IFS Exam 2012-Syllabus-Forestry Paper 1

FORESTRY

PAPER-I

Section-A

1. Silviculture – General:

General Silvicultural Principles: Ecological and physiological factors influencing vegetation, natural and artificial regeneration of forests; methods of propagation, grafting techniques; site factors; nursery and planting techniquesnursery beds, poly-bags and maintenance, water budgeting, grading and hardening of seedlings; special approaches; establishment and tending.

2. Silviculture-Systems: Clear felling, uniform shelter wood selection, coppice and conversion systems, Management of silviculture systems of temperate, subtropical, humid tropical, dry tropical and coastal tropical forests with special reference to plantation silviculture, choice of species, establishment and management of standards, enrichment methods, technical constraints, intensive mechanized methods, aerial seeding, thinning.

3. Silviculture – Mangrove and Cold desert:

Mangrove: Habitat and characteristics, mangrove, plantation-establishment and rehabilitation of degraded mangrove formations; silvicultural systems for mangrove; protection of habitats against natural disasters.

Cold desert- Characteristics, identification and management of species.

4. Silviculture of trees: Traditional and recent advances in tropical silvicultural research and practices. Silviculture of some of the economically important species in India such as Acacia catechu, Acacia nilotica, Acacia auriculiformis, Albizzia lebbeck, Albizzia procera, Anthocephalus Cadamba, Anogeissus latifokia, Azadirachta indica, Bamboo spp, Butea monosperma, Cassia siamea, Casuarina equisetifolia, Cedrus deodara, Chukrasia tabularis, Dalbergia sisoo, Dipterocarpus spp, Emblica officindils, Eucalyptus spp, Gmelina Arborea, Hardwickia binata, Largerstroemia Lanceolata, Pinus roxburghi, Populus spp, Pterocarpus marsupium, Prosopis juliflora, Santalum album, Semecarpus anacrdium,. Shorea robusta, Salmalia malabaricum, Tectona grandis, Terminalis tomemtosa, Tamarindus indica.

Section- B

1. Agro forestry, Social Forestry, Joint Forest Management and Tribology:

Agroforestry – Scope and necessity; role in the life of people and domestic animals and in integrated land use, planning especially related to (i) soil and water conservation; (ii) water recharge; (iii) nutrient availability to crops; (iv) nature and eco-system preservation including ecological balances through pest-predator relationships and (v) Providing opportunities for enhancing biodiversity, medicinal and other flora and fauna. Agro forestry systems under different agroecological zones; selection of species and role of multipurpose trees and NTFPs, techniques, food, fodder and fuel security. Research and Extension needs.

Social/Urban Forestry : Objectives, scope and necessity; peoples participation.

JFM - Principles, objectives, methodology, scope, benefits and role of NGOs.

Tribology: Tribal scene in India; tribes, concept of races, Principles of social grouping, stages of tribal economy, education, cultural tradition, customs, ethos and participation in forestry programmes.

2. Forest Soils, soil Conservation and Watershed Management:

Forests Soils: Classification, factors affecting soil formation; physical, chemical and biological properties.

Soil conservation – definition, causes for erosion; types–wind and water erosion; conservation and management of eroded soils/areas, wind breaks, shelter belts; sand dunes; reclamation of saline and alkaline soils, water logged and other waste lands. Role of forests in conserving soils. Maintenance and build up of soil organic matter, provision of loppings for green leaf manuring; forest leaf litter and composting; Role of micro-organisms in ameliorating soils; N and C cycles, VAM.

Watershed Management – Concepts of watershed; role of mini-forests and forest trees in overall resource management, forest hydrology, watershed development in respect of torrent control, river channel stabilization, avalanche and landslide controls, rehabilitation of degraded areas; hilly and mountain areas; watershed management and environmental functions of forests; water-harvesting and conservation; ground water recharge and watershed management; role of

integrating forest trees, horticultural crops, field crops, grass and fodders.

3. Environmental Conservation and Biodiversity:

Environment : Components and importance, principles of conservation,  impact of deforestation; forest fires and various human activities like mining, construction and developmental projects, population growth on environment.

Pollution: Types, Global warming, green house effects, ozone layer depletion, acid rain, impact and control measures, environmental monitoring; concept of sustainable development. Role of trees and forests in environmental conservation; control and prevention of air, water and noise pollution. Environmental policy and legislation in India. Environmental impact Assessment, Economics assessment of watershed development vis-a-vis ecological and environmental protection.

4. Tree Improvement and Seed Technology:

General concept of tree improvement, methods and techniques, variation and its use, provenance, seed source, exotics; quantitative aspects of forest tree  improvement, seed production and seed orchards, progeny tests, use of tree improvement in natural forest and stand improvement, genetic testing programming, selection and breeding for resistance to diseases, insects, and adverse environment; the genetic base, forest genetic resources and gene conservation in situ and ex-situ. Cost benefit ratio, economic evaluation.