Introduction to forest science

Teacher(s)

Ponette Quentin (coordinator); Vincke Caroline;

Language

French
> English-friendly

Prerequisites

LBIR1251 - LBIR1270

Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	a. Contribution de l'activité au référentiel AA (AA du programme) Cohérence des AA cours en regard de ceux du programme B1.1., B1.3., B1.4., B1.5., B2.1., B2.3., B3.1., B3.3., B3.5., B3.7., B6.2., B6.5. b. Formulation spécifique pour cette activité des AA du programme (maximum 10) At the end of this course, the student: - understands the specifics of forest ecosystems and of their management; - understands the functions and issues related to forests, in a variety of bio-climatic and socio-economic contexts; - has the basics (vocabulary, methods, tools) needed to characterize forests (at the 'tree', 'stand', and 'ecosystem' levels; in both static and dynamic ways) and management methods; - understands the main processes that regulate forest dynamics at the 'tree', 'stand' and 'ecosystem' levels, in natural conditions or under management; - knows the cropping objectives associated with forest management as well as the silvicultural interventions implemented to meet them in the main temperate silvicultural systems (even-aged high forest, selection system, coppice and coppice with standards); - is able to anticipate the impact of management actions on forests at the 'tree', 'stand' and 'ecosystem' levels; - is able to analyse a forets site and a stand, and based on this, to establish basic management recommendations.

Content

Part I. Forests
- definitions
- diversity of forests over space
- diversity of forests over time
- humans and forests
Partie II. Trees
- definitions
- morphology and growth
- effects of environmental factors on tree
Partie III. Forest dynamics
- solar radiation and forests
- successions
- disturbances
- site availability and opening of gaps
- colonization and installation
- biotic interactions
- species strategies
- silvigeneses: single-cohort vs multicohort stands
Partie IV. Silvicultures
- context
- silvicultural systems
- cropping objectives and silvicultural interventions

Teaching methods

- Lectures with active learning mini-activities and real-life examples;
- Quizzes allowing the gradual acquisition of essential notions, with feedback. The completion of the quizzes within the allotted time is compulsory, but the mark obtained in the test does not enter into the final mark;
- Presentations given by stakeholders in the socio-professional world;
- Integrated small-scale group project (basic stand description and analysis), with feedback in the field. Participation in group work and submission of the project are compulsory;
- One-day field trip in public and/or private forests; presence at the excursion is compulsory.

Evaluation methods

Participation in practical work and submission of reports are required for this course. In agreement with Article 72 of the General Regulations for Studies and Examinations, the lecturers may propose to the jury to oppose the registration for the examination of a student who has not complied with these obligations.
The assessment consists of two parts: (i) closed-book written exam with short answers, and (ii) written group report related to the characterization of a forest stand. If the mark of the written exam is >=8/20, the final mark is obtained by taking the weighted average of the written exam (70%) and the report (30%); otherwise, the final mark corresponds to the mark of the written exam. Participation in the quizzes is compulsory; failing to complete the quizzes on time, the final grade will be reduced by one point out of 20 per quiz not completed on time.

Online resources

Moodle

Bibliography

Les supports de cours obligatoires (diapositives power point, documents de référence) sont mis à disposition de l'étudiant sur Moodle.
Pour en savoir plus, l'étudiant pourra consulter utilement les ouvrages de référence suivants :
- Barnes, B.V., Zak, D.R., Denton, S.R., Spurr, S.H., 1998. Forest ecology. 4th Ed. John Wiley & Sons, New York, USA, 774 p ;
- Chapin III, F.S., Matson, P.A., Vitousek, P. 2011. Principles of Terrestrial Ecosystem Ecology. Springer-Verlag, New York ;
- Kimmins, J.P. 2004. Forest ecology. A foundation for sustainable forest management and environmental ethics in forestry. 3rd edition. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, USA, 611 p. + annexes ;
- Nyland, R.D., 2002. Silviculture: concepts and applications. 2nd Ed. McGraw-Hill, USA, 682 p. ;
- Oliver, C.D., Larson, B.C., 1996. Forest stand dynamics. Updated Ed. John Wiley & Sons, New York, 520 p. ;
- Sands, R., 2005. Forestry in a global context. CABI Publishing, Wallingford, UK, 262 p. ;
- Schütz, J.-P., 1990. Sylviculture 1. Principes d'éducation des forêts. Presses polytechniques et universitaires romandes, Lausanne, Suisse, 243 p. ;
- Schütz, J.-P., 1997. Sylviculture 2. La gestion des forêts irrégulières et mélangées. Presses polytechniques et universitaires romandes, Lausanne, Suisse, 178 p. ;
- Smith, D.M., Larson, B.C., Kelty, M.J., Ashton, P.M.S. 1996.The practice of silviculture: applied forest ecology. 9th Ed. John Wiley & Sons, New York, USA

Faculty or entity

AGRO