Syllabus Paper 2 Indian Forest Service Examination UPSC

FORESTRY

PAPER II

Section A

1. Forest Management and Management Systems :

ØObjective and principles

ØTechniques

Ø    Stand structure and dynamics

ØSustained yield relation

ØRotation

Ø Normal forest

Ø  Growing stock

Ø Regulation of yield

ØManagement of forest plantations, commercial forests, forest cover monitoring.

Approaches viz., (i) Site-specific planning,
(ii) Strategic planning,

 (iii)            Approval, sanction and expenditure,

 (iv)                 Monitoring

 (v)             Reporting and governance.

ØDetails of steps involved such as formation of Village Forest Committees

ØJoint Forest Participatory Management.

2. Forest Working Plan :

Ø Forest planning, evaluation and monitoring tools and approaches for integrated planning

ØMultipurpose development of forest resources and forest industries development

ØWorking plans and working schemes, their role in nature conservation, bio-diversity and other dimensions

ØPreparation and control.

ØDivisional Working Plans

ØAnnual Plan of Operations.

3. Forest Mensuration and Remote Sensing:

ØMethods of measuring - diameter, girth, height and volume of trees

ØForm-factor

ØVolume estimation of stand

Ø Current anuual increment

ØMean annual increment.

ØSampling methods and sample plots.

ØYield calculation

ØYield and stand tables

Ø Forest cover monitoring through remote sensing

ØGeographic Information Systems for management and modeling.

4. Surveying and Forest Engineering:

Ø Forest surveying - different methods of surveying

Ø Maps and map reading.

ØBasic principles of forest engineering.

Ø Building materials and construction.

ØRoads and Bridges

ØGeneral principles, objects, types, simple design and construction of timber bridges.

Section B

1. Forest Ecology and Ethnobotany :

Forest Ecology –

ØBiotic and abiotic components

ØForest eco-systems

ØForest community concepts

ØVegetation concepts

ØEcological succession and climax

ØPrimary productivity

ØNutrient cycling and water relations

ØPhysiology in stress environments (drought, water logging salinity and alkalinity).

ØForest types in India

ØIdentification of species

ØComposition and associations

Ø Dendrology

ØTaxonomic classification

ØPrinciples and establishment of herbaria and arboreta.

Ø Conservation of forest ecosystems.

ØClonal parks

ØRole of Ethnobotany in Indian Systems of Medicine

ØAyurveda and Unani – Introduction, nomenclature, habitat, distribution and botanical features of medicinal and aromatic plants.

ØFactors affecting action and toxicity of drug plants and their chemical constituents.

2. Forest Resources and Utilization :

Ø Environmenatlly sound forest harvesting practices

ØLogging and extraction techniques and principles

ØTransportation system, storage and sale;

Ø Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) definition and scope

ØGums, resins

ØOleoresins

ØFibres

Ø Oil seeds nuts

ØRubber

ØCanes

ØBamboos

ØMedicinal plants

ØCharcoal

ØLac and shellac

ØKatha and Bidi leaves-collection, processing and disposal.

ØNeed and importance of wood seasoning and preservation

ØGeneral principles of seasoning

ØAir and kiln seasoning

ØSolar dehumidification

ØSteam heated and electrical kilns.

ØComposite wood

ØAdhesives manufacture, properties, uses,

ØPlywood manufacture-properties, uses,

ØFibre boards-manufacture properties, uses;

ØParticle boards manufacture; properties uses.

ØPresent status of composite wood industry in India in future expansion plans.

ØPulp-paper and rayon

ØPresent position of supply of raw material to industry

ØWood substitution

ØUtilization of plantation wood- problems and possibilities.

ØAnatomical structure of wood

Ø Defects and abnormalities of wood

ØTimber identification - general principles.

3. Forest Protection & Wildlife Biology :

ØInjuries to forest - abiotic and biotic

ØDestructive agencies, insect-pests and disease

ØEffects of air pollution on forests and forest die back.

ØSusceptibility of forests to damage, nature of damage, cause, prevention, protective measures and benefits due to chemical and biological control.

Ø General forest protection against fire, equipment and methods, controlled use of fire, economic and environmental costs

ØTimber salvage operations after natural disasters.

ØRole of afforestation and forest regeneration in absorption of CO2.

ØRotational and controlled Grazing

ØDifferent methods of control against grazing and browsing animals;

ØEffect of wild animals on forest regeneration

Ø Human impacts and control.

ØEncroachement and control.

ØPoaching and control.

ØGrazing and control.

ØLive fencing and control.

ØTheft and control.

ØShifting cultivation and control.

4. Forest Economics and Legislation :

Forest economics:

ØFundamental principles

ØCost-benefit analyses

ØEstimation of demand and supply

ØAnalysis of trends in the national and international market and changes in production and consumption patterns

ØAssessment and projection of market structures

ØRole of private sector and co-operatives; role of corporate financing.

ØSocio-economic analyses of forest productivity and attitudes

ØValuation of forest goods and service.

Legislation-

ØHistory of forest development

ØIndian Forest Policy of 1894, 1952 and 1990.

ØNational Forest Policy, 1988 of People's involvement

ØJoint Forest Management

ØInvolvement of women

ØForestry Policies and issues related to land use

ØTimber and non-timber products

ØSustainable forest management

ØIndustrialization policies

ØInstitutional and structural changes.

ØDecentralization and Forestry Public Administration.

ØForest laws, necessity; general principles

ØIndian Forest Act 1927

ØForest Conservation Act, 1980;

ØWildlife Protection Act 1972 and their amendments

ØApplication of Indian Penal Code to Forestry.
ØScope and objectives of Forest Inventory.