The most common view of Science in forestry is the application of the scientific method to solving specific problems. The world around us has events that we witness, and these events have causes. If we understand the causes, we have a chance to predict which events will happen when, and perhaps even to dictate what happens. The central philosophical problem is that different people come up with different explanations for the same events. Where ideas conflict, they can't all be true.
Science is unique in the method it uses for figuring out which ideas are wrong .
It sounds strangely reminiscent of the classical forestry idea that if we cut down all the old growth forests, we'll speed up the rate at which new wood grows. Many philosophical views have full, complete explanations for any event that occurs. If we think that our knowledge should progress, we have to expect that some of our ideas are wrong. If any of these cornerstones is missing, or too small, then the edifice tilts and may fall down. Fertilization of single trees led to strong basal area responses in all 3 ages.