Module Identifier RS25520  
Module Title FORESTRY AND WOODLAND MANAGEMENT  
Academic Year 2007/2008  
Co-ordinator Dr Iwan G Owen  
Semester Semester 1  
Course delivery Lecture   2 x 2 hour lectures per week  
  Practical   6 x 3 hour practicals per semester  
Assessment
Assessment TypeAssessment Length/DetailsProportion
Semester Assessment Planning and costing woodland management Outcomes assessed: 2, 3, 5, 6  60%
Semester Exam3 Hours Written examination Outcomes assessed: 1, 4, 5, 6  40%
Supplementary Assessment Re-presentation of assignment using alternative data  60%
Supplementary Exam3 Hours Written examination  40%

Learning outcomes

On completion of this module, students should be able to:

1. Assess the impact of National forest policies in the UK on local woodland management plans.

2. Conduct a thorough site assessment and investigation for a woodland management objective.

3. Recommend a detailed species prescription based on ecological site classification criteria and for a given woodland objective.

4. Analyse the management techniques employed in selected silvicultural systems.

5. Recommend appropriate practical woodland management decisions.

6. Evaluate the economic costs of managing a woodland.

Aims

Forestry is the secondary system of land use within the UK, occupying some 10% of the land area. With the current encouragement of forest expansion, this module is designed to prepare students in basic woodland management understanding, underpinned by practical hands-on experience.

The module aims to provide:

a. An understanding of historical woodland character and composition to aid current management decisions.
b. The building blocks for strategic woodland planning for new woodlands and restocking existing resources.
c. A critical analysis of the practical and economic options for tree establishment and protection.
d. The technical knowledge for evaluating silvicultural systems and associated practical management techniques.
e. An understanding of the opportunities for promoting multi-purpose woodland management.

Transferable skills

.1 Independent project work
Fieldwork based assessment involving data collation and research. The skills will be developed through lectures and practicals on:-
Site investigation techniques
Reviewing attributes of selected tree species
Application of NVC design guidelines
Practical woodland management options

.3 Use and analysis of numerical information
Information gathering for the costing of a woodland enterprise and the construction of a balance sheet for a woodland management plan.

.4 Writing in an academic context
Essay style questions in the end of semester written examination

.8 Group activity
Practical tree measurement techniques
Tree identification skills

Reading Lists

Books
Hart C (1994) Practical Forestry for the Agent and Surveyor
Kohm K A and Franklin J F (1997) Creating a forestry for the 21st Century: the science of ecosystem management Island Press
Rodwell J S (ed) (1991) British plant communications Vol. 1: Woodlands and Scrub Cambridge University Press
Savill P S & Evans J (1986) Plantation Silviculture in Temperate Regions

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 5