Print Syllabus

Syllabus

SG0232 Silviculture of Temperate Forests, 15.0 Credits

Skötsel av tempererade skogar

Subjects

Forest Science Biology Forest science Biology

Education cycle

Master’s level

Advanced study in the main field

A1N

Grading scale

Language

English

Prior knowledge

The equivalent of 120 credits including

– 60 credits Forest Science or

– 60 credits Forest Management or

– 60 credits Biology or

– 60 credits Environmental Sciences or

– 60 credits Landscape Architecture or

– 60 credits Agricultural Sciences or

– 60 credits Natural Resource Management

and

– English 6

Objectives

The objective of the course is to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of silvicultural principles and practices for the sustainable management of temperate forests in Europe. The students will be presented with contrasting paradigms and silvicultural practices. These include even-aged plantation forestry, continuous cover forestry, close-to-nature forestry, multifunctional forestry, forestry for high-quality timber production, urban forestry, restoration forestry and historical management approaches.

The course emphasizes objective-oriented silviculture based on ecological principles and scientific knowledge derived from long-term field experiments and other empirical investigations. Management alternatives for selected tree species will be used to illustrate and discuss major principles and practices of silviculture.

After completing the course the student should be able to:

• Evaluate alternative silvicultural strategies and their application,

• Apply silvicultural principles to problem solving in forestry practice and at the forest policy level

• Identify and communicate solutions to conflicts regarding the application of alternative silvicultural practices

• Implement silvicultural practices in different forest settings depending on management objective

• Quantify the effects of silvicultural practices to understand their limitations with regard to human utilisation and the sustainable use of temperate forests

• Critically and systematically integrate knowledge, as well as present and discuss results and conclusions

Content

The curriculum includes the following topics:

• Brief overview of temperate forest ecosystems, including site types, forest types and major tree species.

• Silviculture as a means of achieving management objectives and as a basis for sustainable forest management.

• The silvicultural practices of regeneration, tending and harvesting.

• Forest production principles and forest productivity.

• Forest regeneration and afforestation.

• Managing forest productivity, stand density and wood quality.

• Silvicultural practices of regeneration, tending and harvesting for major temperate forest types and tree species in Europe. These include relevant conifer species of Abies, Chamaecyparis, Larix, Picea, Pinus, Pseudotsuga, Taxus, Thuja and Tsuga, and relevant hardwood species of Acer, Alnus, Betula, Carpinus, Castanea, Fagus, Fraxinus, Juglans, Malus, Populus, Pyrus, Prunus, Quercus, Robinia, Sorbus, Tilia and Ulmus.

• Silvicultural systems in a contemporary context.

• Site mapping for site-specific silviculture.

• Silviculture for special sites, including mountain slopes, wetlands, heathlands, inland sands, coastal dune fields and land reclamation sites.

• The protective functions of forests (erosion, water, deadwood, biodiversity, cultural remains, amenity values).

• Managing mammal damage to forest trees.

• Managing forest health (biotic and abiotic factors, climate change).

• Silvicultural practices for biodiversity conservation.

• Forest aesthetics and recreation.

• Layout and design of managed forests.

Group work during the course includes practical field exercises and the preparation and presentation of silvicultural profiles for selected tree species. The field exercises include data collection in the forest, subsequent analyses, reporting and presentation. The species profiles should be compiled and presented as a power-point presentation.

The literature includes selected scientific papers, extracts from international textbooks, lecture notes and notes for field trips. All course literature will be made available as pdf files during the course.

Grading form

The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.

Formats and requirements for examination

Successful completion of the course requires participation in the study trips, approved presentations and reports, and passing of the final exam.

The grading criteria state what is required for different grades and what aspects of performance are assessed.

SLU is environmentally certified according to ISO 14001. A large part of our courses cover knowledge and skills that contribute positively to the environment. To further strengthen this, we have specific environmental goals for the education. Students are welcome to suggest actions regarding the course’s content and implementation that lead to improvements for the environment. For more information, see webpage www.slu.se.

• If a student has failed an examination, the examiner has the right to issue supplementary assignments. This applies if it is possible and there are grounds to do so.

• The examiner can provide an adapted assessment to students entitled to study support for students with disabilities following a decision by the university. Examiners may also issue an adapted examination or provide an alternative way for the students to take the exam.

• If this syllabus is withdrawn, SLU may introduce transitional provisions for examining students admitted based on this syllabus and who have not yet passed the course.

• For the assessment of an independent project (degree project), the examiner may also allow a student to add supplemental information after the deadline for submission. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.

Other information

• The right to participate in teaching and/or supervision only applies for the course instance the student was admitted to and registered on.

• If there are special reasons, students are entitled to participate in components with compulsory attendance when the course is given again. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.

Additional information

The course includes two one-week study tours in Denmark, Germany or other European countries and some one-day tours in Sweden. These usually take place in September and include time outside of normal work hours. Students will be asked to pay the costs of accommodation (youth hostels) and meals during the study tours and to cover parts of the travel costs.

Responsible department

Department of Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre