Sustainable management of tropical forests

Duration

36h Th

Number of credits

Lecturer

Jean-Louis Doucet

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the second semester

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

Tropical forests are home to an unique biodiversity, are important carbon sinks and provide a variety of products (mainly timber) essential to the development and the survival of local populations (non-timber forest products, game, medicines, etc.. ). The course objective is to provide management techniques combining all these aspects. Mainly focused on the African continent, it is divided into 7 chapters:
1. Major climates and vegetation units in the tropics.
2. Centers of endemism in Africa.
3. Ecology of moist tropical forest tree species.
4. Overview of African wildlife.
5. Human impacts on tropical forests.
6. Management plans in moist forests.
7. Reduced impact logging techniques.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

After completing the course the student is expected to be able : 1. To identify vegetation types by using botanical surveys. 2. To evaluate logging impacts. 3. To organise multipurpose inventories. 4. To implement game management plans. 5. To elaborate management plans for logging concessions. 6. To suggest reduced impact-logging techniques. 7. To integrate social aspects in management plans. 8. To analyze films and vulgarization papers on the subject.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

This course is based on lectures delivered in a modular way (corresponding to chapters) and supplemented with contradictory discussions, films and external interventions (forestry professionals, forest managers, etc.).. Each course is preceded by a brief review of the previous lecture with a session of questions - answers.

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

Face-to-face

Recommended or required readings

Reading refences listed below is recommended:
AGYEMAN, V.K., SWAINE, M. D., THOMPSON J. 1999. Responses of tropical forest tree seedlings to irradiance and the derivation of a light response index. Journal of ecology 87, 815-827.
Biwolé, A. B., Daïnou, K., Fayolle, A., Hardy, O. J., Brostaux, Y., Coste, S., Delion, S., Betti, J. L., & Doucet, J.-L. (2015). Light Response of Seedlings of a Central African Timber Tree Species, Lophira alata (Ochnaceae), and the Definition of Light Requirements. Biotropica, 47(6), 681-688. http://hdl.handle.net/2268/193382  Bourland, N, Kouadio, Y. L, Lejeune, P, Sonké, B, Philippart, J, Daïnou, K, Fétéké, F. R, & Doucet, J.-L. (2012). Ecology of Pericopsis elata (Fabaceae), a Timber Species Considered as Endangered, in Southeastern Cameroon. Biotropica, 44(6), 840-847. 
http://hdl.handle.net/2268/109867

DAINOU K., BAUDUIN A., BOURLAND N., GILLET J.-F., FETEKE F., & DOUCET J.-L. (2011). Soil seed bank characteristics in Cameroonian rainforests and implications for post-logging recovery. Ecological Engineering 37, 1499-1506.
http://hdl.handle.net/2268/94917
DOUCET J-L., DISSAKI A., MENGOME A., ISSEMBE Y., DAINOU K., GILLET J-F., KOUADIO Y. L., LAPORTE J., 2007. Dynamique des peuplements forestiers d'Afrique Centrale. Module de formation ATIBT, Paris, 134 p.
http://hdl.handle.net/2268/22468
Fayolle, A., Picard, N., Doucet, J.-L., Swaine, M., Bayol, N., Bénédet, F., & Gourlet-Fleury, S. (2014). A new insight in the structure, composition and functioning of central African moist forests. Forest Ecology & Management, (329), 195-205.
http://hdl.handle.net/2268/170553 
Mille, D, Louppe, D. 2015. Mémento du forestier tropical. Editions Quae.
http://www.quae.com/fr/r4730-memento-du-forestier-tropical.html
Morin, J., Fayolle, A., Favier, C., Bremond, L., Gourlet-Fleury, S., Bayol, N., Lejeune, P., Beeckman, H., & Doucet, J.-L. (2017, January 17). Present-day central African forest is a legacy of the 19th century human history. eLife, 20343.
http://hdl.handle.net/2268/205439
WHITE F. 1983. The vegetation of Africa. UNESCO, Paris, 356 p. 

Assessment methods and criteria

Written continuous evaluation (100%)

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

Contacts

DOUCET Jean-Louis (Professor)
Foresterie tropicale
Gestion des Ressources forestières
Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech
Passage des Déportés, 2
5030 Gembloux
+ 32 81 622343
jldoucet@ulg.ac.be

Adaptation of teaching commitments following the COVID-19 pandemic for the May-June 2020 session

Teaching methods implemented : distance-learning

Assessment subjects

All the topics discussed in the classroom. 

Assessment methods

Written report on an issue involving all competences and learning outcomes.

Contacts

Jean-Louis Doucet
jldoucet@uliege.be

Adaptation of teaching commitments following the COVID-19 pandemic for the Aug-Sept 2020 session

Assessment subjects

Same modalities as for the May-June 2020 session.

Assessment methods

Same modalities as for the May-June 2020 session.

Contacts

Jean-Louis Doucet: jldoucet@uliege.be

Items online