Forest History - Human utilisation and vegetation dynamics
Course description
This course provides a fundamental understanding of the vegetation dynamics of the boreal forest in a millennial time perspective and deep comprehension of how people have utilized these forests as a resource for fuel, grazing, food, and industrial raw materials and as a religious space. Significant themes include the history of forest management, boreal land use history related to different ethnic groups, and preservation of cultural and biodiversity values and legacies, including paleoecology and long-term vegetation dynamics. The course provides students with fundamental historical methods and tools to understand forest and vegetation history as well as training in scientific reading and writing at an advanced level. The course is targeted for students who want to understand the history of the boreal forest and how natural and historical eras have influenced contemporary forest ecosystems and forestry practices. It gives a crucial background to forest ecosystem ecology and silviculture. It will give tools and knowledge to analyse and critically assess current information vital to decision-making in the forestry and public sectors. The course is offered as an independent course.
Entry Requirements
- Forestry science
- Forest science
- Forest management
- Biology
- Soil science
- Environmental sciences
- Natural resource management
- Natural geography
- Archeology
- History
and English level 6.
Course facts
SV0027, Forest History - Human utilisation and vegetation dynamics, 15.0 Hp
Print syllabus
Syllabus
Finalized by: Programnämnden för utbildning inom skog (PN.S), 2023-06-08
Valid from : Autumn semester 2024 (2024-09-02)
Level
Second cycle (A1N)
Main field of study
Forestry Science, Biology
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
- Forestry science
- Forest science
- Forest management
- Biology
- Soil science
- Environmental sciences
- Natural resource management
- Natural geography
- Archeology
- History
and English level 6.
Objectives
The overarching aim of this course is to provide an in-depth understanding of of the vegetation dynamics of forests in northern Europe in a millennial time perspective and a fundamental understanding of how people have utilized forests as a resource for fuel, grazing, food, and industrial raw materials and as a religious space, with a focus on recent centuries. This knowledge will also be put in a broader, international context to provide an overview of the past global vegetation development and comparisons of human use of other forest ecosystems in the world. During this course, students will become familiar with forest history research methods (historical records and paleoecological methods). Students will apply these methods in the field and recognize the interactions between people and forest ecosystems in an historical perspective. Key concepts include historical climate change, legacies of human forest use, and natural forest dynamics and transitions. This course will also provide useful skills on critical reading and scientific writing.
After completing the course the student should be able to
- describe the vegetation development and climatic variations in northern European boreal zone during the Holocene and place the current state of the forest ecosystems in a historical perspective.
- identify and evaluate the main drivers of ecosystem change that have shaped the boreal forest during the last few centuries.
- use forest history methods in practice—pollen analysis, dendrochronology, and historical records— and summarize the potential and limitations of these methods.
- identify traces related to Sami, agrarian, pre-industrial, and industrial uses in today’s forests (utilizing appropriate forest history tools), and explore ways to apply this knowledge to the relevant laws which protect the historical legacy of these traces.
- account for the historical development of silvicultural methods in boreal forestry and how they have shaped current forests.
- apply theories and knowledge of forest history to current forest management, biodiversity management, and management of the cultural heritage
- synthesize and present gained knowledge orally and in writing.
Content
Subject Content
During the course, students will familiarize themselves with forest historical research methods (historical source material and paleoecological methods). Students will have the opportunity to try out these methods in the field and discover the interaction between humans and forests from a historical perspective. Key concepts include historical climate change, historical traces of human activity in the forest, and naturally dynamic processes and transitions in forest ecosystems. The course will also cover critical review and scientific writing.
Implementation
The course utilizes various teaching methods to promote student learning and discussions through:
Fieldwork with sampling including dendrochronological methods; dendrochronological lab work and data analysis; reading and critical evaluation of scientific literature; seminar series throughout the course period; group work resulting in a scientific paper; individual interview report and presentation; abstract writing; interactive lectures.
The course focuses on the following general competencies
Scientific reading and writing, data analysis and interpretation, literature critique, oral presentation.
The following elements are mandatory
Fieldwork, lab work, seminar series, student presentations, selected lectures.
Interaction with the surrounding society occurs through
Local and regional historical museums, associations, private consultants, and forestry companies.
Examination Formats and Requirements for Passing the Course
Completed mandatory components, approved oral tasks, written reports, and presentations. - Approved written reports. - Approved presentations. - Approved oral tasks. - Completed mandatory components.
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 | 0001 |