SV0084, Sustainable Management of Boreal Forests, 15.0 Hp
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Syllabus

Finalized by: Ordföranden för programnämnden för utbildning inom skog (PN-S), 2025-06-25
Valid from : Spring semester 2026 (2026-01-19)

Level

Second cycle (A1F)

Main field of study

Forestry Science, Biology

Biology Area

Ecology

Sub-area forestry science

Objectives, planning and policy 6.5 credits, Natural processes 6.5 credits, Work processes 2 credits

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.

Course language

English

Entry Requirements

Objectives

The overall aim of the course is to provide tools for evaluating forest management strategies and their consequences for ecosystem services, and to develop students' confidence and competence in communicating, discussing, and arguing their point of view and providing well-founded recommendations in various forestry decision-making contexts.

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
• Analyse and evaluate 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 the carbon balance, greenhouse gas emissions 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 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, wildfire, anthropogenic deposition) in boreal forests
• Demonstrate ability to place management operations and silvicultural measures in a wider sustainable forest management (SFM) context.

Content

This course interlinks current topics on sustainable forest management, structured into thematic modules that address a wide range of issues relevant to boreal forestry. These include the general context of boreal forests and forestry, the role of forestry in the carbon cycle and its climate effects, and the value chains associated with wood production. The course also explores the relationships between forestry and biodiversity, water quality, and human health. Additional modules focus on long-term landscape-level planning, climate adaptation in forestry, and field-based perspectives on alternatives to traditional rotation forestry.

This course emphasizes student-centered learning. Each course element (topical module) is introduced with short lectures followed by compulsory and/or voluntary individual or group assignments, which are submitted for assessment. 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 week-long study trip focusing on the practical demonstration of different forest management approaches (traditional and alternative) covered in the course is also included. Towards the end of the course, special emphasis is placed on stakeholder interaction and personal communication skills. The course is concluded by an individual student assignment in which each student develops a forest management plan for a real forest property encompassing multiple stands and objectives, applying and combining the principles of sustainable and multipurpose forestry.

To further student learning and promote discussion, a variety of methods are used:

• Lectures and seminars
• Written and oral assignments,
• Discussions and debates,
• Study trip including field exercises,
• Presentations.

The course focuses on the following generic competencies:

• Critical thinking,
• Problem solving,
• Oral and written communication,
• Teamwork,
• Ability to work autonomously,
• Plan and manage time.

The following course components are compulsory:

Participation in group and individual presentations/hand-ins of assignments, discussions, online quizzes, stakeholder debate, field trip

Collaboration with the surrounding community takes place through lectures and discussions with invited participants from industry and agencies.

Examination Formats and Requirements for Passing the Course

- Approved oral and written presentations. - Approved submissions. - Completed mandatory elements.

Responsible Department/Equivalent

Department of Forest ecology and Management

Supplementary information

Included in program

• Forest Ecology and Sustainable Management (MSc)
• Forest Ecology and Sustainable Management - mastersprogramme
• Forest Science - Master's Programme

Module set

Title	Credits	Code
Single module	15.0	0101