Roles of Forest Science and Technology in sustainable management of forest resources

Abstract

Forest Science and Technology can be defined as the application of scientific knowledge to promote  environmental conditions that support some plants and animals. Forest management is the process of  organizing and putting into action some lay down practices for the stewardship and use of forests and other land uses in order to achieve the exact environmental, cost-effective, communal and cultural objectives. Common forest management techniques are: prescribed fire, thinning, harvesting (selective, shelterwood, seed-tree, and clear-cutting), site preparation, tree planting, and application of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. Basic technology in Forest management includes; the use of Global Positioning System (GPS), Geographical Information System (GIS), remote sensing, forest modeling technologies, molecular markers, Gas
chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). The two most influential technologies in saw and veneer mills are; scanning technology and engineered wood products.  Sustainable forest management aims to reliably manage natural and planted forests by merging both forest  output and forest conservation to sustainably enhance benefits obtained from forests and forest ecosystems. The importance of sustainable forest management is that it reduces the impact on people, crops and the immediate environment of frost, strong winds, drought, flooding, intense rainfall, landslides, extreme heat and fire and changing rainfall patterns through various ecosystem services provided by conserved forests. Climate and water regulation, soil generation, erosion prevention, and nutrient recycling are considered to be some of the services provided. The trees help create a different environment which, in turn, affects the kinds of animals and plants that can continue in the forest.