FORE0001-2 : Forests and forest ecosystems

Study Programmes 2015-2016

FORE0001-2

Forests and forest ecosystems

Duration :

24h Th

Number of credits :

Bachelor in bioengineering		2

Lecturer :

Hugues Claessens, Jean-Louis Doucet

Coordinator :

Hugues Claessens

Language(s) of instruction :

French language

Organisation and examination :

Teaching in the second semester

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite :

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Course contents :

Introduction : forests in the world : a worldwide challenge Production of ecosystemic services (FAO data, Carbon, biodiversity, development tool,...) Long term and sustainable management
The forest ecosystem Description (tree, stand, soil, biodiversity)
Forest classification Forest dynamics (forest succession, forest cycle, metaclimax, tropical forests origin and evolution) Ecosystemic services
Forest management : from exploitation to sustainable management Study case of Europe Study case of tropical forests Forest Management
Silviculture (concepts and technics) Goals Plantation silviculture Near Nature Silviculture Low Impact Harvesting

Learning outcomes of the course :

The students will acquire a comprehensive approach of the importance of the forest in the world, in terms of space and ecosystemic services provider.
They will understand the functioning of the forest ecosystem as a basis of its sustainable management and especially of the main concepts and technics of silviculture for sustainable wood production.
They will be able to get a critical and objective point of view on the different management ways (deforestation, industrial plantations, sustainable silviculture,...) of the world

Prerequisite knowledge and skills :

Basis in ecology and soil science

Planned learning activities and teaching methods :

12 lessons (24 hours) - 8 lessons ex-cathedra - 4 conferences with an invited speaker on actuality subjects

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :

face-to-face