Methods of Silviculture (6 cr)

Evaluation scale

0-5

Content scheduling

Field lessons cannot be followed in zoom. Those absent from field lessons will have to find the necessary field sites themselves and report the measurements and forest management plans for the sites.

Objective

Purpose of the course

After completing this course, you are able to choose the right silvicultural measures in different development phases of forest.

Competences

Forestry competence: can select appropriate forestry measures for the forest, can plan the forestry of the farm and manage the forestry in a profitable and sustainable way.
Science and environmental competence: can identify and measure the key environmental, water and climate impacts of your activities and manage ways to reduce them

Learning outcomes

You know the biological and economic basics of forest cultivation. You are able to choose the right silvicultural measures and know the forest management guidelines and norms in different development phases of even-aged forest. You know the basics of uneven-aged forest management. You are able to prevent forest damages.

Content

-the basics of stand management
-young stand management
-intermediate harvesting
-peatland forest management
-forest fertilisation
-prevention of forest damages
-uneven-aged management

Materials

Metsanhoidon suositukset: https://metsanhoidonsuositukset.fi

Teaching methods

Lectures, field excursions, assignments, online study

Exam schedules

The date of the online exam and two possible re-exams will be agreed at the beginning of the course.

Student workload

Lectures and field excursions 28 h, virtual study 30 h, assignments 54 h, independent study 50 h. Total 162 h of student work.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Adequate 1:
You know the biological and economic basics of forest cultivation and are able to choose the right silvicultural measures for the different development phases of even-aged forest. You know the main features of the forest management guidelines, forest certification criteria and the legislation. You are familiar with the field measurements of young stand treatment and harvesting and know thinning models and special features of peatland forests. You know the basics of uneven-aged forestry. You know main forest damages and means of preventing the damages. Assignments have been submitted but but contain deficiencies.

Satisfactory 2:
You know the biological and economic basics of forest cultivation and are able to consider them in choosing the right silvicultural measures for the different development phases of even-aged forest. You can define the forest management guidelines, forest certification criteria and the legislation for silvicultural measures. You can do field measurements of young stand treatment and harvesting and can read thinning models and know special features of peatland forests. You can choose suitable measures for uneven-aged forest. You identify main forest damages and are able to prevent the damages timely. The assignments have been completed in accordance with the assignment requirements.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

Good 3:
You can apply the biological and economic basics of forest cultivation and are able to consider them in choosing the right silvicultural measures for the different development phases in different development phases of even-aged forest. You can diversely justify the forest care measures on mineral soils and peatlands and apply forest certification criteria and forest legislation. You can do field measurements of young stand treatment and harvesting, can draft funding applications and can apply thinning models. You can estimate suitable measures for uneven-aged forest. You identify main forest damages and are able to prevent them. The assignments have been returned in accordance with the assignment and using the provided learning materials..

Very Good 4:
You can diversely apply the biological and economic basics of forest cultivation. You are able to choose measures and apply diversely the forest management guidelines on mineral soils and peatlands and are able to apply forest certification criteria and forest legislation. You can do field measurements of young stand treatment and harvesting, can apply thinning models, are able to draft funding applications and analyze cost estimates. You are able to estimate the economic and ecological impacts of uneven-aged forest treatments. You identify main forest damages and are able to prevent them. The assignments have been returned in accordance with the assignment and are supported by a range of sources

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Excellent 5:
You can diversely and comprehensively apply the biological and economic basics of forest cultivation. You are able to choose alternative measures and to apply diversely the forest management guidelines on mineral soils and peatlands and are able to apply forest certification criteria and forest legislation. You can do field measurements and calculations of young stand treatment and harvesting, can apply thinning models, are able to draft funding applications and cost estimates. You can choose suitable measures for even-aged forest and are able to evaluate the effects of silvicultural measures to stand development and nature. You are able to estimate the economic and ecological boundary conditions considering sustainability in uneven-aged forest treatments. You identify main forest damages and are able to prevent them. The assignments have been comprehensively documented with diverse sources in accordance with the assignment guidelines.

Qualifications

Knowledge of basic ecological concepts and forest regeneration methods.

Further information

Assessment is based on learning tasks, online tests and an exam.