Fundamental of Ecology and Forestry

To improve the skills of future managers of terrestrial productive ecosystems provided by the degree, the objective of the course Fundamentals of Ecology and Forestry is to provide students with knowledge and management capacity on the structure and functioning of ecological systems, with particular reference to forest systems, on the effects of anthropogenic pressure (including climate change), on the conservation of forest biodiversity, and on strategies to ensure an efficient, planned and sustainable use of forest resources and their ecosystem services.

At the end of this course the student will understand: the ecological interactions between the different forms of life and the environment, and their evolutionary dynamics; the role of energy in the structure and functioning of ecosystems; the main biogeochemical cycles; the factors that determine the rates and trends of population growth; the fundamental concepts relating to biodiversity and its measurement; the causes and effects of climate and global change; the dynamics of natural and managed forest systems; the main forest species that characterize Lombardy forests; the main forest management schedules. He will also be able to analyze a forest site, highlighting the ecological processes and forecasting its future dynamics; recognize the main forest types of Lombardy; define silvicultural interventions to maximize ecosystem services; read and interpret forest management plans. Moreover, students will be able to explore scientific literature in the applied forest ecology field and to communicate by using correct scientific terms.