Print Syllabus

Syllabus

SV0084 Sustainable Management of Boreal Forests, 15.0 Credits

Hållbar förvaltning av boreala skogar

Subjects

Forestry Science Biology

Education cycle

Master’s level

Advanced study in the main field

Second cycle, has second-cycle course/s as entry requirements
Master’s level (A1F)

Grading scale

Language

English

Prior knowledge

Knowledge equivalent to 120 credits

15 credits Forestry science/ forest science/ forest management, advanced level

15 credits advanced level within one of the following areas:


- biology
- ecology
- environmental science
- natural resource management
- natural geography

English 6

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.

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

• Approved oral and written presentations.

• Approved submissions.

• Completed mandatory elements.

• 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.

Responsible department

Department of Forest ecology and Management