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Forest Regeneration

7.5 hp
2025-09-01 - 2025-09-30
Alnarp
English
Admission & application
Application Code: SLU-10083
Course Code: SV0057
Schedule in TimeEdit

Course description

This course provides a comprehensive overview of forest regeneration in Scandinavia, highlighting the complexity of different regeneration methods. You will learn about everything from seed selection and planting to measuring seedling growth and vitality. The course connects the latest research and techniques to site conditions, climate change, and sustainable forestry.

Through lectures, field exercises, group work, and study visits, you gain practical experience in designing and analyzing forest regeneration trials. The course develops your ability to critically evaluate methods and plan sustainable solutions for the forests of the future.

Entry Requirements

The equivalent of

120 credits

60 credits within one of the following subjects/main fields of study

- forestry science
- forest science
- forest management
- biology
- environmental sciences
- natural resource management

English 6.

Course facts

Course name
Forest Regeneration
Swedish course name
Skoglig föryngring
Level
Second cycle (A1N)
Main field of study
Forestry Science
Credits
7.5 credits
Rate of study
100 %
Study location
Alnarp
Form of instruction
Campus-based instruction
Application code
SLU-10083
Course code
SV0057
Course language
English
Included in program
Euroforester (MSc)
Offered as a freestanding course
Ja
Tuition fee
19030 SEK
Tuition fees only for non-EU/EEA/Switzerland citizens

SV0057, Forest Regeneration, 7.5 Hp
Print syllabus

Syllabus

Finalized by: Ordföranden för programnämnden för utbildning inom skog (PN-S), 2023-12-22
Valid from : Autumn semester 2025 (2025-09-01)

Level

Second cycle (A1N)

Main field of study

Forestry Science

Sub-area forestry science

Natural processes 7,5 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

The equivalent of

120 credits

60 credits within one of the following subjects/main fields of study

- forestry science
- forest science
- forest management
- biology
- environmental sciences
- natural resource management

English 6.

Objectives

The purpose of the course is to present a comprehensive overview of the complete chain of forest regeneration, and to give the students insight in the complexity of regeneration methods in Scandinavian forestry.

After completing the course, students should be able to

  • discuss and critically examine the characteristics and limitations of different regeneration methods used in contemporary forestry in Scandinavia
  • describe and analyse different regeneration methods, from a perspective of forestry as part of a sustainable development
  • describe experimental designs and develop forest regeneration trials, as well as analyze and evaluate forest regeneration trials
  • measure and evaluate seedlings growth and vitality.

Content

During the course, the complete chain of forest regeneration is studied, from seed to established trees. New findings and insights in regeneration methods, seedling types, planting- and site preparation techniques will be discussed, and evaluated in relation to plant ecophysiology, site factors, climate change and multiple management objectives. The course also provides knowledge in design of regeneration experiments and in the techniques to measure seedling vitality and growth.

To further student learning and promote discussion, a variety of methods are used: Lectures, literature studies, exercises, (written/oral) assignments, project work, study visits, seminars, field exercises, excursions, presentations.

The course focuses on the following generic competencies: Problem solving, scientific methods, critical thinking, plan and manage time, creativity, teamwork but also ability to work autonomously.

The following course components are compulsory: Group activities, field excursions, study visits.

Examination Formats and Requirements for Passing the Course

Passed written examinations. Approved written exercises. Completed compulsory components.

Responsible Department/Equivalent

Department of Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre

Supplementary information

Included in program

  • Euroforester (MSc)

Module set

Title Credits Code
In-depth Course in Forest Regeneration 4.0 0001
In-depth Course in Forest Regeneration-Exam 3.5 0003

The Course Replaces

SG0255

Other Information

Students may incur some costs related to transportation, food and accommodation during field excursion (s).

The course is mainly campus-based but can be adapted to distance education if needed.

**In-depth course in forest regeneration **– course literature, 2025

Please note that all listed course literature will be available in PDF format on Canvas (the student portal) before the start of the course.

Nursery seedlings in regeneration: ecophysiology and practices from propagation to field establishment

  1. Grossnickle, S.C. (2000). Ecophysiology of northern spruce species: the performance of planted seedlings. NRC Research Press.
  2. Grossnickle, S.C. (2005). Importance of root growth in overcoming planting stress. New forests, 30(2), 273-294.
  3. Grossnickle, S.C. (2012). Why seedlings survive: influence of plant attributes. New forests, 43(5), 711-738.
  4. Jacobs, D.F. & Landis, T.D. (2014). Plant nutrition and fertilization. Tropical Nursery Manual. Agricultural Handbook, 732, 232-251.
  5. Nilsson, U., Luoranen, J., Kolström, T., Örlander, G. & Puttonen, P. (2010). Reforestation with planting in northern Europe. Scandinavian journal of forest research, 25(4), 283-294.
  6. Örlander, G., Gemmel, P. & Hunt, J. (1990). Site preparation: a Swedish overview.
  7. Thiffault, N. (2004). Stock type in intensive silviculture: a (short) discussion about roots and size. The Forestry Chronicle, 80(4), 463-468.

Natural regeneration

  1. Lidman, F.D., Karlsson, M., Lundmark, T., Sängstuvall, L. & Holmström, E. (2024). Birch establishes anywhere! So, what is there to know about natural regeneration and direct seeding of birch? New forests, 55(1), 157-171.
  2. Lula, M., Hanssen, K.H., Goude, M., Hökkä, H., Valkonen, S., Brunner, A., Rautio, P., Erefur, C. & Granhus, A. (2025a). Regeneration. In: Continuous Cover Forestry in Boreal Nordic Countries. Springer. 45-72.
  3. Lula, M., Trubins, R., Ekö, P.M., Johansson, U. & Nilsson, U. (2021). Modelling effects of regeneration method on the growth and profitability of Scots pine stands. Scandinavian journal of forest research, 36(4), 263-274.
  4. Övergaard, R. (2010). Seed production and natural regeneration of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) in southern Sweden.

**Forest genetics **

  1. Eriksson, G. & Ekberg, I. (2001). An introduction to forest genetics.

Ecology of seeds

  1. Fenner, M. & Thompson, K. (2005). The ecology of seeds. Cambridge university press.
  2. U.S. Department of Agriculture. (n.d.). Seed sampling guidelines. RNGR. https://rngr.net/publications/seed-handling-guidebook/seed-testing/at_download/file

Regeneration of broadleaves

  1. Löf, M., Castro, J., Engman, M., Leverkus, A.B., Madsen, P., Reque, J.A., Villalobos, A. & Gardiner, E.S. (2019a). Tamm Review: Direct seeding to restore oak (Quercus spp.) forests and woodlands. Forest Ecology and Management, 448, 474-489.
  2. Löf, M., Madsen, P., Metslaid, M., Witzell, J. & Jacobs, D. (2019b). Restoring forests: regeneration and ecosystem function for the future. New For 50: 139–151.
  3. Xu, W. & Prescott, C.E. (2024). Can assisted migration mitigate climate-change impacts on forests? Forest Ecology and Management, 556, 121738.

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academic year 2025/2026

Forest Regeneration (SV0057-10083)
2025-09-23 - 2025-10-14

Contact

Course coordinator
Mikolaj Lula
Course administrator
Desiree Mattsson
Examiner
Mikolaj Lula