Introduction

As a natural science, silviculture has a large say in how humans interact with the terrestrial world. Although the perspective taken here that the production of wood is narrow, the amount of land area consumed is extensive; the indirect consequences of wood production on natural processes are larger still. Through the amount of land engaged, the flora and fauna affected and the environmental consequences, good or bad; silviculture is a frequent constituent in applied ecology, environmental science, conservation ecology and other broad land-use disciplines. Silvicultural expertize is essential when trees and wood are an economic output; often best promoted when silviculture is allied with hydrology, ecology, soil science, wildlife management, etc. This book touches upon the following important areas of the subject in detail.