Course code MežZ2012

Credit points 3

Forestry Basics

Total Hours in Course81

Number of hours for lectures16

Number of hours for seminars and practical classes16

Independent study hours49

Date of course confirmation16.03.2021

Responsible UnitInstitute of Forest Management

Course developer

author lect.

Edgars Dubrovskis

Mg. silv.

Course abstract

Forestry is an economic activity, as a whole links the forestry, logging and forest products marketing. The program includes woodland and stand valuation, recommendations for improvement stands productivity, health and quality, thinwood, wood and non-timber forest products for productive use. Foresters should be able to predict the consequences of our actions.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

1. Knows forestry terminology, regulatory bases and ecological processes that occur in forest ecosystems – 1st theory test work and practical works.

2. Is able to identify and describe the basic elements of the forest – practical works and 1st test work of practical works.

3. Is able to focus on silvicultural processes related to forest regeneration, tending, development, felling breakdown in Latvia, hunting farm and related areas - 2nd theory test work and practical works.

4. Competent to calculate indicators of basic forest elements and to use them in forest management planning – practical works and 2nd test work for practical works.

Course Content(Calendar)

Lecture list:

1 Forest as an ecosystem. Forest sector situation in Latvian economy. (1 h)
2 Main elements of forest, forestry terminology and meaning (2 h).
3 Most important forest tree species in Latvia and their productivity. (1 h)
4 Forest typology. (1 h)
5 Use of forest inventory. Economic activity planning and risks. (1 h)
6 Essentials of regulatory enactments regulating forest management. (1 h)
7 1st theory test - Characterization of forest stand. (1 h)
8 Classification of forest use. Types of felling. Main use fellings. (1 h)
9 Composition and stocking fellings. (1 h)
10 Measurements and potential risks of stand productivity. (1 h)
11 Forest regeneration and basic growing risks of different tree species. (1 h)
12 Value of forests and woodlands. Forest products and extraction of non-timber values. (1 h)
13 Forest guarding. (1 h)
14 Game management. (1 h)
15 2nd theory test - Harvesting of wood and non-timber forest resources. (1 h)

List of Practical Works:

1. Recognition of Latvian forestry most important tree species by external features.
2. Basic elements of the forest, their release and indicators.
3. Measurement techniques for growing tree diameter and height measurements and used instruments.
4. High curve. Estimation of mean diameter and height of forest stand.
5. 1st test of practical works – measurements of tree and basic elements of forest stand
6. Determination of forest stand site index, basal area and density.
7. Calculation of forest stand composition.
8. Use of forestry tables. Calculation of stand and individual tree stocking. Assessment of natural regeneration of forest. Determination of thinning intensity.
9. 2nd test of practical works – Determination and calculation of different forest stand indicators.

Requirements for awarding credit points

The student successfully writes two theories and two practice-testing jobs.

Appropriately designed and timely advocated tasks of practical work.

Type of final mark-up: Test with mark.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

Students independently complement their knowledge of the topics in lectures and practice by preparing structured and well-founded questions of interest that we discuss in the lessons before starting a new topic/practice.
The practical jobs that students do not advocate in the current lesson are completed by students independently and advocated in the next lesson.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

All practical works must be successfully advocated before the final assessment of the study course.
The final grade consist of an arithmetic mean of assessment of 2 theoretical and 2 practical work.
A student can get a successful check mark on a test if at least 50% of the questions have been answered correctly.
The lesson visit must be at least 75% of the total number of lessons.

Compulsory reading

1. Skudra P., Dreimanis A., Mežsaimniecības pamati. Rīga: Zvaigzne, 1993. 262 lpp.
2. Mangalis I. Meža atjaunošana un ieaudzēšana. Rīga: Et Cetera, 2004. 455 lpp.
3. Zālītis P., 2006. Mežsaimniecības Mežkopības priekšnosacījumi. Rīga: Et Cetera, 2006. 219 lpp.
4. Dreimanis A. Mežsaimniecības pamati, mācību līdzeklis LLU Meža fakultātes studentiem un nozares speciālistiem, A/S LVM, Jelgava: LLU Meža fakultāte, Studentu biedrība "Šalkone". 2016. 219 lpp.

Further reading

1. Saliņš Z., Meža izmantošana Latvijā - vēsture, stāvoklis, perspektīvas. Jelgava: Meža izmantošanas kat., 1999. 270 lpp.
2. Kopšanas ciršu rokasgrāmata. Autoru kolektīvs, Rīga: A/S "Latvijas Valsts meži", 2008. 108 lpp.
3. Ceļvedis Latvijas privāto mežu īpašniekiem. Autoru kolektīvs, Rīga: Et Cetera, 2005. 212 lpp.
4. Miezīte O. Meža aizsardzība un apsardzība. I daļa Meža entomoloģija, mācību līdzeklis LLU Meža fakultātes studentiem un nozares speciālistiem, A/S LVM, Jelgava: LLU Meža fakultāte, Studentu biedrība "Šalkone". 2015. 172 lpp.
5. Miezīte O. Meža aizsardzība. II daļa Meža fitopatoloģija, mācību līdzeklis LLU Meža fakultātes studentiem un nozares speciālistiem, A/S LVM, Jelgava: LLU Meža fakultāte, Studentu biedrība "Šalkone". 2017. 173 lpp.

Periodicals and other sources

1. Rakstu krājums "Mežzinātne", ISSN 1407-270X
2. Rakstu krājums "Baltic Forestry", ISSN 1392-1355