conservation of forest resources

Course objectives

Expected learning outcomes The course aims at obtaining knowledge on: forest ecosystems structure, composition, functions and dynamics at different spatial scales, from local to global; indicators of sustainable forest management; commonly applied forest management strategies and treatments with special reference to the national context; forest planning tools from the European to the local scale; goals and measures for European forest habitats. The course will inform on how to apply the mentioned knowledge to forest planning and to the specific projects aimed at forest sustainable management, biodiversity conservation, landscape enhancement and land protection. The course will allow students to critically analyse reports and plans created by institutions and professionals of the forest sector in a multifunctionality perspective with special reference to sustainable management of natural resources. The course will prepare students to communicate and collaborate with forest sector practitioners and with a wide range of stakeholders also thanks to the focus on specific terms and concepts as well as on updated data relevant to the sector. Finally, the students will be guided towards approaches and data sources relative to forest ecosystems that will contribute to their degree of independence in their study and career path. Dublin Descriptors 1. Knowledge and understanding of forest ecosystems structure, composition, functions and dynamics at different spatial scales, from local to global; of the indicators of forest sustainable management; of common management strategies and treatments with special reference to the national context; of planning tools from the European to the local scale; of the conservation goals and measures for European forest habitats. 2. Applying knowledge and understanding to forest planning and to specific projects aimed at sustainability, biodiversity conservation, landscape enhancement and land protection. 3. Making judgements on reporting and planning documents created by institutions and practitioners of the forest sector by taking into account multifunctionality and a sustainable management of natural resources. 4. Communication skills with forest practitioners and a wide range of stakeholders after learning the specific language and d updated data relevant within the sector. 5. Lifelong learning skills: students will be guided towards an approach and specific data sources relative to forest ecosystems that will allow them to be autonomous in their learning and working path.

Channel 1
SABINA BURRASCANO Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
1. General concepts (Lessons 1-2) Definitions: woodland/forest, tree/shrub, overstorey/understorey. Other wooded land. Management and policy implications of forest definition. Concepts of individual, population, community in forest ecosystems. 2. Forest ecology (Lessons 3-4-5) Composition (forest biodiversity) Structure (vertical and horizontal) Function (ecosystem functions of forests) Competition, stress and disturbance in forest ecosystem Patterns and processes 3. Indicators of sustainable forest management (Lessons 6-7-8) Global forest area. Global and local meaning in changes in forest area. Planted and natural forests. Naturalness in forest ecosystems. Afforestation. Natural expansion of forests. Reforestation. Deforestation. Forest degradation. REDD+ mechanisms. Forest area in Europe. Status and trend. Field estimation of forest resources: measurement of tree diameter and height, calculation of basal area and growing stock. Growing stock in European forests. Status and trend. Age and diameter distribution. Tree and forest age measurement. Dendrochronology. 4. Forest types at different scales (Lessons 9-10-11) Tropical forest biomes, savanna, taiga, Mediterranean forests, temperate forests. European forest types. Forest types in Italy. 5. Basics of silviculture (Lessons 12-13-14-15) Management strategies at the global scale. Management strategies and treatments in Italy. Unmanaged forests: structural heterogeneity and ecological continuity. 6. Forest planning (Lessons 16-17) Sustainability and multifunctionality European forest strategy. National planning (Testo Unico Forestale). Regional planning. Fire ecology, fire and conservation of forest resources. 7. European forests and biodiversity conservation. (Lessons 18-19-20) Habitat Directive. Natura 2000 network. Forest habitat conservation status. Pressures and threats.
Prerequisites
No prerequisites
Books
Herman Shugart , Peter White , Sassan Saatchi and Jérôme Chave; The World Atlas of Trees and Forests - Exploring Earth's Forest Ecosystems. https://doi.org/10.1515/9780691235936 Corona et al. (2011) Pianificazione ecologica dei sistemi forestali. Compagnia delle Foreste, Arezzo.
Frequency
Not mandatory
Exam mode
Six questions will be asked on six chapters of the programme, one of these will be chosen by the student within a specific chapter
Lesson mode
5 CFU will consist of traditional lessons in class, 1 CFU will be a field activity (20 hours). Traditional lessons will take place from late February/early March up to late May. The excursion with additional data analysis to carry out by the students will take place in late April. There is the possibility of a second excursion in late May.
  • Lesson code1055500
  • Academic year2025/2026
  • CourseSciences and Teaching of Natural Systems
  • CurriculumSingle curriculum
  • Year1st year
  • Semester2nd semester
  • SSDBIO/03
  • CFU6