Silviculture provides the basis for forest resource management and protection. The ultimate goal of silviculture is to establish forests with high productivity and good health. In order to fulfill that goal we must know the site and select appropriate tree species, including control of genetic quality by seed provenance selection. We also need to produce high quality seedlings and plant them in correct ways. Finally we need to maintain proper forest structure by adopting sound tending, thinning, harvesting, and regeneration techniques.
Foresters face challenges when practicing silviculture. Forests are much more complex than we previously realized. Social demands for forest products are becoming more diversified with the development of society. Climate change will have a great impact on forest growth. All of these challenges force us to learn new theories and techniques if we want to manage and protect our forests. In silviculture it is also necessary to stay abreast of developments in other fields. Last, as in any other applied sciences, we must put our newly gained knowledge to use, paying close attention to the impact of our decisions and making modifications as needed.