Silvicultural Systems

There is a rapid rate of forest clearance in many tropical countries. This problem is becoming more serious as the rising world population increases demand for fuelwood and timber. The reduced area of forest must be treated so as to produce the highest possible sustained yield of suitable timber compatible with protecting the environment and water supplies, conserving wild life, enhancing attractive scenery, and giving opportunities for recreation. In Europe complete regimes for regenerating, tending, and harvesting forests called "silvicultural systems" have provided effective solutions to these problems. These are being used successfully in temperate, sub-tropical, and tropical forestry, often under conditions very different from those in which they originated. This book describes the theoretical basis and practical application of 20 silvicultural systems so that foresters and other land managers, ecologists, and landscape designers can select and use those best suited to their needs.

Table of Contents:
PART I: THE THEORETICAL BACKGROUND TO THE SYSTEMS: Introduction; Forest ecology and genetics; The protective functions of managed forests; Protecting forests against damage; The relation of silviculture to forest management; PART II: SILVICULTURAL SYSTEMS IN PRACTICE: The clear cutting system; Shelterwood systems; The uniform system; The group system; The irregular shelterwood system; Strip systems; The tropical shelterwood system; The selection system; The group selection system; Accessory systems; The coppice system; Coppice selection systems; Coppice with standards; Conversion; Agro-forestry systems; References; Appendices; Index.

Review :
`the most important book for British forestry published in this half century, and will become more and more relevant in to the next.' Quarterly Journal of Forestry 'With its short chapters and clear numbered listing of points this text reads easily and holds together well.' Forestry 'Silviculturists, forest ecologists and forest managers will welcome this important book.' J. Wyatt-Smith, Commonwealth Forestry Review, Vol.69(1), No.218, March,1990 'This is the current standard text on silvicultural systems for British readers, and should be on the bookshelves of all practicing foresters and students. John Matthews' book is well worth reading; and the use of the word "silviculture" in the title is fully justified.' D.R. Helliwell, Arboricultural Journal, Vol. 16 No.1, February 1992 'has already been described in the Quarterly Journal of Forestry as being the most important book on British forestry to have been published in this half century' Aslib Book Guide, vol. 57, no. 1, January 1992 'it is so fluently written and readable that it can be confidently recommended to anyone with an interest in woodland management, for whatever purpose ... a great deal of practical knowledge can be gleaned from the book, and this aspect should be particularly valuable to the many people today, without a formal forestry training, who are responsible for woodlands and forests' Esmond Harris, Tree News, Spring 1993