Forestry Optional Course – Complete Details

Course Completion : 31st October 2025

Test Series : Included 

Answer Writing : Included
 

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📘 Paper I – Forestry (Fundamentals, Silviculture, Environment, Economics)

Unit 1: Silviculture

• General Principles: ecological & physiological factors, natural/artificial regeneration, nursery techniques, propagation, seed technology.

• Silvicultural Systems: Clear felling, uniform shelterwood, coppice, conversion systems.

• Plantation Silviculture: Methods of establishment, enrichment planting, mechanized methods.

• Silviculture of Trees: Acacia catechu, Acacia nilotica, Bamboo spp., Casuarina equisetifolia, Eucalyptus spp., Tectona grandis, etc.

• Silviculture in Special Zones: Mangroves, cold deserts, degraded habitats.

Unit 2: Agroforestry, Social & Urban Forestry

• Agroforestry scope, necessity, ecological and socio-economic benefits.

• Systems across agro-ecological zones; role in soil/water conservation, biodiversity, fuel, fodder, NTFPs.

• Social Forestry: Objectives, scope, benefits, role of NGOs.

• JFM – principles, methodology, people’s participation.

• Tribal forestry: livelihood, traditions, customs, cultural practices.

Unit 3: Forest Soils, Soil Conservation & Watershed Management

• Forest soils: formation, classification, properties.

• Soil Conservation: causes of erosion, types, techniques (wind/water erosion control, dunes stabilization, shelterbelts).

• Watershed Management: torrent control, avalanche/landslide management, river channel stabilization.

• Soil microorganisms, composting, nutrient cycling (N, C cycles).

Unit 4: Environment, Conservation & Biodiversity

• Afforestation, deforestation, ecosystem balance, population growth impacts.

• Pollution: air, water, noise – causes, control, monitoring.

• Ozone depletion, greenhouse effect, global warming.

• Environmental policy, law, economics of watershed management.

• Sustainable development in forestry.

Unit 5: Tree Improvement & Seed Technology

• Tree improvement methods – provenance trials, seed orchards, clonal forestry.

• Seed technology – seed production, storage, viability.

• Quantitative genetics, disease resistance, pest resistance.

• Genetic resources – in situ & ex situ conservation.

Unit 6: Wildlife Biology

• Forest injuries: pests, diseases, fire, abiotic/biotic stresses.

• Wildlife conservation: grazing management, poaching control, CO₂ absorption role.

• Control methods: rotational grazing, encroachment regulation.

Unit 7: Forest Economics & Legislation

• Forest economics – demand-supply, valuation, cost-benefit analysis.

• Market structures, co-operatives, corporate financing.

• Legislation: Indian Forest Acts (1894, 1927, 1980), Wildlife Protection Act 1972, Forest Conservation Act, National Forest Policy (1988, 1990).

• Public administration in forestry, women’s involvement, decentralization.

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📗 Paper II – Forestry (Management, Utilization, Applied)

Unit 1: Forest Management & Working Plans

• Principles of forest management – sustained yield, multiple use, forest planning.

• Working plans – preparation, inventory, growth studies.

• Management of natural and plantation forests.

Unit 2: Forest Mensuration & Surveying

• Measurement of diameter, height, volume, form factor.

• Growth and yield estimation, increment studies, sampling techniques.

• Yield tables, forest inventory methods.

• Surveying and mapping – basic methods.

Unit 3: Forest Engineering & Utilization

• Engineering structures in forestry – roads, bridges, buildings.

• Logging methods, extraction, transport.

• Timber mechanics – wood properties, seasoning, preservation.

• Pulp & paper, plywood, composites.

• Minor forest products – lac, resins, gums, medicinal plants.

Unit 4: Forest Protection

• Causes of forest damage – fire, pests, diseases, weeds.

• Fire control – prevention, suppression techniques.

• Biological, chemical, mechanical control of pests/diseases.

• Climate hazards – frost, drought, windthrow.

Unit 5: Forest Policy & Administration

• History of Indian Forest Policy, National Forest Policy.

• Forest legislation and administration structure.

• Institutional setup – ICFRE, FSI, State Forest Departments.

• Role of Panchayats and communities.

Unit 6: Forest Products & Industries

• Wood utilization – mechanical, chemical, bio-products.

• Non-wood products – bamboo, cane, medicinal plants, fodder.

• Economics of forest industries, sustainable harvesting.

Unit 7: Modern Forestry Applications

• Remote sensing, GIS, forest mapping.

• Climate change and forestry.

• Eco-restoration of degraded lands.

• Carbon sequestration and REDD+.

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🗓️ 2-Month Weekly Plan (8 Weeks)

• Week 1: Silviculture (Principles, Systems, Species)

• Week 2: Plantation Forestry + Agroforestry + Social Forestry

• Week 3: Forest Soils + Soil Conservation + Watershed Management

• Week 4: Environment, Biodiversity, Tree Improvement, Seed Technology

• Week 5: Wildlife Biology + Forest Economics + Legislations

• Week 6: Forest Management + Working Plans + Forest Mensuration

• Week 7: Forest Engineering + Utilization + Forest Protection

• Week 8: Forest Policy + Forest Industries + Modern Forestry (Remote Sensing, Climate Change) + Full Revision & PYQs

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📌 Course Deliverables

• Complete Coverage of Paper 1 & 2

• Answer Writing Practice with diagrams, flowcharts, case studies

• Weekly Assignments & MCQs

• Previous Year Question Analysis (trend + model answers)

• Doubt Clearance Sessions

• Final Full-Length Mock Test (Paper I + Paper II)