Print Syllabus

Syllabus

SV0052 Forest and Landscape Planning, 15.0 Credits

Skogs- och landskapsplanering

Subjects

Forestry Science Landscape Architecture

Education cycle

Bachelor’s level

Advanced study in the main field

G2F

Grading scale

Language

English

Prior knowledge

60 credits forestry science and 60 credits landscape architecture or equivalent.

English 6

Exemption granted from the general entry requirements of Swedish.

Objectives

The overall aim of the course is to provide students with skills and knowledge to develop and critically analyse Landscape and Forest Management Plans while considering multiple objectives, users and contexts. Hence, the student will obtain the necessary capacities to implement theoretical knowledge of planning to practical landscape and forest planning cases.

After completing the course, the student should be able to

• explain the general aims and the principal steps of landscape and forest management planning within the context of complex problems
• apply knowledge and skills on forest inventory, silviculture, decision-support systems, geographical information systems (GIS) and economics to design and critically evaluate forest management plan based on forest inventory information, ecological and cultural values, multiple objectives and defined goals
• discuss relevant and new paradigms of sustainable landscape and forest planning, e.g. landscape perspectives, green infrastructure
• show understanding of the main differences and challenges of forest planning in terms of scale, goals, and urban-rural context
• verbally and graphically (with the aid of relevant digital drawing- and layout tools) communicate a proposed forest management plan, while also in a transparent way backing up the plan with background facts, conceptual ideas and plausible arguments.

Content

Subject matter

The course covers theoretical and practical aspects about landscape and forest planning with a sustainable development approach in which economic, nature and societal values are balanced. The course takes a transdisciplinary perspective to provide students with knowledge and skills on landscape planning and on forest management planning.

The landscape planning skills are developed through the exercise of landscape analysis, stakeholder analysis, sketching, by weighing different perspectives against each other and by practicing communication through different illustration- and layout techniques.

Development of a Forest Management Plan of a forest estate will be carried out in a hands-on fashion, based on specific goals and available information, utilizing and reinforcing knowledge on forest inventory, forest economics, GIS, decision support systems, landscape perspectives, forest ecology, silviculture, among others.

Synergies and trade-offs between Landscape and Forest Management Planning perspectives will be critically analysed based on sustainability principles and society’s priorities, such as, access for recreation, improvement of biological diversity, timber production, and climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Implementation

Lectures, exercises, study trips, excursions, assignments, reports, essays, and presentations.

The course focuses on the following general competences: critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, plan and time management, oral communication, written communication, digital competence, information competence.

The following elements are compulsory:

Excursions.

Collaboration with the surrounding community takes place through study visits, excursions and guest lectures with stakeholders.

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

Passed written examinations, approved oral and written presentation of assignments and completed participation in compulsory components.

• 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

Additional costs for excursions may apply.

Responsible department

Department of Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre

Cooperating departments: