IFS Forestry optional Preparation strategy and Booklist

Booklist

One main advantage of Forestry optionals is that booklist is not so exhaustive.

Must Read:

Indian Forestry by K. Manikandan and S. Prabhu

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Strictly For Reference:

Principles and Practice of Silviculture by L.S. Khanna
Forest Management by Prakash Ram

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How to plan your Preparation ?

1. Before prelims

If you have more time and want to invest in Forestry optional, you can first study the common portion of Environment (for CSE/IFS preliminary exam) and forestry optionals.

A maximum of total 20 hours for all these topics is suggested as a good investment. The chapters can be read from Indian Forestry by K. Manikandan and S. Prabhu (M & P) andhas potential to help in Prelims.

E.g. Critical wildlife habitat (2018 prelims Q, M & P page 586), Watershed management (2014 prelims Q, Ch 9 M & P), Contour bunding (2013 prelims Q , M & P Page 230), Gypsum application (2017 famous prelims Q, Gypsum application mentioned in page 233, under chemical measures for soil moisture conservation) etc.,

IFS forestry	Common to Pre/CSM Soils, Soil Conservation and Watershed management (Paper 1 section B) Environmental Conservation and Biodiversity (Paper 1 section B) Forest Ecology and Ethno botany (Paper 2 section B) Forest Legislation (Paper 2 section B )
	Other topics – Exclusive to Forestry optional.

2. After CSM(civil services mains) and before IFS Mains

Cover Indian Forestry by K. Manikandan and S. Prabhu (M & P) book from cover to cover. There are few questions repeatedly asked from this book, prepare them well. E.g. NTFPs.

There are also some topics, that are not available in M & P, but asked in previous year questions. e.g. Provenance trial. Google them and get basic about those terms without investing much time in random books.

Learn ‘Forest management’ chapter from Principles and Practice of Silviculture by L.S. Khanna. It is enough to have basic knowledge without mugging up many formulas.

Mains Exam Strategy

• Practice 2-3 full tests.

• Some people use colour for diagrams (I could not do), may be done but not at the cost of paper completion.

• I will share an answer writing strategy with you. Try to include the following in your answers to get more marks. Remember this as a hint: FEEL ISD. And check whether you have included this in your answer.