Silviculture is the art and applied science of controlling the establishment, growth, composition, health, and quality of forests to meet diverse management objectives. As a fundamental practice within the broader field of forestry, it involves applying knowledge of forest ecology to strategically manipulate forest vegetation over time. Practitioners use a variety of treatments—including harvesting, planting, thinning, pruning, and prescribed burning—to guide a forest's development towards desired outcomes, which may range from sustainable timber production and wildlife habitat enhancement to ecosystem restoration and improved water quality.