Sustainable Management and Bioeconomy of Mountain Forests
A.Y. 2024/2025
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 1 (2 ECTS) - Dynamics and resilience of mountain forests
· State and dynamics of forest ecosystems from landscape to global scale
· Forest ecosystems' response to external changes: adaptation and resilience
SECTION 2 (2 ECTS) - Principles of forest management and planning
· Forest management in mountain areas: sustainability and resilience
· Forest mensuration and basics of forest inventories
· Forest ecosystem modelling, including optimization techniques
· Multifunctional forest planning, including co-design and participatory principles, and monitoring of forest resources (indicators and advanced tools)
SECTION 3 (4 ECTS) - Forest bioeconomy in mountain areas
· Principles and basics of forest-based economy
· Biophysical and economic values of forest ecosystem services:
o Timber provision (industrial and energy)
o Conservation of species and habitats
o Climate regulation (mitigation and adaptation)
o Hydrologic protection
o Tourism and cultural opportunities, landscape aesthetics
· Supporting tools: payments for ecosystem services, forest certification
· Multi-scale regulatory instruments on forest management and ecosystem services provision
· State and dynamics of forest ecosystems from landscape to global scale
· Forest ecosystems' response to external changes: adaptation and resilience
SECTION 2 (2 ECTS) - Principles of forest management and planning
· Forest management in mountain areas: sustainability and resilience
· Forest mensuration and basics of forest inventories
· Forest ecosystem modelling, including optimization techniques
· Multifunctional forest planning, including co-design and participatory principles, and monitoring of forest resources (indicators and advanced tools)
SECTION 3 (4 ECTS) - Forest bioeconomy in mountain areas
· Principles and basics of forest-based economy
· Biophysical and economic values of forest ecosystem services:
o Timber provision (industrial and energy)
o Conservation of species and habitats
o Climate regulation (mitigation and adaptation)
o Hydrologic protection
o Tourism and cultural opportunities, landscape aesthetics
· Supporting tools: payments for ecosystem services, forest certification
· Multi-scale regulatory instruments on forest management and ecosystem services provision
Prerequisites for admission
Basic knowledge of forest ecology
English language level B2
English language level B2
Teaching methods
Teaching includes 6 CFU of lectures, 1 CFU of tutorials and 1 CFU of field trips.
Lecturers will use:
· interactive frontal lectures to stimulate the critical thinking
· training laboratories to consolidate the knowledge acquired during the lectures, as well as to develop practical skills useful for professional work
· in-course exercises and tests to consolidate and verify the students' knowledge
· field trips to measure, describe and analyse forest stands
Attendance is strongly recommended. Students unable to attend in presence might ask for recording of lectures.
Lecturers will use:
· interactive frontal lectures to stimulate the critical thinking
· training laboratories to consolidate the knowledge acquired during the lectures, as well as to develop practical skills useful for professional work
· in-course exercises and tests to consolidate and verify the students' knowledge
· field trips to measure, describe and analyse forest stands
Attendance is strongly recommended. Students unable to attend in presence might ask for recording of lectures.
Teaching Resources
Slides and notes from the lectures; additional material provided by lecturers on MS Teams.
Suggested:
· 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
Suggested material are useful to deepen some lectures' contents and might be used in some cases to integrate the educational material provided by lecturers.
Suggested:
· 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
Suggested material are useful to deepen some lectures' contents and might be used in some cases to integrate the educational material provided by lecturers.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Learning outcomes will be successfully verified by passing a final exam with scores between 18 and 30. 40% of the score will be based on the evaluation of a written forest resource enhancement project concerning a site chosen by the students, to be carried out in groups (0-12 points). 60% of the score will be based on the evaluation of an oral examination on the main content of the course (0-18 points). Methods, approaches and evaluation criteria for the written project will be communicated on MS Teams. The dates of the oral examination are determined in accordance with the students' needs.
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).
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).
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
Shifts:
Professor(s)
Reception:
by appointment
DiSAA building 21050, first floor