Silviculture of Temperate Forests
Information from the course leader
GENERAL STUDENT INFORMATION
Teaching and teaching location
Teaching begins on Monday 1 September 2025 at 12:30 a.m. in ‘Silvicum’ in the Silvicum Building, 3 Sundsvägen, S-23053 Alnarp. Most lectures and indoor group work will take place in Silvicum or elsewhere in Alnarp.
In addition to classroom sessions, the course includes regular field study tours, group work in the field, online teaching and discussion sessions, and recorded field lectures and field tours. These form an integral part of the course and the examination requirements. Departure for field tours will be from Alnarp.
Textbooks and other literature
The course is based on three textbooks, some extracts from other books and several journal articles. All of these are mentioned in the enclosed overview of literature and will be available as files for download from the course portal. Other teaching materials and information on field tours and group work will also be made available to you free of charge as pdf-files, and recorded field tours will be available on video. Please contact me if you want access to this already now. - The textbook titles are:
- The silviculture of trees used in British forestry (CAB International, 3rd ed.; ISBN 978-1-78639-392-0),
- Silvicultural systems (Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-854670-X) and
- The silviculture and management of coppice woodlands (Forestry Commission, ISBN 0-85538-591-X)
Study tours
Study tours and field trips away from Alnarp are scheduled for 7-12 Sep (Denmark), 17 Sep (Denmark) and 28 Sep - 3 Oct (Germany). During these periods you will be travelling abroad and need a valid passport. Please note that you will be away also on weekend days. In addition to these longer tours there will be day tours in Sweden and Denmark at other times during the course.
Tours generally begin and end in Alnarp. Transportation will be in faculty vehicles and rental cars, to be driven by course participants. The tours can only be completed with voluntary drivers. Please contact me, if you volunteer to drive a car on field tours. Transportation and overnight stays will be booked by SLU. During the tours you are covered by SLU’s general insurance for students.
Each student should contribute 5,300 SEK towards field tour costs, including transportation and overnight stays. You should pay this amount directly to SLU. The payment should be completed by bank transfer before 3 Sep 2025. Please mention STF2025 and your name in the field for messages.
From Swedish accounts, please pay to bank giro 5050-7920. From foreign accounts, please transfer the amount to SLU's bank account IBAN SE9212000000012810119104 with Danske Bank, SWIFT/BIC DABASESX.
In addition to these costs, you are expected to pay your own food and other personal needs. No food or drinks will be provided by SLU or by the hosts. You shop food and drink yourself during the tours and shopping should be carried out outside of normal work hours. While in Germany you will be offered the option some days of eating lunch in a countryside restaurant or a cafeteria at your own cost (price level ≈ 25 € per person, depending on your choice of drink).
During the field tours some students will be appointed field captains for one day to take care of practical arrangements. This includes car keys, chips for bridges, cleaning of cars, contact to youth hostels, etc.
I look forward to seeing you on Monday 1 September.
Jens Peter Skovsgaard
Tel. +46 7 25 62 13 20
Course evaluation
The course evaluation is not yet activated
The course evaluation is open between 2025-10-26 and 2025-11-16
Additional course evaluations for SV0059
Academic year 2024/2025
Silviculture of Temperate Forests (SV0059-10316)
2024-09-02 - 2024-10-31
Syllabus and other information
Syllabus
SV0059 Silviculture of Temperate Forests, 15.0 Credits
Skötsel av tempererade skogarSubjects
Forestry ScienceEducation cycle
Master’s levelModules
| Title | Credits | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Single module | 15.0 | 0201 |
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 of120 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 objective of the course is to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of silvicultural principles and practices for the sustainable management of temperate forests in Europe.
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to
- evaluate alternative silvicultural strategies and their application
- apply silvicultural principles to problem solving in forestry practice and at the forest policy level
- identify and communicate solutions to conflicts regarding the application of alternative silvicultural practices
- implement silvicultural practices in different forest settings depending on management objective
- quantify the effects of silvicultural practices to understand their limitations with regard to human utilisation and the sustainable use of temperate forests
- critically and systematically integrate knowledge, as well as present and discuss results and conclusions.
Content
The students will be presented with contrasting paradigms and silvicultural practices. These include even-aged plantation forestry, continuous cover forestry, close-to-nature forestry, multifunctional forestry, forestry for high-quality timber production, urban forestry, restoration forestry and historical management approaches.
The course emphasizes objective-oriented silviculture based on ecological principles and scientific knowledge derived from long-term field experiments and other empirical investigations. Management alternatives for selected tree species will be used to illustrate and discuss major principles and practices of silviculture.
The curriculum includes the following topics:
- Brief overview of temperate forest ecosystems, including site types, forest types and major tree species.
- Silviculture as a means of achieving management objectives and as a basis for sustainable forest management.
- The silvicultural practices of regeneration, tending and harvesting.
- Forest production principles and forest productivity.
- Forest regeneration and afforestation.
- Managing forest productivity, stand density and wood quality.
- Silvicultural practices of regeneration, tending and harvesting for major temperate forest types and tree species in Europe. These include relevant conifer species of Abies, Chamaecyparis, Larix, Picea, Pinus, Pseudotsuga, Taxus, Thuja and Tsuga, and relevant hardwood species of Acer, Alnus, Betula, Carpinus, Castanea, Fagus, Fraxinus, Juglans, Malus, Populus, Pyrus, Prunus, Quercus, Robinia, Sorbus, Tilia and Ulmus.
- Silvicultural systems in a contemporary context.
- Site mapping for site-specific silviculture.
- Silviculture for special sites, including mountain slopes, wetlands, heathlands, inland sands, coastal dune fields and land reclamation sites.
- The protective functions of forests (erosion, water, deadwood, biodiversity, cultural remains, amenity values).
- Managing mammal damage to forest trees.
- Managing forest health (biotic and abiotic factors, climate change).
- Silvicultural practices for biodiversity conservation.
- Forest aesthetics and recreation.
- Layout and design of managed forests.
To further student learning and promote discussion, a variety of methods are used: Lectures, literature studies, exercises, written exercises, (written) assignments, laboratory sessions, project work, seminars, study visits, study trips, field exercises, excursions, proficiency training, presentations
Group work during the course includes practical field exercises and the preparation and presentation of silvicultural profiles for selected tree species. The field exercises include data collection in the forest, subsequent analyses, reporting and presentation. The species profiles should be compiled and presented as a power-point presentation.
The literature includes selected scientific papers, extracts from international textbooks, lecture notes and notes for field trips.
The course focuses on the following generic competencies:
Information competence, critical thinking and reflection, problem solving, scientific methods, use of technology, oral and written communication, teamwork.
The following course components are compulsory: The study trips, excursions, individual and group assignments as well as exercises and seminars.
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 examinations.
Approved written exercises.
Approved 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
The course includes two one-week study tours in Denmark, Germany or other European countries and some one-day tours in Sweden. These usually take place in September and include time outside of normal work hours. Students will be asked to pay the costs of accommodation (youth hostels) and meals during the study tours and to cover parts of the travel costs.Responsible department
Department of Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre
Further information
Litterature list
CURRICULUM
The curriculum is covered by the texts listed below in combination with IRL or online lectures, recorded lectures, recorded field tours, lecture notes and notes for field tours. Recorded sessions will be posted on SLU’s course portal. The main texts are reference works, while the additional specific texts serve as overviews or examples of important principles or results. More literature may be added during the course. All literature and other written materials will be available as pdf.
MAIN TEXTS
- All lecture notes
- All field tour notes
Harmer, R. & J. Howe 2003: The silviculture and management of coppice woodlands. Forestry Commission, VI + 88 pp. ISBN 0-85538-591-X
Matthews, J.D. 1989: Silvicultural systems. Oxford University Press, XIII + 284 pp. ISBN 0-19-854670-X
Savill, P.S. 2019: The silviculture of trees used in British forestry. CAB International, 3rd ed., X + 400 pp. ISBN 978-1-78639-392-0
BASIC TEXTS
Hemery, G., P. Savill & G. Kerr sine anno: Formative pruning. Woodland Heritage. 2 pages
Hemery, G., P. Savill & G. Kerr sine anno: High pruning for profit. Woodland Heritage. 2 pages
Jahn, G. 1991: Temperate deciduous forests of Europe. Ecosystems of the World 7: 377-424, 492-502
Jones, A., L. Montanarella & R. Jones 2005: Soil atlas of Europe. European Commission, Luxembourg. 128 pp. - Extracts: pp. 1-3, 25-33, 42-43, 121 and 124
Skovsgaard, J.P. 2004: Forest measurements. Encyclopedia of Forest Sciences 2: 550-566
Skovsgaard, J.P. & J.K. Vanclay 2008: Forest site productivity: A review of the evolution of dendrometric concepts for even-aged stands. Forestry 81: 13-31
Skovsgaard, J.P. & J.K. Vanclay 2013: Forest site productivity: Spatial and temporal variability in natural site conditions. Forestry 86: 305-315
Timbal, J., M. Bonneau, G. Landmann, J. Trouvilliez & L. Bouhot-Delduc 2005: European non-boreal conifer forests. Ecosystems of the World 6: 131-162
**RE- AND AFFORESTATION
**Löf, M., D.C. Dey, R.M. Navarro & D.F. Jacobs 2012: Mechanical site preparation for forest restoration. New Forests 43: 825-848
Wagner, S. & L. Lundqvist 2005: Regeneration techniques and the seedling environment from a European perspective. Integrative Studies in Water Management & Land Development 3: 153-171
**HARDWOODS
**For all hardwood species / genera mentioned below: EUFORGEN Technical guidelines for genetic conservation and use. Available from http://www.euforgen.org/publications/technical_guidelines.html
**Alder
**Claessens, H., A. Oosterbaan, P. Savill & J. Rondeux 2010: A review of the characteristics of black alder (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.) and their implications for silvicultural practices. Forestry 83: 163-175
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**Ash
**Dobrowolska, D., S. Hein, A. Oosterbaan, S. Wagner, J. Clark & J.P. Skovsgaard 2011: A review of European ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.): implications for silviculture. Forestry 84: 133-148
Fraxigen (ed.) 2005: Ash species in Europe: Biological characteristics and practical guidelines for sustainable use. Oxford Forestry Institute, Oxford University, Oxford. 128 pp. - Ch. 4 + 7 + 8
Kerr, G. 1998: A review of black heart of ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.). Forestry 71: 49-56
Skovsgaard, J.P., G.J. Wilhelm, I.M. Thomsen, B. Metzler, T. Kirisits, L. Havrdová, R. Enderle, D. Dobrowolska, M. Cleary & J. Clark 2017: Silvicultural strategies for Fraxinus excelsior in response to dieback caused by Hymenoscyphus fraxineus. Forestry 90: 455-472
**Beech
**Coppini, M. & L. Hermanin 2007: Restoration of selective beech coppices: A case-study in the Apennines (Italy). Forest Ecology and Management 249: 18-27
Hansen, J.K., B.B. Jørgensen & P. Stoltze 2003: Variation of quality and predicted economic returns between European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) provenances. Silvae Genetica 52: 185-197
Madsen, P. & K. Hahn 2008: Natural regeneration in a beech-dominated (Fagus sylvatica) forest managed by close-to-nature principles - a gap cutting based experiment. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 38: 1716-1729
Olesen, C.R. & P. Madsen 2008: The impact of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), seedbed, light and seed fall on natural beech (Fagus sylvatica) regeneration. Forest Ecology and Management 255: 3962-3972
Reventlow, D.O.J, T. Nord-Larsen & J.P. Skovsgaard 2019: Pre-commercial thinning in naturally regenerated stands of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.): effects of thinning pattern, stand density and pruning on tree growth and stem quality. Forestry 92: 120-132
**Birch
**Hynynen, J., P. Niemistö, A. Viherä-Aarnio, A. Brunner, S. Hein & P. Velling 2010: Silviculture of birch (Betula pendula Roth and Betula pubescens Ehrh.) in northern Europe. Forestry 83: 103-119
**Cherry
**Pryor, S.N. 1988: The silviculture and yield of wild cherry. Forestry Commission Bulletin 75: 1-23
**Lime
**Radoglou, K., D. Dobrowolska, G. Spyroglou & V.-N. Nicolescu 2009: A review on the ecology and silviculture of limes (Tilia cordata Mill., Tilia platyphyllos Scop. and Tilia tomentosa Moench.) in Europe. Die Bodenkultur 60: 9-19.
**Oak
**Jensen, J.S. 2000: Provenance variation in phenotypic traits in Quercus robur and Quercus petraea in Danish provenance trials. Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research 15: 297-308
Jensen, J.S. & J.K. Hansen 2008: Geographic variation in phenology of Quercus petraea Matt. (Liebl.) and Quercus robur L. oak grown in greenhouse. Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research 23: 179-188
Löf, M., J. Castro, M. Engman, A.B. Leverkus, P. Madsen, J.A. Reque, A. Villalobos, E.S. Gardiner 2019: Direct seeding to restore oak (Quercus spp.) forests and woodlands. Forest Ecology and Management 448: 474-489
Petit, R.J. et al. 2002: Identification of post-glacial colonisation routes of European white oaks based on chloroplast DNA and fossil pollen evidence. Forest Ecology and Management 156: 49-74
Rune, F. & J.P. Skovsgaard 2007: Afforestation with oak: Effects of pre-commercial thinning on the development of ground flora. TemaNord 508: 203-209
**Poplar
**Jobling, J. 1990: Poplars for wood production and amenity. Forestry Commission Bulletin 92: 1-3, 6-7, 23-24, 38-84
Stanturf, J.A. & C. van Oosten 2014: Operational poplar and willow culture. Poplars and willows (edited by J. Isebrands & J. Richardson; CAB International), pp. 200-236
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**Sorbus
**Anonymous sine anno: Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia L.). National Development, Dept. of the Marine and Natural Resource, Forest Service, Sheet 11: 1-2
Kausch-Blecken von Schmeling, W. 2004: Sorbus domestica L. - Tips on planting whitty pear trees. Corminaria 22 (Special issue): 5-6
Nicolescu, V.N., E. Hochbichler, J. Coello, S. Ravagni & V. Giulietti 2008: Ecology and silviculture of wild service tree (Sorbus torminalis (L.) Crantz): a literature review. Die Bodenkultur 60(3): 35-44
Skovsgaard, J.P. & H.C. Graversgaard 2014: Planting wild service trees: some practical advice. Quarterly Journal of Forestry 108: 188-191
Sycamore and Norway maple
Hein, S., C. Collet, C. Ammer, N. Le Goff, J.P. Skovsgaard & P. Savill 2009: A review of growth and stand dynamics of Acer pseudoplatanus L. in Europe: implications for silviculture. Forestry 82: 361-385
Walnut
Clark, J. & M. Brocklehurst 2012: Walnut: practice note on stumping. National Forest Company - Earth Trust. 2 pp.
Clark, J. & G.E. Hemery 2010: Walnut hybrids in the UK: fast growing quality hardwoods. Quarterly Journal of Forestry 104: 43-46
Clark, J.R., G.E. Hemery & P.S. Savill 2008: Early growth and form of common walnut (Juglans regia L.) in mixture with tree and shrub nurse species in southern England. Forestry 81: 631-644
Mohni, C., F. Pelleri & G.E. Hemery 2009: The modern silviculture of Juglans regia L: a literature review. Die Bodenkultur 60(3): 21-34
CONIFERS
For all conifer species / genera mentioned below: EUFORGEN Technical guidelines for genetic conservation and use. Available from http://www.euforgen.org/publications/technical_guidelines.html
Douglas fir
Wallertz, K. & C. Malmqvist 2013: The effect of mechanical site preparation methods on the establishment of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) and Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) in southern Sweden. Forestry 86: 71-78
Larch
Anonymous 2013: Larix decidua Mill. The CABI Encyclopedia of Forest Trees (edited by A. Praciak et al.): 263-265
Anonymous 2013: Larix kaempferi (Lamb.) Carrière. The CABI Encyclopedia of Forest Trees (edited by A. Praciak et al.): 266-268
Norway spruce
Johansson, K., U. Nilsson & G. Örlander 2012: A comparison of long-term effects of scarification methods on the establishment of Norway spruce. Forestry 86: 91-98
Reventlow, D.O.J., T. Nord-Larsen, H. Sørensen & J.P Skovsgaard 2023: Effects of Norway spruce shelter density and soil scarification method on mortality and height growth of underplanted European beech, European silver fir and Douglas fir. Forestry 96: 481-497
Skovsgaard, J.P. 2006: The European stem number experiment in Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.), 3rd report: Denmark (DK 7). Berichte Freiburger Forstliche Forschung 66: 13-35
Scots pine
Anonymous 2013: Pinus sylvestris L. The CABI Encyclopedia of Forest Trees (edited by A. Praciak et al.): 370-372
**Silver fir
**Anonymous 2013: Abies alba Mill. The CABI Encyclopedia of Forest Trees (edited by A. Praciak et al.): 1-2
Boncina, A. 2011: History, current status and future prospects of uneven-aged forest management in the Dinaric region: an overview. Forestry 84: 467-478
Dobrowolska, D., A. Bončina & R. Klumpp 2017: Ecology and silviculture of silver fir (Abies alba Mill.): a review. Journal of Forest Research: 22: 326-335
Hansen, J.K. & J.B. Larsen 2004: European silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) provenances from Calabria, southern Italy: 15-year results from Danish provenance field trials. European Journal of Forest Research 123: 127–138
Sitka spruce
Skovsgaard, J.P. 2009: Analysing effects of thinning on stand volume growth in relation to site conditions: A case study for even-aged Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.). Forestry 82: 87-104
ADVANCED TEXTS
Bell, S. 2009: Valuable broadleaved trees in the landscape. European Forest Institute Research Report 22: 172-199
Edwards, D., M. Jay, F.S. Jensen, B. Lucas, M. Marzano, C. Montagné, An. Peace & G. Weiss 2012: Public preferences for structural attributes of forests: towards a pan-European perspective. Forest Policy and Economics 19: 12-19
Hemery, G.E. 2008: Forest management and silvicultural responses to projected climate change impacts on European broadleaved trees and forests. International Forestry Review 10: 591-607
Pommerening, A. & S.T. Murphy 2004: A review of the history, definitions and methods of continuous cover forestry with special attention to afforestation and restocking. Forestry 77: 27-44
Pyatt, G. 1995: An ecological site classification for forestry in Great Britain. Forestry Commission Research Information Note 260: 1-6
Schütz, J.-P., T. Pukkala, P.J. Donoso, & K. von Gadow 2012: Historical emergence and current application of CCF. Managing Forest Ecosystems 23: 1-28
Skovsgaard, J.P. 2000: The UMF-index: An indicator to compare silvicultural practices at the forest or forest estate level. Forestry 73: 81-85
Version: 23 June 2025