Overview

This module develops an understanding of the principles and practice of silviculture, the place of silviculture in the sustainable cultivation of trees, and the role that silviculture plays in delivering ecosystem services from trees, woodlands and forests. This module explores the unique characteristics of forest soils and of soil physical, chemical and biological properties, how these influence site productivity, and how these are influenced by land management. To effectively manage forests and conduct high-quality silviculture an understanding of the structure of the forest is required. To address this, module includes the use of remote sensing to obtain forest inventories that can be used to make silvicultural decisions.

Overall, the lecture-based component seeks to develop an understanding of the connection between plant physiology, silviculture and forestry practice. In part one, this module will be focused on seed, seedling and tree growth and survival, and the response of these to silvicultural interventions. In part two, we will look more closely at the silvicultural systems used in temperate and tropical forests to realise desired future conditions. In part three, we will examine the operational practices used in temperate plantation silviculture, the environmental impacts of these operations, and we will investigate ways in which negative impacts can be minimised or eliminated.

This module also will examine basic inventory practices and use of remote sensing data in order to learn how to enhance them to identify the difference in the canopy and interpret land cover.

Physiological processes that determine tree growth and survival: Above- & below-ground allocation; root:shoot ratio; Light capture drives productivity; Drought & water-logging; Mechanisms of disease-related death; Response of seedling trees to environmental stimuli. Tree growth and yield. Plant stress and wood quality. Differences/similarities between individual tree, uneven-aged, mixed stands and plantation silviculture: Single-tree selection; Group selection; Seed trees; Shelterwood; Clearfell. Regeneration: Seed and vegetative regeneration; Re-spacing of natural regeneration; Genetic aspects of regeneration. Tending, thinning. Operational aspects of site preparation, planting and establishment. Silviculture for production: Silviculture and timber properties. Forest harvesting and extraction: Appropriate harvesting methods; Mechanised thinning; Organised felling systems; Forest road planning and layout. Environmental effects of forest operations: Sustainability; Legislation, Forest mensuration; Sampling and Inventory; Using Remote Sensing and GIS in Forest Inventory.

Assessment Strategy

-threshold -Grade D- to D+Students have a passing familiarity with the physiological ecology of trees. They can describe some of the silvicultural systems used in temperate or tropical forestry. They will be able to describe some of the methods used for forest inventory and yield regulation and prediction.

-good -Grade C- to B+Students have a good understanding of the physiological ecology of plants, and understand that silvicultural interventions affect plant growth. They can describe many of the silvicultural systems used in temperate and tropical forestry. They will be able to explain several of the ways in which economic methods are used to make forest management decisions, and describe how the methods are applied in different situations.

-excellent -Grade A- and aboveStudents have an excellent understanding of the physiological ecology of plants, and understand the all the ways in which silvicultural interventions affect the biotic and abiotic factors that control plant growth. They can describe the silvicultural systems used in temperate and tropical forestry, and critically evaluate their relative merits. They will be able to explain in detail the methods used for forest inventory and yield regulation and describe how the methods are applied in different situations, and evaluate their effectiveness.

Learning Outcomes

• Compare and critique the different methods used for forest inventory and forest inventory planning (including the use of GIS and remote sensing methods). Students should be able to select the more appropriate methods that will best apply to a particular forest context.

• Comprehend and describe the silvicultural systems used in temperate and tropical forests and discuss their relative merits in the context of sustainable forest management.

• Demonstrate practical knowledge of and the ability to interpret the biological and environmental factors that underpin the silvicultural practices used to create, establish and manage forest plantations.

• Students can demonstrate practical knowledge of the principles of forest yield prediction and be able to apply them to a particular forest situation.