First year at Dresden University of Technology: Module 6

Forest ecosystems, silviculture and forest protection

 

Course objectives: (I) Analysis, evaluation and classification of tropical forest ecosystems; selection of silvicultural systems and supervision of their implementation. (II) In the optional compulsory part A assessment of advantages and disadvantages of silvicultural systems for tropical moist and dry forests and select according to local conditions. (III) In optional compulsory part B analysis of plant- herbivore-antagonist relationships, assessment of biotic risks and regulation possibilities for management of natural forests and integration of them in the management strategies.

 

Course contents: The ecosystem concept for silviculture including the natural distribution and classification of forest and woody plant formations as well as the zoological fundamentals in the tropics are introduced. Concerning selected plant genera and forest formations, life processes which are important for silviculture (growth, development, ecosystem functions and dynamics) are explained, and silvicultural stand analyses are dealt with. Typical silvicultural systems are presented. The module consists of a pre-compulsory section and two optional parts (A and B) for which a compulsory choice is required. In optional compulsory part A, potential silvicultural interventions, relating to tropical moist and dry forests, are discussed corresponding to the required forest functions and objectives. In optional compulsory part B, the relationships between plants and herbivores, as well as between herbivores and their antagonists are dealt with by considering their interrelationships with respect to population ecology and natural regulation.

 

Teaching and leaning methods: 2 hrs/wk Lecture, 1 hrs/wk Seminar, 0.5 hrs/wk Exercise, 0.5 hrs/wk Excursion

 

Examination: The credits are obtained, once the student has passed the module examination. The examination consists of a seminar paper (20 hours) and an oral examination (20 minutes).

 

Competences acquired: The student is able to analyse, evaluate and classify tropical forest ecosystems; to select silvicultural systems and supervise their implementation. From optional compulsory part A the student is able to assess the advantages and disadvantages of silvicultural systems for tropical moist and dry forests and to select them according to local conditions. At the end of the compulsory part B the student is able to analyse the plant- herbivore-antagonist relationships, to assess biotic risks and regulation possibilities for management of natural forests and to integrate them in the management strategies. Hence, the student is capable of implementing strategies of sustainable natural forest management.