Course code MežZ5001
Credit points 3
Forest Geography
Total Hours in Course81
Number of hours for lectures16
Number of hours for seminars and practical classes16
Independent study hours49
Date of course confirmation08.11.2011
Responsible UnitInstitute of Forest Management
Course developer
Mežsaimniecības institūts
Viesturs Šulcs
Dr. biol.
Course abstract
The concept of plant geographic. Flora and vegetation. The kingdoms of Flora. The classification of world biomes. Areas of tundra, northern coniferous forest, temperate forests, rain forests, mangroves, swamps, grasslands, savanna and deserts. The landscape of territory Latvia. The geographical zones and forests of Latvia.
Learning outcomes and their assessment
Knowledge about the versatility of world forests, their dimensional and floristic structure and geographical occurrence depending on ecological conditions, dry land biomes and flora kingdoms, development of Latvian forests in post-ice age, structure and occurrence of forests in landscape areas. Skills to evaluate Latvian forests from the forest industry and landscape aspects in the context of world forests; to classify them depending on the floristic contents and structure. Competence to evaluate the significance of the mosaic structure of Latvian forests, their multi functionality; to forecast the development of the forest and its rational usage in the changing environment resulting from global warming and anthropogenic effects.
Compulsory reading
1. Priedītis N. Augu ģeogrāfija un daudzveidība. Rīga: Apgāds Zvaigzne ABC. 2009. 176 lpp.
Further reading
1. Strods H. (zin. red. un sast.). Latvijas mežu vēsture līdz 1940. gadam. Rīga: WWF. 1999. 364. lpp.
2. Priedītis N. Augu dzīve. Rīga: Apgāds Zvaigzne ABC. 2008. 68 lpp.
Periodicals and other sources
1. Latvijas Veģetācija. Rīga: Latvijas Universitāte. ISSN 1407-3641.
2. Baltic Forestry. Kaunas : Lithuanian Forest Research Institute. ISSN 1392-1355.
3. Vides Vēstis. Rīga: Vides aizsardzības klubs. ISSN 1407-2939.