Forestry Syllabus of TNPSC

Forestry - (Code - 054)

• Paper I
• Paper II

Paper - I
Principles and Practices of Silviculture: Factors of locality - Forest types of India - Revised Classification - Pure and Mixed stands - Forest Regeneration - Natural and Artificial methods - tending and thinning operations.

Silvicultural systems: Classification of Silvicultural systems - clear falling, uniform systems - Group system - Shetterwood Systems - Selection system - Coppice systems - Conversions.

Silviculture of Economic trees: Conifers : Abies pindrow, Cedrus deodora, Pinus roxburghii - Pinus wallichiana, Pinus patula Broadleaved Species : Acacias ( A.nilotice A.Catechu,) Dipterocarpus spp (Shorea robusta, Dalbergis latifolia, Dalbergia sissoo) Santalum album, Tectona grandis, Terminalia, spp Hardwickia binata, Ailanthus excelsa. Exotics: Acacia auriculiformis, Casuarina equisetifolia, Eucalyptus spp (E. tereticornis, E. grandis, E. globulus) Wattles, Poplars, Prosopis Juliflora

Forest Mensuration: Methods of Measuring-Diameter-Girth-Height-Crown and volume of Trees-Form Factor-volume estimation of stand-sampling methods-sample plots-Yield Calculation-Yield and Stand Tables-Determination of age of trees-Forest Cover monitoring through remote sensing.

Forest Management: Forest organisation-sustained yield-rotations-Normal Forests-Yield regulation -Von Mantels' formula and its-modifications. Managing for Wildlife recreation-Multiple use forests-GIS for foest management and modelling

Tree Breeding : General concepts of tree breeding-variation and its use-provenance and seed sources-exotics-selection methods- Seed production and seed orcherds -progeny testing-in situ and ex situ gene conversion. heterosis exploitation

Forest working Plan: Objectives and scope-constitution of working plan division-enumeration and sampling -regenaration, survey-yield regulation in selection and regular forests-Plantation Journal-Divisional Working Plans-Annual Plan of operations.

Agroforestry and Social Forestry : Scope and necessity of Agroforestry-primery systems and subsystems-Windbreaks and shelterbelts-constraints in agroforestry-Interference effects-Wastelands-Classification, reclamation.. Social forestry-objectives, scope and necessity-peoples participation-Joint Forest Management-principle objectives methodology.

Forest Ecology and conservation : Basic concepts in ecology -biotic and abiotic components-forest ecosystems-Forest Community concepts-vegetation concepts. Plant succession and climax-Primary productivity-nutrient cycling-restoration ecology- Global warming and green house effects-Ozone layer depletion-Acid rain-Role of trees in environmental conservation-Biodiversity: concept and need.

Forest soils and Watershed Management : Forest soils-Classisfication-factors affecting soil formation -physical, chemical and biological properties-soil conservation-definition-causes for erosion-types- role of micro organmisms in soil amelioration. Watershed concepts-methods of forest treatment streamflow regulation -Water harvesting and conservation-Ground water recharge.

Paper - II

Forest Utilization : Trading of timber - Structure and specialized uses of wood - Nonwood forest products - (fibres and flosses, bamboos and Canes , Katha and bidi leaves, essential oils - oilseeds - tans and dyes - gums and resins - drugs - insecticides. Physical and mechanical properties of wood - Classification of defects - Wood seasoning and preservation - forest products (Plywood, particle board , harboard and insulation board - paper and rayon)


Forest seed Management : Seed and its importance - Characteristics of good quality seeds - Seed dormancy - types and causes of breaking dosmany - Seed treatment - principles and methods - seed fortification - pelletisation - synthetic seed - germination test - Quick viablity test - seed health test - seed storage - causes for deterioration - packaging containers - Certification procedure for pure seed - seed standards . Seed Act - rules - legislation and control.


Forest policy and Legislation : History of forest development - Indian Forest Policy 1894, 1952 and 1990. National Forest Policy 1988 - Forest Laws - necessity. general Principles - Indian Forest Act 1927 - Forest Conversation Act 1980 - Wildlife Protection Act 1972 and their amendments. Tamil Nadu Forest Act 1882, Tamil Nadu Forest Timber Transit Rules 1968, Tamil Nadu Hill Act 1985 - Application of Indian Penal Code to Forests. International Timber Trade Organisation, (ITTO) GATT and its relevance to timber export - Rio Summit and its relevance to timber export.


Forest Protection : Injuries to forests - abiotic and biotic destructive agencies - fire - mesurement and management - principles and systems of firecontrol - Bionomics and management of pest insects and mites in forest nurseries and plantations - Integrated Pest Management (IPM) of forest pests - Forest tree dieases and their management - Biological control of forest pests and diseases. Forest encroachments and grazing.


Forest Logging : Logging practices in India - Felling and Conversion - implements used - season for and methods of felling - safety measurements in logging - Conversion season for felling - felling rules - conversion cross cutting system - Sawing - different types - extraction methods - transportation of timber - marketing and sales - Storage - sales depot - management of depot - recent trends in logging - logging practices in other countries.


Wildlife Management : Wildlife and wild animals - Food chain - National Parks and Sanctuaries - Biosphere Reserves - Prey and Predator relationship - Man and Biosphere Programme (MAB) - Wildlife Census - Management of captive wildlife - Captive breeding - Diseases of wildlife and their management - Captive breeding.


Forest Economics : Fundamental principles of forest economics - B:C Ratio, NPV and IRR analyses - Estimation of demand and supply - Forest valuation - Valuing stumpage - Price size - gradients - Devastation Value - risk management - Project formulation - Corporate financing - monitoring and evaluation - Elements of time series analysis and forecasting - Socio-economic analysis of forest productivity and attitudes-analysis of trends in national and international markets - Assessment of market structure.

Forest Tribal Welfare : Tribal scenario in India - Forest: tribe - symbiosis - Tribal displacement and repercussions - Tribal schemes in India - stages of tribal economy , education, cultural tradition and customs - Tribal participation in forestry programmes.

Forest Surveying : Principles and scope of surveying - scales - linear measurements - Chain and compass surveying - plane table surveying - Principles and instruments - Levelling instruments - Topographical surveying - maps and map-reading - Computation of areas - errors in different methods of surveying.

Forest Engineering : Basic principles of forest engineering - Building meterials and construction - forest road and bridges - general principles , objectives and types design and construction of timber bridges - Cable ropeways and winches.

SINGLE PAPER

Forestry - (Code - 054)

UNIT I - SILVICULTURE - Forests - Definition - Extent of forests in india and other countries - Role of forests - Factors of locality - climatic - edaphic - topographic - biotic - Interaction of Forests with the Environment. Silviculture - Objectives - Scope - General Principles - Regeneration - Natural and artificial - Nursery techniques - containarised seedling production - techniques and methods - vegetative propagation techniques and methods - maintenance of plantation - tending operations - weeding - cleaning - thinning - after care techniques - silvicultural systems - selection - uniform - shelter wood - clearfelling - coppice system - conversion system - Improvement felling. Silviculture techniques for some important species - Acacia spp (indigenous

and exotics), Albizia lebbek and A. falcataria, Ailanthus excelsa, Azadirachta indica, Bamboos, Casuarina equisetifolia, Ceiba pentandra, Dalbergia latifolida, Eucalytpus spp, Grevillea robusta, Hardwickia binata, Leucaena leucocephala, Pongamia pinnate, Santalum album, Tecptona grandis, Terminali spp. and Tamarindus indica.

UNIT II - FOREST MENSURATION AND MANAGEMENT - Definition and objectives of forest mensuration - measurement of diameter, girth, height and volume of trees - methods and principles - Tree stem form - age - basal area determinations - Forest Inventory - Sampling techniques and methods - measurement of crops - sample ploto - Yield calculation - CAI and MAI - yield and stand tables preparation - Aerial photography and remote sensing - methods and techniques. Objectives and principles of forest management - forest organisation - sustained yield - concept - Arguments for and against sustained yield - Rotation - Normal Forests - Increment - Growth stock determination - Yield regulation - principles and concepts - yield regulation in regular and irregular forests - working plans - general considerations - preparation of working plans - Joint Forest management.

UNIT III - FOREST UTILIZATION AND WOOD TECHNOLOGY - Logging - Extraction of timber - Felling rules and methods - Conversion methods - Implements used - Grading of timbers - Transportation of timbers - Major and minor transportation methods - storage and sales of logs. Forest products - timber industries - plywood - particles boards - fibre products - paper, hardboard, insulation board - production technology - non-timber forest products (NTFP) - Collection - Processing and storage of NTFP - fibres and flosses - bamboos and canes - katha and bidi leaves - essential oils - gums and resins, lac and shellac, tassar silk - Role of tribal co-operative societies. Macroscopic character of wood - Three dimensional structures - Structures of Heart wood and sap wood - compostition and structure of wood - Chemical components, cell wall structure and formation, anatomical structures of heartwood and softwood, - reaction wood - wood and water relations - properties of wood - Physical properties - Specific gravity, density of wood - mechanical properties Gross features of wood - Defects in wood - Natural defects. Seasoning of wood - principles and objectives of seasoning - Seasoning methods - Air and kiln seasoning - Seasoning defects - Wood preservation - principles and methods wood preservatives - Definition - kinds of preservatives - method of preservative application - pressure and non - pressure processes - classification of wood, based on seasoning behaviour.

UNIT IV - FOREST SURVEYING AND ENGINEERING - Surveying - Principles of surveying - errors in surveying - Scope of surveying in forestry - Different methods of surveying , chain, prismatic, compass, plain table and topographic survey - area calculation - maps and map reading, Principles of forest Engineering - Building materials and construction - Forest Roads, - Objectives, principles and types of forest roads - Causeways and Culverts - Bridges - Construction of Bridges - Construction of timber, RCC, Steel and suspension bridges - cable ropeways and winches.

UNIT V - FOREST SOILS AND SOIL CONSERVATION AND WATERSHED MANAGEMENT - Forest Soils - Classification - Factors affectiing soil formation - Podzolization and laterization - Physical, Chemical and biological properties of Forest soils - Problem soils - Classification of Waste lands - extent of waste lands in India - reclamation of alkaline, saline, water logged and other wastelands - sand dune stabilisation - wind breaks and shelter belts. Soil conservation - definition - objectives, problems, programmes and achievements - causes of erosion - wind - water - management of eroded region - Soil and water conservation measures. Watershed management - Concepts and methods - Forest treatments - Streamflow - Impact on water yield and quality.

UNIT VI - FOREST ECONOMICS, POLICIES AND LEGISLATIONS - Fundamental principles of Forest Economics - Cost benefit analysis - Demand and supply estimation - Socio-economic analysis of Forest Productivity - Forest valuation - Project formulation - Project nonitoning - evaluation - elements of time series analysis and forecasting - role of corporate financing. Forest Policy - Necessity - Formulation of National Forest Policy - History of Forest development in India - Indian Forest Policy of 1894, 1952 and 1988. NCA report on forestry - Role of ICFRE in Forest Research and Education - Constitution of National Mission on Wasteland development. Forest laws - Necessity - General Principles - Indian Forest Act 1927, Forest Conservation Act 1980, Wildlife Protection Act 1972, Tamil Nadu Forest Act 1882.

UNIT VII - FOREST BIOLOGY AND BOTANY - Forest Ecology - Defintion - Biotic and abiotic components - Forest Ecosystem - Forest community concepts - Succession - Primary productivity - Composition of forest types in India -Classification of India's Forests - Species composition association and diversity. Form of trees - structure and function - Physiology and repreduction of trees - Nutrient cycling and water relation - Physiology in strees environments (drought, waterlogging, alkalinity and salinity ) - Seed technology - Collection - Processing - storage - handling techniques - pretreatement - Seed testing. Importance of Botany - Taxonomic classification of plant species - Identification of species - Composition and association - Dendrology - Principles and establishment of herbaria and arboreta - principles and concepts of Tree improvement - methods and techniques - Seed orchard - Types and establishment - use of provenances and Exotics - Role of Exotic forest trees in india - Application of bio-technological methods in forestry.

UNIT VIII - WILDLIFE BIOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT - Introduction to Wildlife management - Ecology and biology of wildlife - Principles and techniques of management - Wildlife habitats - Census - Land tenure system - Major wildlife species in India and their broad study - Wildlife conservatiion - Policy and legal measures - Sanctuaries - national parks - Biosphere reserves - Ecotourism.

UNIT IX - FOREST PROTECTION - Role of Forest Protection in Indian Forestry - Injuries caused by various agencies - Injuries caused by human being - Animals - Insects - Birds - Adverse climatic factors - Injuries caused by plants - Forest fire - Fire protection methods - Control measures for pest and diseases for major tree species - biological, chemical and integrated pest management methods.

UNIT X - AGROFORESTRY AND SOCIAL FORESTRY - Definition - Objectives of agroforestry - Classification of agroforestry systems - benefits and constraints in agroforestry - competition for light, water and nutrients - Allelopathy - Ecological aspects of agroforestry. Social forestry - its components and implementation at local and national levels - social attitudes and community participation - choice of species for agro and social forestry.