Robert Scott Troup, 1874 - 1939

The death of Professor Robert Scott Troup has brought to an end the life of perhaps one of the greatest figures amongst modern forestry experts, both within and outside the Empire. As a sylviculturist, using the word in its widest significance, he was pre-eminent; for the foundations which he laid on the fragmentary beginnings of this study in India and Burma have been responsible for the great position which this important branch of forestry science has attained. It is perhaps too soon to make it possible to state the influence which these studies in tropical and sub-tropical forests of large extent have already had upon great forest regions situated in similar climatic conditions in other parts of the World. But from papers read at the first two International Forestry Conferences which have been held (Rome 1926 and Budapest 1936), at which the writer was associated with Professor Troup, it was apparent that India still occupied a place in the van by herself, and Troup was a recognized leader. His most important contribution to the study was his great book, in three volumes,The Sylviculture Indian Trees , published in 1921. This was the result of several years intensive research work based on the Forest Research Institute at Dehra Dun and at provincial research stations, combined with investigations and observations carried out by himself in many parts of the country.