Heinrich Cotta
Encyclopedia
Johann Heinrich Cotta was a German silviculturist
who was a native of Kleine Zillbach, near Wasungen
, Thuringia
. He was the father of geologist
Bernhard von Cotta
(1808–1879).
Cotta initially learned forestry
from his father, and in 1784-85 studied mathematics
, natural sciences and cameralism at the University of Jena. Later he returned to Zillbach, where he taught forestry with his father. In 1801 he became a member of the forestry college in Eisenach
, while continuing his work at Zillbach. During this time his reputation grew, and in 1810 was appointed director of Forstvermessung und Taxation (Forest Measurement and Rating) by Frederick Augustus I of Saxony
.
In 1811 he established a forestry school at Tharandt
, near Dresden
, together with its historic arboretum which still exists (the Forstbotanischer Garten Tharandt
). It would later be known as the Royal Saxon Forestry Academy. The school attracted students throughout Europe, and in 1813 he was visited at Tharandt by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
. In 1841 Cotta was given an award by Tsar Nicholas I in recognition of his efforts at Tharandt.
Cotta was a pioneer of modern forestry, and was a catalyst concerning the transition from "timber production" to forestry as a scientific discipline. He was interested in all aspects of forestry, including studies involving long-term seeding, establishment of forested areas, and tree-cutting based on mathematic practices. Cotta's methodology was based on a geometric
survey of the forest, where calculations of the wood mass of individual trees as well as the yield of the entire forested region were made. By way of these calculations an estimate for the monetary worth of a forest could be assessed. In 1804 Cotta was the first to suggest the concept of a "volume table
", which was a chart that was introduced decades later to aid in the estimation of standing timber volume.
Cotta also had a keen interest in geology
and fossils, and during his career amassed an impressive collection of zoological and botanical fossils. Today pieces of this collection are kept at Humboldt University of Berlin
(Institute for Paleontology
), in the museum for natural history in Chemnitz
, at the Academy of Mining in Freiberg
, in the State Natural History Collections in Dresden
and in the British Museum of Natural History
in London
.
Silviculture
Silviculture is the practice of controlling the establishment, growth, composition, health, and quality of forests to meet diverse needs and values. The name comes from the Latin silvi- + culture...
who was a native of Kleine Zillbach, near Wasungen
Wasungen
Wasungen is a town in the Schmalkalden-Meiningen district, in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated on the river Werra, 11 km north of Meiningen.The Pfaffenburg was built in 1378 and reconstructed in 1974.Adelgunda Dietzal lived in Wasungen.- References :...
, Thuringia
Thuringia
The Free State of Thuringia is a state of Germany, located in the central part of the country.It has an area of and 2.29 million inhabitants, making it the sixth smallest by area and the fifth smallest by population of Germany's sixteen states....
. He was the father of geologist
Geologist
A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth as well as the processes and history that has shaped it. Geologists usually engage in studying geology. Geologists, studying more of an applied science than a theoretical one, must approach Geology using...
Bernhard von Cotta
Bernhard von Cotta
Carl Bernhard von Cotta, known as Bernhard von Cotta , was a German geologist.He was born in a forester's lodge at Kleine Zillbach, Meiningen, near Eisenach, the son of Heinrich von Cotta, founder of the Tharandt Forestry Academy near Dresden...
(1808–1879).
Cotta initially learned forestry
Forestry
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...
from his father, and in 1784-85 studied mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
, natural sciences and cameralism at the University of Jena. Later he returned to Zillbach, where he taught forestry with his father. In 1801 he became a member of the forestry college in Eisenach
Eisenach
Eisenach is a city in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated between the northern foothills of the Thuringian Forest and the Hainich National Park. Its population in 2006 was 43,626.-History:...
, while continuing his work at Zillbach. During this time his reputation grew, and in 1810 was appointed director of Forstvermessung und Taxation (Forest Measurement and Rating) by Frederick Augustus I of Saxony
Frederick Augustus I of Saxony
Frederick Augustus I was King of Saxony from the House of Wettin. He was also Elector Frederick Augustus III of Saxony and Duke Frederick Augustus I of Warsaw...
.
In 1811 he established a forestry school at Tharandt
Tharandt
Tharandt is a municipality in Saxony, Germany, situated on the Weißeritz, 9 miles southwest of Dresden, on the Dresden-Reichenbach railway.It has a Protestant Church, a hydropathic establishment, and the oldest academy of forestry in Germany, founded by Heinrich Cotta in 1811 together with its...
, near Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
, together with its historic arboretum which still exists (the Forstbotanischer Garten Tharandt
Forstbotanischer Garten Tharandt
The Forstbotanischer Garten Tharandt , also known as the Sächsisches Landesarboretum, is an arboretum maintained by the Dresden University of Technology...
). It would later be known as the Royal Saxon Forestry Academy. The school attracted students throughout Europe, and in 1813 he was visited at Tharandt by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was a German writer, pictorial artist, biologist, theoretical physicist, and polymath. He is considered the supreme genius of modern German literature. His works span the fields of poetry, drama, prose, philosophy, and science. His Faust has been called the greatest long...
. In 1841 Cotta was given an award by Tsar Nicholas I in recognition of his efforts at Tharandt.
Cotta was a pioneer of modern forestry, and was a catalyst concerning the transition from "timber production" to forestry as a scientific discipline. He was interested in all aspects of forestry, including studies involving long-term seeding, establishment of forested areas, and tree-cutting based on mathematic practices. Cotta's methodology was based on a geometric
Geometry
Geometry arose as the field of knowledge dealing with spatial relationships. Geometry was one of the two fields of pre-modern mathematics, the other being the study of numbers ....
survey of the forest, where calculations of the wood mass of individual trees as well as the yield of the entire forested region were made. By way of these calculations an estimate for the monetary worth of a forest could be assessed. In 1804 Cotta was the first to suggest the concept of a "volume table
Volume table
A Volume table is a chart to aid in the estimation of standing timber volume. These tables are based on volume equations and use correlations between certain aspects of a tree to estimate the volume to a degree of certainty. The DBH and the merchantable height are used to determine the total volume...
", which was a chart that was introduced decades later to aid in the estimation of standing timber volume.
Cotta also had a keen interest in geology
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
and fossils, and during his career amassed an impressive collection of zoological and botanical fossils. Today pieces of this collection are kept at Humboldt University of Berlin
Humboldt University of Berlin
The Humboldt University of Berlin is Berlin's oldest university, founded in 1810 as the University of Berlin by the liberal Prussian educational reformer and linguist Wilhelm von Humboldt, whose university model has strongly influenced other European and Western universities...
(Institute for Paleontology
Paleontology
Paleontology "old, ancient", ὄν, ὀντ- "being, creature", and λόγος "speech, thought") is the study of prehistoric life. It includes the study of fossils to determine organisms' evolution and interactions with each other and their environments...
), in the museum for natural history in Chemnitz
Chemnitz
Chemnitz is the third-largest city of the Free State of Saxony, Germany. Chemnitz is an independent city which is not part of any county and seat of the government region Direktionsbezirk Chemnitz. Located in the northern foothills of the Ore Mountains, it is a part of the Saxon triangle...
, at the Academy of Mining in Freiberg
Freiberg, Saxony
Freiberg is a city in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, administrative center of the Mittelsachsen district.-History:The city was founded in 1186, and has been a center of the mining industry in the Ore Mountains for centuries...
, in the State Natural History Collections in Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
and in the British Museum of Natural History
Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum is one of three large museums on Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, England . Its main frontage is on Cromwell Road...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Published works
- Systematische Anleitung zur Taxation der Waldungen (Systematic Guide for the Assessment of Forests), Berlin 1804
- Naturbeobachtungen über die Bewegung und Funktion des Saftes in den Gewächsen, mit vorzüglicher Hinsicht auf Holzpflanzen (Observations on the Movement and Function of Sap in the Plants, etc.), Weimar 1806
- Grundriß zu einem System der Forstwissenschaft (Outline about the System of Forestry Science), 1813
- Tafeln zur Bestimmung des Inhalts und Wertes unverarbeiteter Hölzer (Tables for Determining the Content and Value of Unprocessed Timber), Dresden (1816 to 1897, seventeen editions)
- Anweisung zum Waldbau (Instruction about Forestry), Dresden 1817
- Die Verbindung des Feldbaues mit dem Waldbau oder die Baumfeldwirtschaft, Dresden 1819-1822
- Anweisung zur Forsteinrichtung und Abschätzung (Instructions for the Establishment of Forestry and Assessment), Dresden 1820
- Grundriß der Forstwissenschaft (Outline of Forestry Science), Dresden und Leipzig 1832
- Der Kammerbühl nach wiederholten Untersuchungen aufs neue beschrieben, Dresden 1833