LNAK10027U Thematic Course: Urban Forestry & Urban Greening

Volume 2014/2015
Education
MSc Programme in Landscape Architecture
Content

The course will, based on international literature and primarily Danish and Nordic cases, give an international perspective to the following:

- The concept of Urban Forestry & Urban Greening (UFUG) approach, definitions etc.
- History, background, developments and current status of UFUG resources in Europe
- Strategic management of the urban green resource
- Benefits, values and uses of urban green areas (ecological, economic, social, cultural, human health etc.)
- UFUG policies, planning legislation and regulations in urban areas
- Development of tools for strategic management (tree inventories, tree appraisal, marketing strategies, biodiversity indicators etc.)
- Different actors, stakeholders and professions involved
- Organisation in relation to maintenance operations (public - private / private - private partnerships)
- Public participation

Learning Outcome

The main objective of the course is to provide a theoretical introduction to the management (planning and maintenance) of public urban green spaces from a strategic point of view, and to provide training in developing an urban green space management plan.

The course is integrated in the Master program in Landscape Architecture, as an introduction to the Green Space Management specialisation.

After completing the course the student should be able to:
Knowledge:
- Describe relevant theories related to the combination of public administration and strategic green space management
-Describe, using relevant models, the actors and aspects involved in urban green space management, and specifically explain the role of a public manager within a basic democratic system.
- Reflect about the different user groups, their wishes and needs, and possible conflicts between different user groups
-Describe the different organizational levels in a typical green space management organization, including the roles of the different parts of the organization.
-Summarize the various benefits of urban green space.
-Mention a number of tools that can be used to aid long term (strategic) management of urban green spaces.
-List the most important methods of public participation and reflect upon their suitability in different situations.
- Describe in detail how a strategic Green Space Management Plan may be structured, and developed.

Skills:
- Read and analyze peer-reviewed scientific publications
- Make oral presentations of preformed analyses, developed visions and planned actions
- Structure reports and presentations in a correct manner
- Select and asses relevant information for the course project
- Discuss central tools, their scope and values in relation to green space management.
- Discuss the most important urban green space benefits in detail.
- Develop a Green Space Management Plan, including both short and long term visions and related means to fulfill the plan.

Competences:
-Work independently
-Cooperate effectively in a multidisciplinary and multicultural group with a common project
-Apply the course theory to related subjects and/or to different work situations, e.g. in other countries

Main literature will be:
C.C. Konijnendijk, Nilsson, K., T.B. Randrup & J. Schipperijn (2005) (eds.) Urban Forestry in Europe. A reference textbook. Springer Verlag, Germany.

Selected chapters from this book will be provided to the students. Further literature, based primarily on international peer-reviewed papers, will be compiled and referred to.

A relevant Bachelor completed, with a proven 'green space' component, for example landscape architecture, landscape management, forestry, natural resource management, nature conservation
The course will be taught as a combination of lectures, group work, seminars and field tests. Lectures will be given as a basis for theoretical input. Group work will be based on exercises where students develop further understanding. Seminars will be based on students own preparation and dissemination of knowledge. Field tests will be excursions where students are expected to test theory in practise. As both the future work field and the expected students represent a wide range of interests and educational backgrounds, teaching methods in this course will be interactive and active participation of the students in discussions and multidisciplinary group work is expected. Thus, students will be able to work interdisciplinary as well as relate their own academic background to related disciplines.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Exam
  • 5
  • Excursions
  • 20
  • Guidance
  • 16
  • Lectures
  • 40
  • Preparation
  • 131
  • Project work
  • 160
  • Theory exercises
  • 40
  • Total
  • 412
Credit
15 ECTS
Type of assessment
Oral examination, 20 minutes under invigilation
Oral exam, with use of all materials allowed. Question to be drawn prior to exam, followed by 25 minutes of preparation time.
Exam registration requirements
Successful completion of the course, its main group work, and course exercises
Aid
Written aids allowed
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
External censorship
Exam period
Final week of Blok 1
Criteria for exam assesment

Ability to discuss the course contents based on a selected question, showing the capacity to relate the different theories, methods and perspectives introduced during the course.
Ability to discuss the course contents based on a theme related to the main group work.