Sustainable Management and Bioeconomy of Mountain Forests
A.Y. 2023/2024
Learning objectives
To provide the ecological, economic, legislative and social elements to manage mountain forests in a sustainable way and enhance their ecosystem services , in line with national and international strategies on bioeconomy, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and biodiversity conservation.
Expected learning outcomes
Understanding the status, dynamics, managament models, and funding schemes for global mountain forests; Understanding the structure and products of forest, wood and energy chains; being able to plan silvicultural operations to provide forest ecosystem services, increase forest resilience, and deliver sustainable input to the circular bioeconomy.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
SECTION I (1 ECTS) - Mountain forests: dynamics and resilience
- State and dynamics of forest ecosystems from global to landscape scale
- Responses of forest ecosystems to external changes: resilience and adaptation
SECTION II (3 ECTS) - Principles of forest management and planning
- History of mountain forest management: from sustainability to resilience thinking
- Forest mensuration and basics of forest inventory
- Forest ecosystem modelling, including optimization techniques
- Multi-functional forest planning, including participatory and co-design principles
- Monitoring forest resources: indicators and advanced assessment tools, including remote sensing applications
SECTION III (4 ECTS) - Forest bioeconomy in mountain areas
- Principles and main elements of a forest-based economy
- Biophysical and economic values of forest ecosystem services:
o Timber provision for material and energy
o Conservation of species and habitats
o Regulation of climate (mitigation and adaptation)
o Hydrological protection
o Tourism and cultural opportunities, landscape aesthetics
- Enabling tools: payments for forest ecosystem services, certification of sustainable forest management
- Multi-scale legislation on managing forests for ecosystem services provision
- State and dynamics of forest ecosystems from global to landscape scale
- Responses of forest ecosystems to external changes: resilience and adaptation
SECTION II (3 ECTS) - Principles of forest management and planning
- History of mountain forest management: from sustainability to resilience thinking
- Forest mensuration and basics of forest inventory
- Forest ecosystem modelling, including optimization techniques
- Multi-functional forest planning, including participatory and co-design principles
- Monitoring forest resources: indicators and advanced assessment tools, including remote sensing applications
SECTION III (4 ECTS) - Forest bioeconomy in mountain areas
- Principles and main elements of a forest-based economy
- Biophysical and economic values of forest ecosystem services:
o Timber provision for material and energy
o Conservation of species and habitats
o Regulation of climate (mitigation and adaptation)
o Hydrological protection
o Tourism and cultural opportunities, landscape aesthetics
- Enabling tools: payments for forest ecosystem services, certification of sustainable forest management
- Multi-scale legislation on managing forests for ecosystem services provision
Prerequisites for admission
Basic knowledge of forest ecology
English language level B2
English language level B2
Teaching methods
The course includes 5.5 ECTS of lesson time, 1 ECTS of guided exercises, and 1.5 ECTS of field trips.
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 interactive pools 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.
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 interactive pools 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 readings:
Ashton M.S., Kelty M.J. (2018) The Practice of Silviculture: Applied Forest Ecology, 10th Edition. Wiley.
Baker P.J., Larsen D.R., Saxena A. (2022) Forests as Complex Social and Ecological Systems. Springer
Bettinger P., Boston K., Siry J.P., rebner D.L. (2017) Forest Management and Planning 2nd Edition. Academic Press
Hetemaki L., Kangas J., Peltola H. (2022) Forest Bioeconomy and Climate Change. Springer
Kershaw J.A., Ducey M.J., Beers T.W., Husch B. (2016) Forest Mensuration, 5th Edition. Wiley
Masiero, M., Pettenella, D., Boscolo, M., Barua, S.K, Animon, I. & Matta, J.R. 2019. Valuing forest ecosystem services: a training manual for planners and project developers. Forestry Working Paper No. 11. Rome, FAO.
Messier, C., Puettmann, K.J., & Coates, K.D. (Eds). (2013). Managing Forests as Complex Adaptive Systems: Building Resilience to the Challenge of Global Change (1st ed.). Routledge
Recommended readings:
Ashton M.S., Kelty M.J. (2018) The Practice of Silviculture: Applied Forest Ecology, 10th Edition. Wiley.
Baker P.J., Larsen D.R., Saxena A. (2022) Forests as Complex Social and Ecological Systems. Springer
Bettinger P., Boston K., Siry J.P., rebner D.L. (2017) Forest Management and Planning 2nd Edition. Academic Press
Hetemaki L., Kangas J., Peltola H. (2022) Forest Bioeconomy and Climate Change. Springer
Kershaw J.A., Ducey M.J., Beers T.W., Husch B. (2016) Forest Mensuration, 5th Edition. Wiley
Masiero, M., Pettenella, D., Boscolo, M., Barua, S.K, Animon, I. & Matta, J.R. 2019. Valuing forest ecosystem services: a training manual for planners and project developers. Forestry Working Paper No. 11. Rome, FAO.
Messier, C., Puettmann, K.J., & Coates, K.D. (Eds). (2013). Managing Forests as Complex Adaptive Systems: Building Resilience to the Challenge of Global Change (1st ed.). Routledge
Assessment methods and Criteria
Learning outcomes will be successfully verified by passing a final exam with a score between 18 and 30. 40% of the score will consist of the evaluation of two in-course exercises (0-6 scores each) to be carried out individually during the course. 60% of the score will consist of the evaluation of a written project for the sustainable valorization of forest resources in sites chosen by the students, to be carried out in groups (0-12 scores), and its oral presentation with supporting slides during the exam (0-6 scores). The methods for writing and evaluating the exercises and the project will be communicated on the MS Teams website of the course.
AGR/05 - FOREST MANAGEMENT AND SILVICULTURE - University credits: 8
Field activity: 16 hours
Practicals: 16 hours
Lessons: 48 hours
Practicals: 16 hours
Lessons: 48 hours
Professors:
Vacchiano Giorgio, Vizzarri Matteo
Professor(s)
Reception:
by appointment
DiSAA building 21050, first floor