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Syllabus

SG0245 Sustainable Management of Boreal Forests, 15.0 Credits

Sustainable Management of Boreal Forests

Subjects

Forest Science Biology Forest science Biology

Education cycle

Master’s level

Advanced study in the main field

A1F

Grading scale

Language

English

Prior knowledge

The equivalent of 120 credits at basic level including

- 60 credits in Forest science or

- 60 credits in Forest management or

- 60 credits in Biology or

- 60 credits in Soil science or

- 60 credits in Environmental sciences or

- 60 credits in Natural resource management or

- 60 credits in Natural geography



and,

knowledge at advanced level

-15 credits Forest science or

-15 credits Biology or

-15 credits Soil science



and,

English 6

Objectives

Upon completion of the course, students should be able to evaluate different management approaches and their consequences for the provision of ecosystem services including climate change mitigation, risk prevention, clean water, wood raw material supply, social values, and cultural legacies. Moreover students should be able to, orally and in writing, discuss and communicate the trade-offs with reference to relevant research and scientific publications. A general objective is to develop student confidence and competence to argue ones opinion and provide well founded recommendations in different management settings.

After completion of the course, students should be able to:

• Compare and contrast the management approaches applied for different forest conditions across the boreal zone.

• Evaluate the purpose and functionality of criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management and describe the process of forest certification standard development.

• Analyze and evaluate the efficacy of silvicultural programs and management strategies regarding wood raw material supply for different value chains.

• Account for and evaluate different planning and management approaches (e.g. adaptive management, zonation, multiple land use, and retention forestry) to promote long-term sustainability at the landscape scale.

• Assess forest management effects on carbon balance, greenhouse gas emission and climate change.

• Account for forest stand structure and composition effects on waterway ecosystem services and prescribe silvicultural measures to preserve water quality and quantity.

• Review and discuss alternative management approaches to preserve biodiversity based on current understanding of natural disturbance dynamics in boreal forests.

• Review management strategies and develop guidelines to handle key damaging biotic and abiotic agents (e.g. wind, frost, snow-brake, wild fire, antropogenic deposition) in boreal forests.

• Demonstrate ability to place management operations and silvicultural measures in a wider sustainable forest management (SFM) context.

Content

This course emphasizes student- centered learning. Each course element is introduced with short lectures followed by compulsory individual or group assignments, which are submitted for examination. The course includes guest lectures, seminars, and workshops with professional managers and agency representatives, as well as case studies and group projects inspired by contemporary forestry issues. A study trip to Jämtland focusing on continuous cover forestry is also included. Towards the end of the course, special emphasis is placed on stakeholder interaction and personal communication skills. A student-led conference with student presentations and invited forestry representatives concludes 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

Approved participation in compulsory seminars and approved oral and written presentations.

• 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

This course is given within the Masters Program in Forest Ecology and Sustainable Management.



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.

Responsible department

Department of Forest ecology and Management