Biodiversity in Managed Forests

Course description

Content

The course will focus on the relationship between biodiversity and forest management in temperate forests and address the following themes:

• Forest history

• Forest structure, composition, and dynamics, tree species diversity

• Variation in abiotic factors (nutrients, light, pH, moisture/water)

• Micro habitats, key-habitats for flora and fauna (dead wood, veteran trees, forest edges, wet areas)

• Natural processes (unmanaged forests, succession, shortcuts in succession, disturbances (storms, fire, pest and disease outbreaks))

• Silvicultural systems (soil preparation, regeneration and stand establishment, timing and intensity of harvest, harvest strategy, intensity of management)

• Forest grazing – domestic and wild life

• Forest landscapes

• Measures to support specific groups of organisms

• Afforestation – what to consider with respect to biodiversity

• Trade-offs between biodiversity and ecosystem services

• Public outreach.

Recommended academic qualifications

If you have completed the Forestry and Landscape Engineering programme, you are qualified for this course.

Introductory courses in ecology and biodiversity are recommended.

Academic qualifications equivalent to a BSc degree is recommended.