RELATION OF SILVICULTURE WITH OTHER BRANCHES OF FORESTRY:
1. Silviculture & Forest Protection: Forest Protection is defined as that branch of forestry which is concerned with the activities directed towards the prevention and control of damage to forests by man, animal, fire, insects, diseases and other injuries and destructive agencies. Knowledge of the injuries caused to forests by the local human and animal population, both domestic and wild, insects, fungi and other adverse climatic factors and the preventive and remedial measures to counteract them, is essential for effective protection of forests, forest protection is concerned with its protection against various sources of damage.2. Silviculture and Forest Mensuration: Forest mensuration is defined as the branch of forestry which deals with the determination of dimensions, form, volume, age and increment of logs single trees, stands or whole woods. Thus, while silviculture deals with raising of forest crop, forest mensuration deals with the measurement of diameter and heights of crop so produced, calculation of its volume, age, etc, for sale and research to decide the best treatment to be given to the crop while it is being raised.
3. Silviculture & Forest Utilization: Forest utilization is defined as the branch of forestry concerned with harvesting, converting, disposal and use of the forest corps, Forest Utilization is concerned with harvesting and disposal of crop so produced.
4. Silviculture & Forest Economics: Forest Economics is defined as those aspects of forestry that deal with the forest as a productive asset, subject to economic laws. Thus while silviculture is concerned with the cultivation of forest crop, forest economic works out the cost of production including rental of land and or compound interest on capital spent in raising the crop and compares it with the sale proceeds to decide whether raising of the crop is economically profitable or not. It is also the function of Forest Economist to compare the cost of production of a particular crop by different methods and then decide the most profitable method of raising that crop.
5. Silviculture and Forest Management: Forest Management is the practical application of the scientific, technical and economic principles of forestry. Thus while silviculture deals with the cultivation of crop, Forest Manager manages that crop according to the Forest Act and Forest Regulation of Nepal. Silviculture deals with the techniques and operations which result in the development of a forest. Forest Management prescribes the time and place where the silvicultural techniques and operations should be carried out so that the objects of management are achieved.
The various branches of forestry are so closely related that the consideration of one branch influence the techniques of other branches.
For example: Silvicultural techniques and operations are governed by the considerations of cost and modified to suit the requirement of protection. Similarly, even the most profitable method of exploitation.
So, Forestry has a wide scope and silviculture is only one of its branches. It has the same relation with forestry as agronomy has with agriculture. While agronomy and silviculture deals with cultivation of crops, agriculture and forestry deal not only with the cultivation of crops but also with their protection, management, mensuration, marketing, etc. In short, forestry is an applied science which has many branches. It may be compared to a wheel. Silviculture is the hub of the wheel. It is neither the whole wheel not is it the essential part. But just as a cart wheel composed of several sections is supported on its hub, similarly forestry and its other branches are supported on silviculture without which there would be neither forestry nor its branches.
Very helpful.