NIFK14013U Tropical Forests, People and Policies
Erasmus Mundus MSc Programme in Forest and Livelihoods, "Erasmus Mundus Sustainable Tropical Forestry" (SUTROFOR)
The course takes a people oriented approach to issues that all
natural resources managers in developing countries should be
familiar with. Emphasis is on the relationships between people and
forest use and conservation in developing countries. Central themes
are: (i) Paradigms – what ideas and views guide tropical forestry
development? (ii) Livelihoods – how do poor people depend on
forests and trees? (iii) Valuation – how can we put a price on
forest products and make visible their importance to local people?
(iv) Forest cover – how much forest is there and how do we know?
(v) Deforestation – why do forests disappear and what can be done?
(vi) Policies – what characterises national policies? What global
policies exist and why? Do policies work? and (vii) Sustainable
management – can REDD, certification or other instruments save the
tropical forests?
This course provides an introduction to essential contemporary
issues in forestry in developing countries. The aim is to give
students a thorough understanding of the current and potential role
of forests and trees in improving rural livelihoods. It is stressed
that forestry is an integral part of society and should not be
considered in isolation.
After finishing the course the student is expected to be able to:
Knowledge:
Understand key contemporary issues in tropical forestry, including
forest-dependency, deforestation, national and global forest policy
and processes, and the potential of using market based mechanisms
to achieve sustainable forest management
Understand the potential of using forest and trees to prevent and
reduce poverty
Understand basic forest valuation methods
Skills:
Apply principles, theories and frameworks to case studies
Make judgment on the quality of scientific publications
Communicate clearly, concisely and confidently in written format
Competences
Argue cogently and think critically within the parameters of a
particular academic discipline
Reflect on the nature of poverty and the role of forests in poverty
alleviation
Demonstrate the values of scholarship: inquiry, reflection,
integrity, open mindedness, evidence-based thinking, and
collegiality
Tackle problems by collecting, analysing and evaluating appropriate
qualitative and quantitative information and using it
creatively
Course material consists of selected scientific articles, book
chapters, lecture notes, video clips and slide shows. These are
included in the compendium or on the course homepage. The
compendium is:
Smith-Hall, C., Nielsen, Ø.J., Pouliot, M., Jiao, X., Charlery, L.
and Thorsen, R.S. 2013. Tropical forests, people and policies –
selected papers. University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Science,
Department of Food and Resource Economics,
Copenhagen.
- Category
- Hours
- E-Learning
- 80
- Preparation
- 126
- Total
- 206
As
an exchange, guest and credit student - click here!
Continuing Education - click here!
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- Continuous assessmentStudents are assessed according to (i) their completion of exercises throughout the course, and (ii) through two teacher marked assignments (essays). The assignments are distributed electronically and answers must be submitted electronically. Completion of exercises and teacher marked assignments count 40% and 60% respectively towards the final mark.
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
One internal censor
- Re-exam
- Write essay
Criteria for exam assesment
To obtain the grade 12 the student must fullfil the Learning Outcomes
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- NIFK14013U
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
- 1 block
- Placement
- Block 1
- Schedule
- The teaching of the corse is entirely online.
- Course capacity
- No limits
- Continuing and further education
- Study board
- Study Board of Natural Resources and Environment
Contracting department
- Department of Food and Resource Economics
Course responsibles
- Carsten Smith-Hall (3-677773446d6a7673326f7932686f)
Lecturers
Carsten Smith-Hall
Mariève Pouliot
Lindy Charlery
Xi Jiao
Rikke Stamp Thorsen