Course code MatZ5023

Credit points 3

Forestry Strategy of the European Union

Total Hours in Course81

Number of hours for lectures20

Number of hours for seminars and practical classes4

Independent study hours57

Date of course confirmation18.02.2014

Responsible UnitInstitute of Civil Engineering and Wood Processing

Course developer

author

Sigita Alksne

Dr. silv.

Prior knowledge

MežZ5004, Forest Policy

Course abstract

The study course provides the extended knowledge of the European Union Forestry sector, the processes of the Forestry Strategy for the EU and the recent trends in the EU Forest sector strategy. The topics of Latvian forest sector will be analyzed in the context of the EU Forestry Strategy..

Learning outcomes and their assessment

Knowledge of Forestry Strategy processes of the European Union, strategy formation, methods of studies and analyze, the topics of the Forest policy and EU Forestry Strategy.
Skills: students will obtain skills necessary for practical studies, analysis and using information, connercted with Forestry Strategy problems.
Competence: independently analyze theoretical and practical aspects of realization of Forestry Strategy.

Course Content(Calendar)

1 Historical overview and operation of EU formation. (1 lecture)
2 The forest sector in the European Union. (1 lecture)
3 Recent developments in EU forest strategy. Development of national forest programs. (1 lecture)
4 EU and the "international forest regime". (1 lecture)
5 EU Forest Strategy: Forestry and Rural Development. (1 lecture)
6 EU Forest Strategy: supporting forestry measures in the Member States. (1 lecture)
7 EU Forest Information and Communication System. (1 lecture)
8 EU forest monitoring activities. (1 lecture)
9 Protecting EU forests against fire. (1 lecture)
10 EU forests and biodiversity. (1 lecture)
11 EU Forest Strategy: Forest Reproductive Material and Plant Health. (1 lecture)
12 EU Forest Strategy: Forest Certification. (2 lectures)
13 EU Forest Strategy: Transport, Energy Policy and Biofuels. (2 lectures)
14 EU Forest Strategy: Timber and Related Industries. (2 lectures)
15 The forest sector and EU research policy. Coordination, communication and cooperation. (2 lectures)
16 SWOT analysis of the Latvian forest sector in the context of the EU forest sector strategy. (1 lecture, 4 practical works)

Requirements for awarding credit points

All practical work must be completed. A report must be submitted and presented. Must have a written test and exam. Final evaluation formed in a 10-point system.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

In practical work students must learn the following topics:
• Research of the regulatory environment of the Latvian forest sector (guidelines, regulations, legal acts, etc.);
• Study of the regulatory environment of the EU forest sector (guidelines, regulations, legislation, etc.);
• Study of the regulatory environment of the global forest sector (guidelines, regulations, legislation, etc.);
• influencing studies and reviews on the implementation of EU forest policy today and planned initiatives for the future;
• Cooperation between the EU forest sector and related organizations in the implementation of forest policy.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

As a result of evaluation, it is important that the student's attendance is over 85% of all lectures.
In the study course, students' knowledge assessment takes in 3 parts, i.e. during the semester there are:
•complete a theoretical test on the topics taught in the course, where oral or written answers are successful, if at least 40% of the questions are answered correctly;
•prepare a report in accordance with the MF methodological regulations in the development of the final thesis and defend it in the form of a presentation;
•a work (exam) must be written where the written answers are successful if at least 40% of all tasks have been solved correctly. The final grade consists of a weighted average grade (on a 10-point scale) – from a visit (10%), a tests (20%), a report (45%) and an exam (25%).

Compulsory reading

• Developing effective forest policy. FAO Forestry Paper 161, 2010. 210 p.
• Study on progress in implementing the EU Forest Strategy - Evaluation Study182, European Forest Institute, 2018. 182 p.
• FOREST EUROPE 2015. State of Europe’s Forests 2015., 314 p., [skatīts 18.02.2021] Pieejams: https://efi.int/sites/default/files/files/publication-bank/2018/Climate_Smart_Forestry_in_Europe.pdf
• Pülzl H., Hogl K., Kleinschmit D., Wydra, Bas Arts D., Mayer P., Palahí M., Winkel G. and Wolfslehner B (editors). European forest governance issues at stake and the way forward, EFI, 2013., 102 p. ISNN 978-952-5980-02-8
• Nabuurs, G.J., Delacote, P., Ellison, D., Hanewinkel, M., Lindner, M., Nesbit, M., Ollikainen, M. and Savaresi, A. 2015. A new role for forests and the forest sector in the EU post-2020 climate targets. From Science to Policy 2. European Forest Institute.
• Hetemäki, L., Hanewinkel, M., Muys, B., Ollikainen, M., Palahí, M. and Trasobares, A. Leading the way to a European circular bioeconomy strategy. From Science to Policy, European Forest Institute. 2017, 52 p. ISSN 2343-1237 (online)

Further reading

• Krott M. Forest Policy Analysis. [tiešsaiste]. Dordrecht, Springer, 2005. 323 p. [skatīts 22.02.2021.]. Pieejams: http://www.untag-smd.ac.id/files/Perpustakaan_Digital_2/POLICY%20ANALYSIS%20Forest%20policy%20analysis.pdf.
• Tuherms H. Eiropas valstu meža politika. Lekciju konspekti Meža fakultātes maģistrantiem. Jelgava: LLU, 2007. 54 lpp.
• McDermott C.L., O’Carroll A., Wood P. International Forest Policy – the instruments, agreements and processes that shape it. Department of Economic and Social Affairs United Nations Forum on Forests Secretariat 2007. 139 p.

Periodicals and other sources

• Laikraksts „Dienas Bizness” ISSN 1407-2041 Žurnāls „Baltijas koks” ISSN 1407-6667
• Forest Product Sociaty. ISSN 0015-7473
• Holz-Zentralblatt. ISSN 0018-3792
• Starptautiskais žurnāls "Forest Policy and Economics": [tiešsaiste]. ISSN 1389-9341.
• Pieejams LLU tīklā ScienceDirect datubāzē: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/13899341
• LLU raksti (Proceedings of LAU); ISSN 1407-4427
• Straptautiskais zinātnisko rakstu krājums "Baltic Forestry" ISSN 1392-1355
• Forest Policy and Economics ISSN 1389-9341

Notes

The study course is included in the master level program Wood Materials and Technology as specialization in the one directions realized by Forest Faculty