Print Syllabus

Syllabus

SG0233 Planning in Sustainable Forest Management - Theory, Methods and Tools, 15.0 Credits

Planering för hållbart skogsbruk - teori, metod och verktyg

Subjects

Forest Science Forest science

Education cycle

Master’s level

Modules

Title	Credits	Code
Single module	15.0	0201

Advanced study in the main field

Second cycle, has only first-cycle course/s as entry requirements
Master’s level (A1N)

Grading scale

Language

English

Prior knowledge

The equivalent of 120 credits at basic level 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 overall goals of the course is to provide students with an understanding of the principles of forest management planning that accounts for sustainable wood production and provision of other ecosystem services, as well as to acquaint students with system analytical techniques and modern computer based tools for forest management planning.

It offers conceptual framings and analytical approaches for efficient tackling of forest management planning challenges at the estate level. It also constitutes a transition from the stand level silvicultural decisions to national and international forest policy issues.

After the course, the students should be able to:

• Explain the general aims and the principal steps of forest management planning

• Describe and compare the main data acquisition methods for forest management planning

• Name the main types of forest growth and yield models and explain their basic limitations

• Describe the principal functionality of a modern computer based forest management decision support system

• Independently survey principal stand parameters for forest management planning using field methods

• Independently create a forest management plan including GIS maps (using existing forest inventory and initial GIS data)

• Discuss the role of a forest management plan as a policy instrument

• Critically analyze and discuss complex problems in forestry

Content

The course provides conceptual framing of problems addressed by forest management planning. Forest management planning methods and techniques are presented in a wider context of forest sciences. The lectures are supported by students’ independent reading of scientific literature. The group assignments aim at acquainting students with system analytical methods and include the use of a general growth model implemented in Excel and a forest landscape simulation tool implemented as a stand-alone application. The seminars serve for reporting the assignments and exchanging national perspectives on various forest planning aspects. As a preparatory activity for the independent work on a forest management plan the students are offered practical training and a home assignment in GIS. During the field trip the students are hosted on a large forest estate in southern Sweden. There they receive training in and carry out measurements of stand level parameters and get generally acquainted with the estate and its management. Students meet the manager of the estate and discuss the management objectives and the management of the estate. After the field trip students in groups carry out strategical assessments of the production possibilities of the estate using the forest simulation tool and create forest management plans in accordance with the chosen management objectives. Mandatory course activities include group assignments (the strategic assessment and the forest management plan) and the field trip.

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 passing written examinations, approved group assignments and participation in other compulsory activities.

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 examination of a degree project (independent project), the examiner may also allow the 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 a 10-day field trip to a large forest estate in southern Sweden. Certain costs may apply.



A student who has been admitted to and registered on a course is entitled to receive teaching only for the course date he/she was admitted to. A student who for special reasons is unable to participate in compulsory elements, is entitled an opportunity to recover those elements during a course given at a later date. More information is available in the regulations for education.

Responsible department

Department of Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre