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Silviculture II

Course developer

Prior knowledge

MežZ4103, Silviculture I

Course abstract

The study course includes information on silvicultural measures to be carried out in the forest management cycle, the theoretical basis and practical application of these measures economically and socially justified, for the implementation of forest environmental-friendly forestry.
The study course provides information on the planning processes of forestry operations and the analysis of their application practices and information that provides forest managers with knowledge for predicting and evaluating the consequences of their actions.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

• knowledge of forest use, its principles (1st Test); types of forest main and intermediate use felling, felling elements and cuttings of felling residues, measures for promoting forest natural regeneration (2nd Test), species change and tree species suitable for specific growing conditions. In addition, on the requirements of forest management regulations, forest management and wood supply chain certification (3rd Test).
• skills in selecting the most suitable main use felling type and renewable target tree species; skills to determine thinning intensity, choose leaving and felling trees; skills in cohorts to see future and target trees, and, the requirements for forest management regulations and green certification to apply in forest management planning (Practical work).
• competence to assess and predict the effects of each silviculture measure on the further development of a forest stand in the context of achieving a strategic objective of forestry (1st –3rd Test, Practical work).

Course Content(Calendar)

1. Basic concepts of silviculture. Forest construction elements. Forest management cycle. Use of forest resources and its principles. (Lecture 2h + Practical work 2h)
2. Practical forest typology. Composition of the target and conflict stands. Pure and mixed stands. Species change or succession. (Lecture 2h + Practical work 2h)
3. Forest breakdown by ownership form and management objective. Woodland categories. (Lecture 2h + Practical work 2h)
4. Commercial thinning. Selection of felling and leaving trees. Felling intensity. Felling models. The principle of organized forest stand. (Lecture 2h + Practical work 2h)
Test 1: basic concepts of forest, construction, intermediate use forest felling.
5. Types of forest main uses. Clearcutting and its elements. (Lecture 2h + Practical work 2h)
6. Reconstructive and sanitation cuttings. Measures of increasing productivity of forests. Forest hydrotechnical melioration. (Lecture 2h + Practical work 2h)
7. Main uses of non-clear-cutting forest. Gradual felling. Sampling. (Lecture 1h + Practical work 2h)
8. Tree felling estimate and its establishment principles. (Lecture 1h + Practical work 2h)
9. Conservation and environmental diversity conservation measures through final felling. (Lecture 2h + Practical work 2h)
10. Measures for promoting natural regeneration of forests. Pastoral conservation. Felling residue application techniques. (Lecture 1h + Practical work 2h)
Test 2: main use of forests.
11. Fire as the ecological factor in nature. The concept of forest pyrology. (Lecture 2h + Practical work 2h)
12. Classification of wildfires and causes of origin. Negative and positive effects of wildfires on the environment. (Lecture 2h + Practical work 2h)
13. Wildfire extinguishing techniques and tactics. Perspective and operational plan of fire safety survey activities. (Lecture 2h + Practical work 2h)
14. Firefighting organization plan. Calculation of damages incurred by wildfire. (Lecture 2h + Practical work 2h)
15. Forest management in nature conservation, recreation and economic areas. Ecoforests and their management. (Lecture 2h + Practical work 2h)
16. PEFC and FSC Forest Certification Systems. FSC Forest Management and Wood Supply Chain Certificates. (Lecture 2h + Practical work 2h)

Test 3: Forest fires, their classification and extinguishing, certification systems.

Requirements for awarding credit points

Three theoretical tests, practical work tests have been successfully arranged;
Visiting - at least 90% of the total number of contact hours.
Written and submitted 2 reports for evaluation.
A written exam should be carried out.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

Prepare for lectures, tests, practical work according to the study course plan.
2 reports written independently, on the topics in the study programme, by expanding the topic in solving cross-sectoral problems.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

Knowledge, skills and competencies are assessed on a 10-point scale.
Student is admitted to exam if tests, practical work, and submitted 2 reports are successfully arranged.
The exam consists of 3 theoretical questions and a calculation task.
It is possible to obtain an automatic knowledge assessment if the grade of all tests and independent work until the exam is 8 (very good) or higher.

Compulsory reading

1. Forest Management and Planning. P. Bettinger at all. Second edition. London: Academic Press, 2017. 349 p. 1 tiešsaistes resurss. ISBN 9780128097069 (PDF)
E-grāmata. (PDF).
{Resurss pieejams tiešsaistē LLU datortīklā}
2. Forest Ecosystems: management, impact assessment and conservation. D. Elliott, editor. New York: Nova Science Publishers, Inc., 2017. 172 p. Wildlife protection, destruction, and extinction. ISBN 9781634857949 (iesiets). Pieejams datubāzē EBSCO.
{Resurss pieejams LLU datortīklā}
3. Forest hydrology: processes, management and assessment. Edited by D. M. Amatya et all. Boston, MA: CAB International, 2016. 294p ISBN 9781780646602

Periodicals and other sources

1. Rakstu krājums "Mežzinātne", ISSN 1407-4427
2. Rakstu krājums "Baltic Forestry", ISSN 1392-1355
3. Rakstu krājums "Baltijas Koks", ISSN 1407-6667

Notes

For academic bachelor study program “Sustainable forestry” students