NIGK18000U Biodiversity in Managed Forests
MSc Programme in Forest and Nature Management
MSc Programme in Nature Management
Now and in the future there will be an increasing focus on forest production and possible interplay with biodiversity. The course will present knowledge on how different forest management practices and intensities influence biodiversity. The course will present methods on how to assess and evaluate impact of forest management actions on flora and fauna diversity and discuss possible trade-offs between forest wood production and biodiversity. The course will touch key issues of legislation, certification schemes and subsidies.
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 reach out
Knowledge:
By the end of the course,
You will have knowledge on different forest management practices and their impact on biodiversity
You will have knowledge on different management means to enhance biodiversity
You will have knowledge on how forest structure, composition and dynamics and associated abiotic and biotic factors influence different species groups and thus biodiversity and ecosystem functions
You will have knowledge on common field and laboratory methods for measuring key elements and species diversity in forest ecosystems
Skills:
You can analyze, evaluate and discuss measures to enhance biodiversity in managed forests
You will be able to read and interpret literature on biodiversity and forest management
You will be able to assess biodiversity
You will have an overview of forest management regimes and their impact on biodiversity
You can identify key habitats for flora and fauna with regard to forest structure, composition and dynamics and associated abiotic and biotic factors influencing biodiversity in forests
You have an overview of the abiotic environment and how it affects species and is influenced by forest management
You will be able to use different database resources to assess the potential for biodiversity in a forest
Competences:
You will be able to read and critically discuss scientific literature
You can use evidence based knowledge in writing and presentations of aspects of biodiversity in managed forests
You can transform the theoretical knowledge to suggested actions to enhance biodiversity in managed forests
Please see Absalon
- Category
- Hours
- Colloquia
- 14
- Excursions
- 18
- Guidance
- 24
- Lectures
- 28
- Practical exercises
- 21
- Practical exercises
- 14
- Preparation
- 52
- Project work
- 35
- Total
- 206
As
an exchange, guest and credit student - click here!
Continuing Education - click here!
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- Oral examination, 25Written assignment, During courseStudents hand in one essay of approx. 15 pages (group) and one forest management guidelines (group) during the course. The course is concluded with a 25 min oral examination. The essay is prepared during the course and will be delivered to the course responsible at least one week before the final exam.
Description of Examination: The individual oral exam consists of a short presentation of the essay (5-7 min) followed by questions on the essay topic (5-7 min). In addition the student will draw a question in relation to lectures and exercises, present and discuss this (10 min). Passing the course requires, that the combined weighted grade is 02 or above. The oral examination is without preparation time.
Assessment: 33 % forest management guidelines and presentation. The essay, the individual oral presentation of the essay and the oral examination on a drawn topic will contribute 67 % to the final grade. - Aid
- All aids allowed
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
Several internal examiners
- Re-exam
Oral examination (25 minutes), without preparation. as described above for the exam. Forest management guidelines and essay produced during the course are still valid and should be handed in at the latest 14 days before the oral examination.
Criteria for exam assesment
See learning outcome
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- NIGK18000U
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
- 1 block
- Placement
- Block 1
- Schedule
- B
- Course capacity
- 40
- Continuing and further education
- Study board
- Study Board of Geosciences and Management
Contracting department
- Department of Geoscience and Natural Resource Management
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Science
Course Coordinators
- Inger Kappel Schmidt (iks@ign.ku.dk)
- Sebastian Kepfer Rojas (skro@ign.ku.dk)
Lecturers
Hans Peter Ravn, Rita Buttenschøn, Vivian Kvist Johansen, Thomas Nord-Larsen, Hanne Rasmussen, Andrew Hove m.fl.