Forest Management and Planning
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The aim of the course is to provide students with the elements for knowing, understanding, predicting and quantifying natural hazards in mountain environments (such as forest fires, rockfall and avalanches, shallow landslides and debris flows); for designing risk mitigation activities, in particular by strengthening the protective role of forests; and for carrying out a cost-benefit assessment of risk reduction activities.
The course is organised as an interdisciplinary laboratory, in which professors from different disciplines (forestry, hydrology, pedology, and economics) guide the students in carrying out a project based on a real case study, by integrating lectures, field work, and data analysis.
This laboratory gives students the possibility, while learning specific concepts and skills related to forestry, to acquire transversal skills, such as work in a group, discuss results, communicate concepts, and critically evaluate and use literature sources.
The course is organised as an interdisciplinary laboratory, in which professors from different disciplines (forestry, hydrology, pedology, and economics) guide the students in carrying out a project based on a real case study, by integrating lectures, field work, and data analysis.
This laboratory gives students the possibility, while learning specific concepts and skills related to forestry, to acquire transversal skills, such as work in a group, discuss results, communicate concepts, and critically evaluate and use literature sources.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course the students should:
· know forest degradation dynamics, the main disturbing agents and their effects;
· be able to analyse the ecological processes in the main types of mountain forests;
· be able to interpret forest planning documents;
· know how to measure and quantify the effectiveness of the protective function of forests against rockfall and avalanches;
· be able to assess the danger related to forest fires;
· know how to formulate management decisions to increase the resistance and resilience of forests to natural hazards;
· know how to locate intervention priorities;
· know how to interpret and draw up the main lines of a plan for safeguarding the territory from hydrogeological risk and forest fires;
· be able to analyse the main natural hazards in mountain areas, and to draw up related risk maps;
· know how to apply the main methods to assess the characteristics of soils and snow in mountain areas;
· know how to apply the tools for preventing and mitigating the risk deriving from erosion and movements of the snowpack, both slow (snow gliding) and fast (avalanches);
· know how to apply the main methods of assessing externalities (contingent assessment, choice modeling);
· know how to set up a cost / benefit analysis extended to environmental components.
Students will also be able to:
· independently evaluate methods to monitor and analyse forest risks, and to evaluate
the mitigation interventions needed;
· clearly summarise and communicate, in writing and orally, information and ideas
related to forest risks and their mitigation;
· independently find and evaluate literature sources and databases about forest risks and
their mitigation, to update their knowledge.
· know forest degradation dynamics, the main disturbing agents and their effects;
· be able to analyse the ecological processes in the main types of mountain forests;
· be able to interpret forest planning documents;
· know how to measure and quantify the effectiveness of the protective function of forests against rockfall and avalanches;
· be able to assess the danger related to forest fires;
· know how to formulate management decisions to increase the resistance and resilience of forests to natural hazards;
· know how to locate intervention priorities;
· know how to interpret and draw up the main lines of a plan for safeguarding the territory from hydrogeological risk and forest fires;
· be able to analyse the main natural hazards in mountain areas, and to draw up related risk maps;
· know how to apply the main methods to assess the characteristics of soils and snow in mountain areas;
· know how to apply the tools for preventing and mitigating the risk deriving from erosion and movements of the snowpack, both slow (snow gliding) and fast (avalanches);
· know how to apply the main methods of assessing externalities (contingent assessment, choice modeling);
· know how to set up a cost / benefit analysis extended to environmental components.
Students will also be able to:
· independently evaluate methods to monitor and analyse forest risks, and to evaluate
the mitigation interventions needed;
· clearly summarise and communicate, in writing and orally, information and ideas
related to forest risks and their mitigation;
· independently find and evaluate literature sources and databases about forest risks and
their mitigation, to update their knowledge.
Lesson period: First 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
First semester
Prerequisites for admission
Using electronic spreadsheets and GIS.
English language - level B2.
English language - level B2.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The final evaluation (max 30 points) will be based on an oral exam, consisting of a 45-minute exposition of a written project for the assessment and reduction of forest fire, avalanche and hydrogeological risk, which will be handed in before the exam (0-18 points). Another 0-12 points will be awarded for in.course labs assigned by all teachers, with specific assessment criteria that will be communicated on MS Teams.
The evaluation criteria are: effectiveness and completeness of the risk reduction proposal, correctness of calculations and maps, correct use of simulation tools, completeness of the cost / benefit assessment.
Students with SLD or disability certifications are kindly requested to contact the teacher at least 15 days before the date of the exam session to agree on individual exam requirements. In the email please make sure to add in cc the competent offices: [email protected] (for students with SLD) o [email protected] (for students with disability).
The evaluation criteria are: effectiveness and completeness of the risk reduction proposal, correctness of calculations and maps, correct use of simulation tools, completeness of the cost / benefit assessment.
Students with SLD or disability certifications are kindly requested to contact the teacher at least 15 days before the date of the exam session to agree on individual exam requirements. In the email please make sure to add in cc the competent offices: [email protected] (for students with SLD) o [email protected] (for students with disability).
Sustainable management of mountain forests
Course syllabus
- Mountain forests: types, dynamics and ecosystem services (0.5 CFU)
- Elements of sustainable forest management: management models and schedules (0.5 CFU)
- Elements of forest planning at regional, catchment and ownership scale (0.5 CFU)
- Direct protection forests against rockfall and avalanches: identification, characteristics and sustainable management (0.5 CFU)
- Forest fires: causes, effects, recovery processes (0.5 CFU)
- Elements of forest fire prevention and planning (0.5 CFU)
- Simulation of forest fire behavior and effects (0.5 CFU)
- GIS Lab (0.5 CFU)
- Exercises: mapping of protective forests, evaluation of protective efficacy, simulation of natural hazards and proposal for silvicultural intervention, characterization of forest fuel, simulation of fire behavior and preliminary design of fire prevention actions (1 CFU)
- Elements of sustainable forest management: management models and schedules (0.5 CFU)
- Elements of forest planning at regional, catchment and ownership scale (0.5 CFU)
- Direct protection forests against rockfall and avalanches: identification, characteristics and sustainable management (0.5 CFU)
- Forest fires: causes, effects, recovery processes (0.5 CFU)
- Elements of forest fire prevention and planning (0.5 CFU)
- Simulation of forest fire behavior and effects (0.5 CFU)
- GIS Lab (0.5 CFU)
- Exercises: mapping of protective forests, evaluation of protective efficacy, simulation of natural hazards and proposal for silvicultural intervention, characterization of forest fuel, simulation of fire behavior and preliminary design of fire prevention actions (1 CFU)
Teaching methods
a) lectures and dialogues (24 hours) with the aim of providing students with the theoretical concepts and encouraging critical thinking through discussion;
b) two field trips to consolidate knowledge learned during lectures and develop applied forest management and field measurement skills (16 hours);
c) in-course exercises, with the aim of consolidating and verifying the acquisition of knowledge and acquiring skills in the use of software.
Attendance is strongly recommended.
b) two field trips to consolidate knowledge learned during lectures and develop applied forest management and field measurement skills (16 hours);
c) in-course exercises, with the aim of consolidating and verifying the acquisition of knowledge and acquiring skills in the use of software.
Attendance is strongly recommended.
Teaching Resources
Material shared by the teacher on MS Teams.
For further study of lecture topics:
- Selvicoltura in foreste di protezione (Regione Piemonte e Regione Valle d'Aosta, 2006). Available on http://www.regione.piemonte.it/foreste/images/files/pubblicazioni/selvicoltura_foreste_protez.pdf
- Strumenti e modelli a supporto della pianificazione, prevenzione e difesa dagli incendi boschivi (Università di Sassari, 2015). Available on http://www.proterina.info/wp-content/uploads/prodotti_doc/31_P261.pdf
- Gestione selvicolturale dei combustibili forestali per la prevenzione degli incendi boschivi (Compagnia delle Foreste, 2014). On sale at https://www.ecoalleco.it/gestione/gestione-selvicolturale-dei-combustibili-forestali-per-la-prevenzione-degli-incendi-boschivi-168.html
Non-italian speaking students will have to contact the teacher for materials in English.
For further study of lecture topics:
- Selvicoltura in foreste di protezione (Regione Piemonte e Regione Valle d'Aosta, 2006). Available on http://www.regione.piemonte.it/foreste/images/files/pubblicazioni/selvicoltura_foreste_protez.pdf
- Strumenti e modelli a supporto della pianificazione, prevenzione e difesa dagli incendi boschivi (Università di Sassari, 2015). Available on http://www.proterina.info/wp-content/uploads/prodotti_doc/31_P261.pdf
- Gestione selvicolturale dei combustibili forestali per la prevenzione degli incendi boschivi (Compagnia delle Foreste, 2014). On sale at https://www.ecoalleco.it/gestione/gestione-selvicolturale-dei-combustibili-forestali-per-la-prevenzione-degli-incendi-boschivi-168.html
Non-italian speaking students will have to contact the teacher for materials in English.
Assessment and mitigation of hydrogeological risk in the mountain environment
Course syllabus
· The concept of natural hazard and risk (0.5 CFU);
· Tools for the assessment and mitigation of risk from natural hazards (0.5 CFU);
· Prevention and mitigation of risk (1.5 CFU):
o Structural measures;
o non-structural measures;
o bioengineering technique).
· Mitigation and preliminary design of appropriate measures (2.5 CFU):
o from shallow landslides
Protection forests;
Soil-bioengineering techniques.
o From debris flow and debris large wood:
Protection forests;
Debris flow control structures.
Elements of snow and ecology of high altitude soils (3 CFU)
- Physical and chemical properties of the snowpack
- Characteristics of soils in periglacial areas
- Dynamics of avalanches and risk prevention
- Classification of avalanches
- The Avalanche Bulletin
- Techniques for managing and reducing exposure to avalanche danger
· Tools for the assessment and mitigation of risk from natural hazards (0.5 CFU);
· Prevention and mitigation of risk (1.5 CFU):
o Structural measures;
o non-structural measures;
o bioengineering technique).
· Mitigation and preliminary design of appropriate measures (2.5 CFU):
o from shallow landslides
Protection forests;
Soil-bioengineering techniques.
o From debris flow and debris large wood:
Protection forests;
Debris flow control structures.
Elements of snow and ecology of high altitude soils (3 CFU)
- Physical and chemical properties of the snowpack
- Characteristics of soils in periglacial areas
- Dynamics of avalanches and risk prevention
- Classification of avalanches
- The Avalanche Bulletin
- Techniques for managing and reducing exposure to avalanche danger
Teaching methods
The hydrology modules include 16 hours of classroom teaching, 20 hours of asynchronous exercises (including the preparation of the final project), and 8 hours for field trip. An intermediate report will be required on the assessment of natural risks that will contribute to the final mark.
The module of soil and snow science includes 32 hours of activities divided into 16 hours of frontal lessons and 16 hours of practice in the field. For the lectures the teacher makes use of multimedia presentations that are available to students. The exercise in the field consists of visiting areas affected by the construction of works for the prevention of avalanches and soil erosion and operational structures that deal with the management of the avalanche danger.
The module of soil and snow science includes 32 hours of activities divided into 16 hours of frontal lessons and 16 hours of practice in the field. For the lectures the teacher makes use of multimedia presentations that are available to students. The exercise in the field consists of visiting areas affected by the construction of works for the prevention of avalanches and soil erosion and operational structures that deal with the management of the avalanche danger.
Teaching Resources
Course material and slides provided by the lecturer.
· Reducing Disaster Risk, A Challenge for Development | United Nations Development Programme (undp.org)
· Das, B.M., Sobhan, K., 2012. Principles of geotechnical engineering, Eighth edition. ed. Cengage Learning, Stamford, Connecticut, USA.
· Jakob, M., Hungr, O., 2005. Debris-flow hazards and related phenomena. Springer, Berlin; New York.
· Highland, L.M., Bobrowsky, P., 2008. The landslide handbook - A guide to understanding landslides, U.S. Geological Survey Circular. U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia U.S.A.
· Jones HG, Pomeroy JW, Walker DA, Hoham RW "Snow ecology". Cambridge University Press
· Gray DM, Male DH "Handbook of snow". The Blackburn Press
· Romeo R., Vita A., Manuelli S., Zanini E., Freppaz M. & Stanchi S. (2015) Understanding Mountain Soils: A Contribution from mountain areas to the International Year of Soils 2015. FAO, Rome, 2015. ISBN 978-92-5-108804-3. (http://www.fao.org/3/a-i4704e.pdf)
· Geitner C., Freppaz M., Lesjak J., Schaber E., Stanchi S., D'Amico M., Vrščaj B. (2020) I Servizi Ecosistemici del Suolo nelle Alpi. ISBN 978-88-99108-18-2 https://it.alpinesoils.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/00-IT-Soils-Ecosystem_210x270_spread-low.pdf
· Reducing Disaster Risk, A Challenge for Development | United Nations Development Programme (undp.org)
· Das, B.M., Sobhan, K., 2012. Principles of geotechnical engineering, Eighth edition. ed. Cengage Learning, Stamford, Connecticut, USA.
· Jakob, M., Hungr, O., 2005. Debris-flow hazards and related phenomena. Springer, Berlin; New York.
· Highland, L.M., Bobrowsky, P., 2008. The landslide handbook - A guide to understanding landslides, U.S. Geological Survey Circular. U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia U.S.A.
· Jones HG, Pomeroy JW, Walker DA, Hoham RW "Snow ecology". Cambridge University Press
· Gray DM, Male DH "Handbook of snow". The Blackburn Press
· Romeo R., Vita A., Manuelli S., Zanini E., Freppaz M. & Stanchi S. (2015) Understanding Mountain Soils: A Contribution from mountain areas to the International Year of Soils 2015. FAO, Rome, 2015. ISBN 978-92-5-108804-3. (http://www.fao.org/3/a-i4704e.pdf)
· Geitner C., Freppaz M., Lesjak J., Schaber E., Stanchi S., D'Amico M., Vrščaj B. (2020) I Servizi Ecosistemici del Suolo nelle Alpi. ISBN 978-88-99108-18-2 https://it.alpinesoils.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/00-IT-Soils-Ecosystem_210x270_spread-low.pdf
Economic and environmental assessments of forest land management
Course syllabus
ECTS n.1. The theory of economic value; economic valuation of forestry and environmental assets; basic concepts of financial mathemathics and forestry appraisal and applications; stumpage price.
ECTS n.2. Economic valuation of non-marketed goods and services: theory of externalities and estimation methods in forestry; applications.
ECTS n.3. Cost-benefit analysis in the forestry sector: theoretical and applicative aspects related to ecosystem services and investments
ECTS n.2. Economic valuation of non-marketed goods and services: theory of externalities and estimation methods in forestry; applications.
ECTS n.3. Cost-benefit analysis in the forestry sector: theoretical and applicative aspects related to ecosystem services and investments
Teaching methods
The course consists of face-to-face lectures and in class exercise.
Teaching Resources
M. Michieli, G. B. Cipollotti. TRATTATO DI ESTIMO. Edagricole 2018. ISBN 978-88-50-65527-4 (In Italian)
Selected selections of S. H. Bullard and T. J. Straka. BASIC CONCEPTS IN FOREST VALUATION INVESTMENT ANALYSIS. Clemson University 2011. ISBN 0-9641291-2-4
European Commission. GUIDE TO COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF INVESTMENT PROJECTS. ECONOMIC APPRAISAL TOOL for cohesion policy 2014-2020. European Commission, Brussels 2015. ISBN 978-92-79-34796-2
Slides of the course, as well as supplementary material (articles, working papers, technical reports, texts and worksheets for in classes exercise) will be provided by the lecturer and available to students on the MS Teams website.
Selected selections of S. H. Bullard and T. J. Straka. BASIC CONCEPTS IN FOREST VALUATION INVESTMENT ANALYSIS. Clemson University 2011. ISBN 0-9641291-2-4
European Commission. GUIDE TO COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF INVESTMENT PROJECTS. ECONOMIC APPRAISAL TOOL for cohesion policy 2014-2020. European Commission, Brussels 2015. ISBN 978-92-79-34796-2
Slides of the course, as well as supplementary material (articles, working papers, technical reports, texts and worksheets for in classes exercise) will be provided by the lecturer and available to students on the MS Teams website.
Assessment and mitigation of hydrogeological risk in the mountain environment
AGR/08 - AGRICULTURAL HYDRAULICS AND WATERSHED PROTECTION - University credits: 5
AGR/14 - PEDOLOGY - University credits: 2
AGR/14 - PEDOLOGY - University credits: 2
Practicals: 40 hours
Lessons: 36 hours
Lessons: 36 hours
Professors:
Cislaghi Alessio, Freppaz Michele
Shifts:
Turno
Professors:
Cislaghi Alessio, Freppaz Michele
Economic and environmental assessments of forest land management
AGR/01 - AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS AND RURAL APPRAISAL - University credits: 3
Practicals: 16 hours
Lessons: 16 hours
Lessons: 16 hours
Professor:
Monaco Federica
Shifts:
Turno
Professor:
Monaco Federica
Sustainable management of mountain forests
AGR/05 - FOREST MANAGEMENT AND SILVICULTURE - University credits: 5
Field activity: 16 hours
Practicals: 32 hours
Lessons: 16 hours
Practicals: 32 hours
Lessons: 16 hours
Professor:
Vacchiano Giorgio
Shifts:
Turno
Professor:
Vacchiano GiorgioProfessor(s)