First year at Dresden University of Technology: Module 7

Economics and management of forest resources

 

Course objectives: (I) Understanding of principles and methods of forest economics and independent application of these in the analysis of forestry practice and in the management of forest enterprises. (II) Mastering of the concepts of the inter-temporal efficiency and the allocation of collective goods. (III) Utilisation of economic instruments for the planning of forest production, the preparation of managerial decisions and the control of forest enterprise development in the tropics.

 

Course contents: Principles of forestry economics are explained by means of the “one-tree-model”, the “Faustmann-Pressler-Ohlin-theorem” as a criterion of inter-temporal efficient timber production and of the interest theory after I. Fischer. The analysis of forestry focuses on the development of timber production, the long-term timber supply, the land allocation and the provision of environmental goods. Concerning the management of enterprises, the course deals with strategic planning and forest management planning (inventory, control, medium-term planning) as well as the planning and controlling of forest management measures (regeneration, stand treatment, timber utilization). In the optional compulsory part A an economic analysis is conducted for the provision and production of environmental goods. Case studies from the tropics serve as an illustration of the theory and are the basis for exercises. In the optional compulsory part B, the development of a continuous forest inventory design as well as the structure of a GIS aided management information system are conveyed with reference to a management example from the tropics.

 

Teaching and leaning methods: 1.5 hrs/wk Lecture, 1.5 hrs/wk Seminar, 1.0 hrs/wk Exercise

 

Examination: The credits are obtained, once the module examination has been passed. The module examination is a written test (90 minutes).

 

Competences acquired: The student is able to apply principles and methods of forest economics. He or she can master the concepts of the inter-temporal efficiency and the allocation of collective goods. He or she is capable of utilizing economic instruments for the planning of forest production, the preparation of managerial decisions and the control of forest enterprise development in the tropics.