Silviculture - the science of forest stand management
Information from the course leader
UPDATED 10 JAN WITH IMPORTANT CHANGES DUE TO THE CHANGING COVID SITUATION (Important updates highlighted)
Welcome to the course Silviculture – the science of forest stand management.
The course introduction is on the 17th of January at 9.15. Due to the changing Covid situation with a local outbreak among students and teachers at SLU, the course will start fully online. We will post a Zoom link in Canvas before the course starts.
We will closely follow the development of the pandemic and go back to classroom teaching if the situation is improving. If you have symptoms, you should take a test and stay home. Inform course leaders if you have confirmed Covid-19 infection.
You should register yourself for the course in the Ladok system. The system for self-registration is open from the 10th through the 17th of January.
We may have teaching and activities at a distance regardless of the status of the pandemic to accommodate guest lecturers or other situations. In these cases, we will use the communication tools Zoom and Wonder. We will provide class materials and communicate through the Canvas platform, to which you will receive an invitation by e-mail. You can reach Canvas when you have received your student account and e-mail. If you are new to SLU, it is important to get your student account as early as possible (https://student.slu.se/en/studies/new-student/ (Links to an external site.) , where you can also find other relevant information about studies at SLU and in Sweden in general).
If you have a documented disability or reading and writing difficulties that require extra time, privacy, or some extra aids in teaching and examinations - contact SLU Funka as soon as possible: Funka@slu.se. Then communicate these needs to the course leaders.
Best Wishes,
Eliza and Ulrik
Course evaluation
The course evaluation is now closed
SG0272-30052 - Course evaluation report
Once the evaluation is closed, the course coordinator and student representative have 1 month to draft their comments. The comments will be published in the evaluation report.
Additional course evaluations for SG0272
Academic year 2023/2024
Silviculture - the science of forest stand management (SG0272-30256)
2024-01-15 - 2024-03-19
Academic year 2022/2023
Silviculture - the science of forest stand management (SG0272-30188)
2023-01-16 - 2023-03-21
Syllabus and other information
Syllabus
SG0272 Silviculture - the science of forest stand management, 15.0 Credits
Silviculture - the science of forest stand managementSubjects
Forest Science Biology Forest science BiologyEducation cycle
Master’s levelModules
| Title | Credits | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Single module | 15.0 | 0101 |
Advanced study in the main field
Second cycle, has only first-cycle course/s as entry requirementsMaster’s level (A1N)
Grading scale
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.
Language
EnglishPrior 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,
English 6
Objectives
The overall aim of this course is to provide the foundations for evaluating how established and emerging silvicultural practices affect forest growth development, stand structure, and ecosystem services at the tree and stand level. The course provides students with experimental and analytical tools for predictions of current and future stand conditions and tree responses. The course will also foster critical reading of silvicultural and ecological literature and writing of scientific texts.
After completion of the course, the students will be able to
explain and apply the ecological and silvicultural principles underlying tree and stand development over time—including the role of site characteristics, self-thinning, resource competition, resource dynamics, light-use efficiency, and respiration at tree- and stand-levels and how silvicultural practices govern stand development under contrasting environmental conditions
analyse and project the consequences of silvicultural measures and their impacts on tree/forest growth, soils, and energy and water balances
design silvicultural field experiments, simulations and sampling strategies to test fundamental scientific questions and hypotheses, analyse data using state-of-the-art software and statistical methods
evaluate the scientific basis for established and emerging silvicultural practices such as mixed species silviculture, continuous cover forestry, agroforestry, and uneven-aged forest management
search, critically evaluate, and synthesise relevant scientific literature on ongoing discussions in silviculture and forest management
apply recognized principles for effective communication, considering varying audiences and formats. (e.g., research reports, oral presentations, posters).
Content
This course focuses on the evaluation of established and emerging silvicultural options for obtaining forest yield and ecosystem services under various scenarios. The students will practice a range of quantitative methods of analysis, experiments, silvicultural planning tools, and modelling. This will include a mix of lectures, use of field data, and analytical exercises. The students will also participate actively in literature seminars, synthesize scientific literature and lead discussions and debates at seminars. Seminars are compulsory.
Lectures and course literature will cover, for example
future silviculture challenges and opportunities: perspectives from small forest owners, companies, conservation organisations and the government
silviculture for carbon sequestration
nitrogen issues affecting forest stand development and management
continuous cover and mixed species forests
tree and stand dynamics
models as framework for forest stand management and science
experimental approaches; analysis of forest structure, tree diversity, tree physiology; and silvicultural modelling and simulation.
The students work in small groups on projects, which will form the basis of assessment. The projects cover and deepen the different aspects of the course, and have a quantitative and experimental component. The students will submit assignments in the format of scientific reports and present their findings orally.
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 written assignments and oral presentations. Completed compulsory activities.
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
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
Further information
Litterature list
- Forest Dynamics, Growth and Yield Författare: Pretzsch H. ISBN: 978-3-540-88307-4 Kommentar: We will use chap. 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 11 and 15 in module 3. Digital copies will be available through the library/ Course platform when the course starts.
- Physiological ecology of forest production: principles, processes and models. Författare: Landsberg, J. and P. Sands. ISBN: 9780080922546 Kommentar: We will use Chap. 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9 in module 4. Digital copies will be available through the library/ Course platform when the course starts.
- Individual based methods in forest ecology and management Författare: Pommerening A, Grabarnik P ISBN: 978-3-030-24528-3 [Individual based methods in forest ecology and management] (https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-24528-3) Kommentar: We will use chap. 1-5 in module 5. Digital copies will be available through the library/ Course platform when the course starts.
- Forest management in Sweden: Current practice and historical background (No. 2020/4), 2020. Författare: Swedish Forest Agency [Forest management in Sweden: Current practice and historical background (No. 2020/4), 2020. ] (<https://www.skogsstyrelsen.se/globalassets/om-oss/rapporter/rapporter-2020/rapport-2020-4-forest-management-in-sweden.pdf >) Kommentar: We will assume students are familiar with general forest management and silviculture practices in Northern Europe. For students with limited or rusty previous knowledge in Swedish/boreal forest management we therefore suggest some useful preparatory material which will be available in the Canvas system. This publication is one of them and provides an overview and history of Swedish forests and forest management and briefly discuss future developments. It was written by a number of experts to introduce Swedish forestry to an international audience.