Forestry
A.Y. 2021/2022
Learning objectives
To provide students with the knowledge of to the functioning of forest ecosystems, and the principles and techniques of sustainable forest management and planning, necessary for the provision of ecosystem services for production and regulation, with special reference to biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Expected learning outcomes
Understand the effect of biotic and abiotic factors on single trees, stands and forest communities; recognize the forest types of Lombardy and their environmental preferences; describe quantitatively the characteristics of a forest stand by field survey and numerical processing of data, and forecasting its evolution over time; understand the relationships between forests, climate change and biodiversity; quantify ecosystem services and wood production that can be expressed by a forest catchment; quantify the vulnerability of forests to hydro-geological hazards, climate change and wildfire; choose forest management strategies adequate to provide the chosen ecosystem services and guarantee their environmental, economic and social sustainability; interpret and analyze forest planning documents (II and III level plans); design and write a harvest plan; calculate mass, increment and harvest rate for forest stands; describe with cartographic methods the physical and ecological characteristics of forest stands; understand and apply national and regional forest regulations.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
More information on the delivery modes of teaching activities for the academic year 2021/22 will be provided in the upcoming months, based on the evolution of the public health situation.
Course syllabus
Module 1 - Forest management
1 CFU
Introduction to the course. Definition of forest. Forests in the world, in Italy and Lombardy. Ecosystem services and sustainable forest management.
The tree and its organs. Forest population and community ecology.
Forest ecosystems: climate, growth factors, energy flows, biogeochemical cycles. Ecology of disturbances. Regeneration strategies. Forest restoration.
1 CFU
Describing forest stands. Elements of tree and forest measurement.
Management of coppices. Management of even-aged forests. Thinning. Management of uneven-aged forests.
1 CFU
Silviculture and climate change. Carbon sequestration in forestry. Forestry and adaptation to climate change.
Forest type classifications. Managment of the main forest types of Lombardy.
Remote sensing for forest management.
1 CFU
Forestry in direct protection forests.
Preventive silviculture for forest fires.
Forestry and biodiversity. Forestry in protected areas and Natura 2000 sites.
Urban forestry.
1 CFU
Two field trips and classroom exercises.
Module 2 - Forest planning.
1 CFU: Dendroauxology
Growth curve of forest stands. Principal mass, real mass and total mass. Concepts of yield and increment.
Volume of felled timber. Yield of individual standing trees. Yield of forest stands. Volume tables and growth tables.
The laws of Auxonomy. Different types of increment and their determination. Determination of the increment of a single tree. Determination of the increment of a stand. Pressler and Schneider methods for increment computation.
1 CFU: Forest planning 1
Definition and Objectives of Forest planning. Planning at a district level. Forest management plans.
Normative references and criteria for designing plans. The drafting of the forest management Plan. Preliminary investigations and territorial analysis. Interpretation of the historical dynamics of the forest complex. Compartmentalization of the forest complex. Management units and aggregations. Cartographic and topographic surveys. Total callipering. Ordinary statistical sampling. Relascopic statistical sampling. Auxometric surveys.
1 CFU: Forest planning 2
The management choices. Definition of the objectives in the medium and long term. Definition of the normal forest. Calculation of harvest with traditional methods and by silvicultural needs. The choice of the rotation period and transition time. Verification of management choices.
Writing of the management plan report. Management plan regulation of application. Forest mapping. Cartographic bases and their updating. The use of G.I.S. in forest planning. Normative references: R.D.L. 3267/1923, D.Lgs. 34/2018, L.R. 31/2008, Reg. Reg. 5/2007.
1 CFU: field trips
1 CFU
Introduction to the course. Definition of forest. Forests in the world, in Italy and Lombardy. Ecosystem services and sustainable forest management.
The tree and its organs. Forest population and community ecology.
Forest ecosystems: climate, growth factors, energy flows, biogeochemical cycles. Ecology of disturbances. Regeneration strategies. Forest restoration.
1 CFU
Describing forest stands. Elements of tree and forest measurement.
Management of coppices. Management of even-aged forests. Thinning. Management of uneven-aged forests.
1 CFU
Silviculture and climate change. Carbon sequestration in forestry. Forestry and adaptation to climate change.
Forest type classifications. Managment of the main forest types of Lombardy.
Remote sensing for forest management.
1 CFU
Forestry in direct protection forests.
Preventive silviculture for forest fires.
Forestry and biodiversity. Forestry in protected areas and Natura 2000 sites.
Urban forestry.
1 CFU
Two field trips and classroom exercises.
Module 2 - Forest planning.
1 CFU: Dendroauxology
Growth curve of forest stands. Principal mass, real mass and total mass. Concepts of yield and increment.
Volume of felled timber. Yield of individual standing trees. Yield of forest stands. Volume tables and growth tables.
The laws of Auxonomy. Different types of increment and their determination. Determination of the increment of a single tree. Determination of the increment of a stand. Pressler and Schneider methods for increment computation.
1 CFU: Forest planning 1
Definition and Objectives of Forest planning. Planning at a district level. Forest management plans.
Normative references and criteria for designing plans. The drafting of the forest management Plan. Preliminary investigations and territorial analysis. Interpretation of the historical dynamics of the forest complex. Compartmentalization of the forest complex. Management units and aggregations. Cartographic and topographic surveys. Total callipering. Ordinary statistical sampling. Relascopic statistical sampling. Auxometric surveys.
1 CFU: Forest planning 2
The management choices. Definition of the objectives in the medium and long term. Definition of the normal forest. Calculation of harvest with traditional methods and by silvicultural needs. The choice of the rotation period and transition time. Verification of management choices.
Writing of the management plan report. Management plan regulation of application. Forest mapping. Cartographic bases and their updating. The use of G.I.S. in forest planning. Normative references: R.D.L. 3267/1923, D.Lgs. 34/2018, L.R. 31/2008, Reg. Reg. 5/2007.
1 CFU: field trips
Prerequisites for admission
Basic knowledge of biology and mathematics.
Working knowledge of English (B2).
Working knowledge of English (B2).
Teaching methods
Lecturers will use:
a) Lectures and group discussion to provide theoretical concepts, and develop critical thinking skills;
b) Lab activities to consolidate knowledge learned during the lectures, and develop applied ecology competences useful in the professional practice;
c) Exercises and quiz to verify the acquisition of knowledge and competences;
d) Field trips to learn how to measure, describe and assess forest stands.
Attendance of lectures is strongly recommended.
a) Lectures and group discussion to provide theoretical concepts, and develop critical thinking skills;
b) Lab activities to consolidate knowledge learned during the lectures, and develop applied ecology competences useful in the professional practice;
c) Exercises and quiz to verify the acquisition of knowledge and competences;
d) Field trips to learn how to measure, describe and assess forest stands.
Attendance of lectures is strongly recommended.
Teaching Resources
Slides and course notes; study material provided by lecturers on MS Teams channels.
Recommended texts:
P. Piussi, G. Alberti (2015). "Selvicoltura generale. Boschi, società e tecniche colturali". Compagnia delle Foreste, Arezzo.
P. Corona, A. Barbati, B. Ferrari, L. Portoghesi (2019). "Pianificazione ecologica dei sistemi forestali", 2 ed. Compagnia delle Foreste, Arezzo.
IPLA (2004). "Alberi e arbusti. Guida alle specie spontanee del Piemonte". Blu Edizioni, Peveragno (free PDF available on the web)
Recommended texts:
P. Piussi, G. Alberti (2015). "Selvicoltura generale. Boschi, società e tecniche colturali". Compagnia delle Foreste, Arezzo.
P. Corona, A. Barbati, B. Ferrari, L. Portoghesi (2019). "Pianificazione ecologica dei sistemi forestali", 2 ed. Compagnia delle Foreste, Arezzo.
IPLA (2004). "Alberi e arbusti. Guida alle specie spontanee del Piemonte". Blu Edizioni, Peveragno (free PDF available on the web)
Assessment methods and Criteria
Module 2 - Forest management: Students will be assessed through an oral exam including questions on the course topics (max 12 points), a forest herbarium with 20 specimens (max 6 points), and a short discussion of a forest management project prepared by the student, to be handed in before the exam (max 6 points). During the year, three test exercises will also be assigned (max 2 points each).
Module 2 - Forest planning: written test with 10 short exercises and questions on the course topics (max 30 points)
The modules can be taken independently of each other; the final grade is the arithmetic mean of the marks of the two modules.
The evaluation criteria for the training exercises and the written projects will be published on the MS Teams pages of the two modules. The evaluation criteria of the oral and written tests include: ability to present and apply the knowledge acquired; ability to organize information; ability to describe and critically analyze forest systems; correct use of the scientific vocabulary.
Module 2 - Forest planning: written test with 10 short exercises and questions on the course topics (max 30 points)
The modules can be taken independently of each other; the final grade is the arithmetic mean of the marks of the two modules.
The evaluation criteria for the training exercises and the written projects will be published on the MS Teams pages of the two modules. The evaluation criteria of the oral and written tests include: ability to present and apply the knowledge acquired; ability to organize information; ability to describe and critically analyze forest systems; correct use of the scientific vocabulary.
AGR/05 - FOREST MANAGEMENT AND SILVICULTURE - University credits: 8
Practicals: 32 hours
Lessons: 48 hours
Lessons: 48 hours
Professors:
Gregorini Gianfranco, Vacchiano Giorgio
Professor(s)