Module Identifier
RS25520
Module Title
FORESTRY AND WOODLAND MANAGEMENT
Academic Year
2008/2009
Co-ordinator
Dr Iwan G Owen
Semester
Semester 1

Course Delivery

Delivery Type Delivery length / details
Lecture 2 x 2 hour lectures per week
Practical 6 x 3 hour practicals per semester
 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment Planning and costing woodland management  Outcomes assessed: 2, 3, 5, 6  60%
Semester Exam 3 Hours   Written examination  Outcomes assessed: 1, 4, 5, 6  40%
Supplementary Assessment Representation of assignment using alternative data  60%
Supplementary Exam 3 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 List


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

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 5