Silviculture

Simply put, silviculture is the art and science of sustainably growing trees to meet needs. These needs may be human needs for pretty scenery, wood products, or safe places to recreate. Conversely, these needs may be ecological, such as, providing a suitable place to live for a particular type of animal or sustaining a particular type of forest. The people who practice silviculture, silviculturists, use tools such as chainsaws, fire, and fertilizers to ensure that the forest is able to meet these needs.

On the Daniel Boone National Forest, silviculture is practiced to provide the greatest good to the greatest number of the citizens of the United States while ensuring that the land is not degraded.

The practice of silviculture starts with knowing what currently exists in an area of the forest. Collecting this information is called inventory.

After inventory describes what exists in an area, we can begin to compare what exists with what is needed in an area. If there is a difference between the two, activities may be conducted in the area to ensure that the identified needs are met. These activities are called treatments.

Treatments are only implemented after we try to determine what the public wants from the forest and we analyze what effects the treatment will have on the forest. This is called planning.

Title: Silviculture
Last Updated: February 19, 2005