forestry

noun

for·​est·​ry ˈfȯr-ə-strē How to pronounce forestry (audio)
ˈfär-
1
2
a
: the science of developing, caring for, or cultivating forests
b
: the management of growing timber

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This is the management of forested land, along with associated waters and wasteland, primarily for harvesting timber, but also for conservation and recreation purposes. The harvesting and replanting of timber are the primary activities of forestry, and the main objective is to maintain a continuous supply of timber through carefully planned harvest and replacement. The forest manager is also responsible for the application of other land controls, including the protection of wildlife and the protection of forests from weeds, insects, fungal diseases, erosion, and fire. The planned management of forests originated in early medieval Europe, where laws regulated the felling of timber and the use of forests for hunting. In 1891 the US government authorized its first reserves of forested land.

Examples of forestry in a Sentence

She studied forestry in college.
Recent Examples on the Web
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First, measure the space where the tree will be displayed, both ceiling height and width of the area, says Bert Cregg, associate professor and extension specialist of horticulture and forestry at Michigan State University. George Petras, USA TODAY, 5 Dec. 2024 Ana Padilla, executive director of UC Merced’s Community and Labor Center, said in an email that most workers in agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and landscaping are noncitizens. Tad Weber, The Mercury News, 3 Dec. 2024 There were also presentations about regenerative dairy operations by Mondelez International and on regenerative forestry as part of a Walmart project. Steven Savage, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024 When looking at occupations – the kind of work that people do on the job – immigrants overall accounted for the largest share of workers in farming, fishing and forestry (43%) in 2022, followed by construction and extraction (29%), according to a Pew analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data. Rick Barrett, Journal Sentinel, 18 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for forestry 

Word History

First Known Use

1823, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of forestry was in 1823

Dictionary Entries Near forestry

Cite this Entry

“Forestry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forestry. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

forestry

noun
for·​est·​ry ˈfȯr-ə-strē How to pronounce forestry (audio)
ˈfär-
: the science and practice of caring for forests

More from Merriam-Webster on forestry

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