in international politics. Organizations such as the Forest Policy Education Network (FPEN) are dedicated to facilitate the way into forest politics and to exchange information on the subject.

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