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Forest Resources Utilization

Course developers

Course abstract

The study course provides knowledge about forest wood and non-wood resources, their classification systems, evaluation and basic principles of their management and use. It creates an understanding of the possibilities of using various forest resources, products and services, and their environmental and social importance and role in Latvian economy.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

After completing the course, students will have: * knowledge of forest wood and non-wood resources, products and their evaluation possibilities; * skills to evaluate information for planning rational extraction and use of forest wood and non-wood resources; * understanding of the principles of sustainable management of forest wood and non-wood resources and the perspectives of its use in the national economy.

Course Content(Calendar)

1. Course content. Literature. General characteristics of forest resources in Latvia and in the world – 1h.
2. Classification systems of forest resources – 2h.
3. Forest resources in numbers, monitoring and evaluation methods - 3h.
4. Latest information on forest wood and non-wood resources (databases; projects; research; platforms, etc.) - 2h.
Practical works – 3h (on topics 1 – 4)
Independent study hours* – 16h.
Test 1 - Forest wood and non-wood resources - classification, monitoring, evaluation and assessment

5. Timber resources and possibilities of their use – 1h.
6. Logging residues and possibilities of their use – 1h.
7. Forest resources and energy sector (charcoal production; firewood; infrastructure growth; energy wood plantations) - 2h,
8. Chemical processing of forest resources - 1h.
9. Basic principles of forest wood and non-wood resource management planning. Legislative and regulatory requirements - 3h.
Practical works – 3h (on topics 5 – 9)
Independent study hours* – 12h.
Test 2- Forest resource management planning

10. Forest resources for food - 1h.
11. Forest resources for treatment, cosmetics and aesthetics - 1h.
12. Forest and recreation - 1h.
13. Use of other non-wood resources and forest ecosystem services - 2h.
14. Possibilities of future use and technologies of forest resources use - 1h.
15. Sustainable harvesting of forest resources towards forest policy and economic development - 2h.
Practical works – 3h (on topics 10 – 15)
Independent study hours* – 20h.
Test 3- Planning the sustainable use of forest resources.
* independent literature studies and design of practical works and homework on the topics acquired in full-time classes

Requirements for awarding credit points

The exam consists of a written part and an oral part on theoretical issues and topics acquired in practical work.

By the time of the exam, all tests and practical works must be credited and all independent study work and homework must be completed.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

The independent works means to develop/ complete the started practical work in detail, preparing the assigned homework, additionally getting acquainted with a more detailed presentation of the issues covered in the lessons and preparing presentations or materials for discussions. All works must be designed and submitted within the specified deadlines, in accordance with the instructions given in lectures and practical classes.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

During the semester, 3 written tests must be taken related to the topics covered in the lectures, the material of practical work, as well as the material to be studied independently.

Assessment of knowledge and skills takes place on a 10-point scale. The exam may not be taken if the grade of each test and independent work is 7 and higher. The cumulative assessment consists of the study course tests, assessment of practical work and assessment of activities during classes (tests - 60%; practical work - 30% and activities - 10% of the total assessment).

Before the exam, all tests and practical assignments (each grade is 4 or higher), as well as homework must be done. The exam mark is a course grade mark. If the exam mark is unsuccessful, the overall course grade is also unsuccessful.

Delayed and non-credited practical works must be developed in accordance with the procedures and during the admission set by the lecturer. One opportunity for oral answer or transcription of unsuccessful tests is given at the time indicated by the lecturer.

Compulsory reading

1. Kas jāzina meža īpašniekam. LVMI Silava, 2017. http://www.silava.lv/23/section.aspx/View/180
2. Meža biomasa – jauni produkti un tehnoloģijas. Pētījuma atskaite, RTU & VASSI, 2016. 212 lpp. https://www.lvm.lv/petijumi-un-publikacijas/petijums-meza-biomasa-jauni-produkti-un-tehnologijas
3. Meža enciklopēdija. (Jānis Broks). Zelta Grauds, 2003. 367 lpp.
4. Mežsaimniecības ietekme uz meža un saistīto ekosistēmu pakalpojumiem. Projekta pārskats. LVMI “Silava”, 2017. 296 lpp. https://www.lvm.lv/petijumi-un-publikacijas/mezsaimniecibas-ietekme-uz-meza-un-saistito-ekosistemu-pakalpojumiem-2017
5. Saliņš Z. Meža izmantošana Latvijā - vēsture, stāvoklis, perspektīvas. Jelgava: LLU Meža izmantošanas katedra, 1999. 270 lpp.
6. Saliņš Z. Mežs - Latvijas nacionālā bagātība. Jelgava: Autora izd., 2002. 248 lpp.

Further reading

1. Sorrenti, S. 2017. Non-wood forest products in international statistical systems. Non-wood Forest Products Series no. 22. Rome, FAO. http://www.fao.org/3/a-i6731e.pdf
2. Wolfslehner, B., Prokofieva, I. and Mavsar, R. (editors). 2019. Non-wood forest products in Europe: Seeing the forest around the trees. What Science Can Tell Us 10. European Forest Institute. ISBN 978-952-5980-78-3 (pdf )
3. 2ND international non wood forest product symposium. http://foris.fao.org/static/nwfp/II_International_NWFPs_Symposium-ABSTRACTS.pdf

Periodicals and other sources

1.Baltijas Koks, ISSN 1407-6667.
2.Meža Avīze, ISSN 1407-6187.
http://www.fao.org/forestry/nwfp/6388/en/
https://star-tree.eu/
www.likumi.lv
www.silava.lv

Notes

The study course is included in the compulsory part of full-time and part-time studies of the professional higher education bachelor study program “Forest Engineer” of the Faculty of Forestry.