NIGK18000U Biodiversity in Managed Forests
MSc Programme in Forest and Nature Management
MSc Programme in Nature Management
MSc Programme in Sustainable Forest and 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 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
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
Academic qualifications equivalent to a BSc degree is recommended.
- Category
- Hours
- Lectures
- 28
- Preparation
- 87
- Theory exercises
- 14
- Practical exercises
- 35
- Excursions
- 18
- Guidance
- 24
- Total
- 206
Oral feedback from teacher and peers at student paper
presentation. Organised feedback from lecturer's on choice of
essay topic. Supervised choice on poster topic. Feedback
from teacher and peers (class) on seminar presentation of poster
and report. Oral feedback on essay, presentation and
discussion at exam.
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 course
- Type of assessment details
- Students hand in one essay of max. 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). The oral examination is without preparation time.
Assessment: The essay and the forest management guidelines (and presentations) are required to opt for the final oral exam. The assignments (i.e. essay and poster) will contribute 20 % to the final grade and the oral examination (80%). The course is passed, when the average weighted grade is passed. - Aid
- All aids allowed
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
Several internal examiners
- Re-exam
As ordinary exam. If the student has handed in the Forest management guidelines and the essay at the ordinary exam, this part of the exam cannot be retaken. If guidelines and essay havn't been handed in, it should be handed in at the latest 2 weeks 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
The number of places might be reduced if you register in the late-registration period (BSc and MSc) or as a credit or single subject student.
Study board
- Study Board of Geosciences and Management
Contracting department
- Department of Geoscience and Natural Resource Management
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Science
Course Coordinators
- Sebastian Kepfer Rojas (skro@ign.ku.dk)
- David Bille Byriel (daby@ign.ku.dk)
Lecturers
Vivian Kvist Johannsen, Lasse Gottlieb, Inger Kappel Schmidt (jcq683)