Second year at Dresden University of Technology: Module 3

Urban tree management in the tropics

Trees in urban and street habitats of tropical regions are explained. The course deals with inventory methods, planning methods, governance, budgeting and implementation of the plants for the urban construction management. Particular importance is attached to the differentiation through the levels starting from village up to mega-city.

In the optional compulsory part A: the focus of the specialization is on the functions, services and utilization of urban forests, parks and trees. Environmentally relevant, cultural, social and social hygienic effects, the utilization and application of the products connected with it such as leaf litter, seeds, branchwood, stemwood, treestumps and other product lines as well as local institutional networks of governance.

The optional compulsory part B is concerned with tree care in towns and parks: Methods of tree assessment (vitality), diagnosis (visual symptoms), tree care; important pests, climbing plants and epiphytes, as well as their effects on the trees (growth inhibition, wood decay etc.); methods and equipment for determination of stem and root damage, wound reactions, crown/root interactions; wood increment (annual rings) as an indicator of productivity; the individual life history; valuation of the single tree; obligations for safety precaution including legal aspects; pruning, harvesting, topping as well as transplanting of large trees. The demonstration is through case studies in the area of Dresden; aspects of the science transfer in tropical regions are jointly elaborated.

Goals of qualification: The students have knowledge of the importance of trees and woody plants in urban landscapes, of problems of their integration at various levels starting from village to megacity. They are able to control and evaluate urban tree management in tropical regions, to control it during the implementation phase and to evaluate it. They can plan green spaces in tropical towns and control their sustainable management.

Examination: The module examination consists of a seminar paper (15 hours) and the oral examination performance (20 minutes).