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Basics of Forestry

Course developers

Course abstract

The aim of the study course is to get an idea of the basic principles of forest management and use, databases and registers.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

Knowledge of the building elements and characteristics of forest ecosystems.
Skills to focus on forestry terminology by understanding the forest management cycle.
Competence to understand the assessment of forests and to choose the most appropriate types of forest use, as well as to plan the forest-friendly measures to be taken by the legislation of the Republic of Latvia.
Assessing the performance of students' work (practical jobs and tests) assessed the ability to apply theoretical knowledge, general and specific skills, and skills by creating a professional attitude.

Course Content(Calendar)

Full-time studies:
1. The forest, as the structure of the ecosystem, its elements (lectures 2h)
2. Forest typology (lectures 2h)
3. Forest inventory, terms, data updating (lectures 6h, practical work 2h)
4. Forest management cycle, normative acts (lectures 4h).
1. Test 1h
5. Types of reforestation, soil preparation, selection of tree species (lectures 2h)
6. Planting material used for reforestation (lectures 2h)
7. Natural regeneration, facilitation of natural regeneration (lectures 4h)
8. Determining the forest stand cross-sectional area, requirements of the normative acts (lectures 4h, practical work 4h)
9. Risks of forest growing, possibilities of their reduction (lectures 2h)
2. Test 1h
10. Coppice maintenance, thinning fellings (lectures 2h)
11. Selection, planning, preparation, surveying, evaluation of the main types of felling (clear-felling, selection felling) (lectures 6h, practical work 4h)
12. Timber preparation, used equipment, data acquisition, data export (lectures 6h, practical work 6h)
13. Nature protection requirements in forest management (lectures 2h)
14. Requirements of normative acts in forest management, related institutions and their requirements (lectures 2h)
15. Timber sales, types, risks, documentation, related taxes (lectures 2h)
3. Test 1h

Part-time studies:
All topics specified for full-time studies are implemented, but the number of contact hours is 1/2 of the specified number of hours.

Requirements for awarding credit points

Must have completed all practical works and passed 3 tests. Successfully passed the exam.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

Independent preparation for knowledge control by studying special literature and using the study resources available in the e-learning environment included in the study course.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

1. All practical work must be developed and presented,
2. All three tests must be passed successfully (the test consists of 2 theory questions and 1 practical task, the calculation of which is learned during the practical work),
3. Students who have successfully passed the tests with a mark 7 or above, are exempted from taking the exam,
4. The exam consists of 2 theory questions and 1 practical task.

Compulsory reading

1. Sarmulis Z., Saveļjevs A. Meža darbi un tehnoloģijas. Mācību līdzeklis. 2015. 175 lpp. Pieejams: https://www.mf.llu.lv/sites/mf/files/files/lapas/Meza%20darbi%20un%20tehnologijas28.pdf
2. Meža tipoloģija. I. Liepa u.c. Jelgava: Studentu biedrība Šalkone, 2014. 118 lpp. Pieejams: http://www.mf.llu.lv/sites/mf/files/files/articles/Meza_tipologija.pdf
3. Mežierīcība Latvijā. Sast. A.Zviedre. Rīga: V.elements, 2007. 230 lpp.

Further reading

1. Līpiņš L., Liepa I. Apaļo kokmateriālu uzmērīšana. LLU MF. Jelgava, 2007. 234 lpp.
2. Pēšons P.Ē. Mežizstrādes darbi komandā. 1. un 2. daļa. Tulkojums Staņa K. CO Print EU. 2012. 253 lpp.
3. Zālītis P. Mežkopības priekšnosacījumi. Rīga: LVMI "Silava": Et cetera, 2006. 219 lpp.

Periodicals and other sources

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

Notes

For professional higher education bachelor study program “Geoinformatics and Remote Sensing” in full-time and part-time studies