Course code MežZ4084

Credit points 3

Management of Urban Forests

Total Hours in Course81

Number of hours for lectures24

Number of hours for seminars and practical classes8

Independent study hours49

Date of course confirmation16.03.2021

Responsible UnitInstitute of Forest Management

Course developers

author prof.

Inga Straupe

Dr. silv.

author reserch

Dagnis Dubrovskis

Dr. silv.

Prior knowledge

Biol1012, Forest Botany

Biol2002, Dendrology

MežZ2011, Forest Science

MežZ2040, Landscape Design

MežZ3068, Intoduction to Forestry

MežZ3069, Practical Silviculture I

VidZ3006, Ecology and Environmental Protection

Course abstract

Knowledge – to characterize ecological, social and economic importance of urban forests, their structure, functions and dynamics, the anthropogenic impact specifity, management types and technologies; the principles of integrated management and planning methods; 1st and 3rd workshop.
Skills - to evaluate urban forest vegetation, to identify and formulate appropriate forest ecosystem protection and management issues, assess the ecological, economic and social value of individual trees and stands 2nd and 4th workshop.
Competence – to solve independently problems related to research, planning and sustainable management of urban forest resources, sustainable management planning1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th workshops.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

• Knowledge – to characterize ecological, social and economic importance of urban forests, their structure, functions and dynamics, the anthropogenic impact specifity, management types and technologies;
• Skills - to evaluate urban forest vegetation, to identify and formulate appropriate forest ecosystem protection and management issues;
• Competence – to solve independently problems related to research, planning and sustainable management of urban forest resources.

Course Content(Calendar)

1 City – social-ecological system. 2 h
2 The role of urban forest un urban environment. 2 h
3 The functions of urban forest ecosystem services. 2 h
4 The antropogenic impact on urban forests. 1st workshop. 2 h
5 The urban forest and recreation. 2 h
6 The vegetation of urban forests. 2 h
7 The assessment of urban forests’ vegetation. 2 h
8 The assessment of urban forests’ landscape. 2nd workshop. 2 h
9 The concept of green infrastructure in urban environment. 2 h
10 The planning of urban forest. 2 h
11 The economical role of urban forest. 2 h
12 The principles of urban forest management in the world. 3rd workshop. 2 h
13 The principles of urban forest management in Latvia. 2 h
14 The calculation of annual felling volumes in urban forests. 2 h
15 The technologies of urban forest management. 2 h
16 The technologies of urban forest management. 4th workshop. 2 h

Requirements for awarding credit points

1st workshop. Group work “The planning of urban greenings to reduce the impact of environmental factors”’ – preparation, presentation and discussion. 2nd workshop. Individual task “The inventory, classification and assessment of urban green infrastructure’s objects” - preparation, presentation and discussion. 3rd workshop. Group work “Specialities for the management of urban forests“- Preparation, presentation and discussion.
4th workshop. Group work “Preparation of a park management plan”.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

The assessment of the study course is based on the cumulative assessment of the workshops. In the case of refinement of the mark, the student answers additional questions.

Compulsory reading

1. Miller R.W. Urban forestry: planning and managing urban greenspaces. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice Hall, 1988. 404 p. ISBN 0139396209
2. Knuth L. Legal and institutional aspects of urban and peri-urban forestry and greening. Rome : Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2005. 47 p. ISBN 9251054320.
3. Zigmunde D., Ņitavska N. Zaļās pilsētvides plānošana [elektroniskais resurss]: rokasgrāmata. Jelgava: Zemgales Plānošanas reģions, 2013. 115 p. CD-ROM.

4. Greening the City : Urban Landscapes in the Twentieth Century. E-grāmata pieejama EBSCO e-book datubāzē LLU tīklā un ar LLU IS lietotājkontu http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e000xww&AN=396165&site=ehost-live&scope=site

Further reading

1. Jankovska, I., Straupe, I., Brumelis, G., Donis, J., Kupfere, L. Urban forests of Riga, Latvia - pressures, naturalness, attitudes and management. Baltic Forestry, No.20 (2), 2014, p. 342-351
2. Jankovska I. Rīgas pilsētas mežu apsaimniekošanas problemātika un risinājumi: promocijas darba kopsavilkums. Jelgava: LLU, 2013. 46 lpp. ISBN 9789984861524 (e-versija)
3. Тюльпанов Н. М Лесопарковое хозяйство [tiešsaiste] (уч. пособие для техникумов). Ленинград: Стройиздат, 1975. 159 с. [Skatīts 23.03.2017.]. Pieejams: 1975. http://bookree.org/reader?file=545009&pg=2

Periodicals and other sources

1. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening. ISSN 1618-8667. https://www.journals.elsevier.com/urban-forestry-and-urban-greening
2. Landscape and Urban Planning. ISSN 0169-2046. https://www.journals.elsevier.com/landscape-and-urban-planning
3. Journal of Environmental Management. ISSN: 0301-4797. https://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-environmental-management