Metsandus

Metsandus is the science, art, and practice of managing forested landscapes to meet ecological, economic, and social objectives. It encompasses silviculture, forest mensuration, forest ecology, pathology, entomology, genetics, soil science, hydrology, wildlife ecology, landscape planning, forest economics, policy, and law.

Practical activities include forest inventory, growth and yield modeling, planning harvests and thinning, site preparation, planting and reforestation, and the management of protected areas and multiple-use forests. The field aims for sustainable yield, biodiversity conservation, soil and water protection, climate regulation, and provision of recreation and cultural value, along with non-timber forest products. Modern metsandus relies on tools such as geographic information systems, remote sensing, growth models, and decision-support systems.

Education typically leads to degrees in forestry or metsandus, with professionals working as foresters, forest planners, silviculturists, researchers, or forest managers. Historically, the discipline grew in Europe during the 18th and 19th centuries, influenced by the concept of sustainable yield articulated by Carl von Carlowitz, and spread globally with industrial forestry and conservation movements. As a field, metsandus intersects ecology, economics, and policy and is central to sustainable management of forest resources in the face of climate change, land-use change, and demand for wood, fiber, and ecosystem services.