Course description
This course is suitable for graduates and mature students who are seeking to specialise in forestry, with an emphasis on its role in the environment. The degree allows students to select either “temperate” or “tropical” themes. It is modular in structure, and options for study include modules in Silviculture; Continuous cover forestry; World forest resources; Forest ecology; Forest products; Trees of the drier tropics; Agroforestry; Conservation biology; Countryside Management; Social issues; Economics and Policy; Management planning; Research planning and skills. Visits and field courses are included. Assessment is by written assignments and written and oral examination. The MSc is awarded after the examination of a dissertation.
This MSc programme has two parts.
Part 1 consists of eight taught
modules, including a research skills
module during which students write
the plan for their dissertation, and a
field study tour. Part 1 must be
completed successfully before
proceeding to Part 2. Most of the Part
1 modules are compulsory, though
there is often a choice of assessment
titles within modules. The taught part
of the course runs from late
September to early June.
Part 2 of the course runs from June to
September and students use this
period for the production of a
dissertation. The topic selected for
the dissertation will be agreed with
your nominated project supervisor
and could relate to virtually any
aspect of forestry that particularly
interests you
Ecological Sampling and Analysis
for Foresters develops the basic
numeracy and statistical skills
required to conduct ecological
research in a range of forested
ecosystems. The approach will be to
explore five different case studies
which use robust methodologies to
generate both parametric and
non-parametric data. This will form
the foundation for subsequent
subject-specific modules, and the
dissertation research.
Forest Ecology covers general
principles relevant across a wide range
of biomes, but primarily natural forests
with high biodiversity, that are
dominated by natural dynamic
processes. Its focus is on the methods
used to assess plant biodiversity, stand
structure and dynamics, and analyse
and interpret the resulting data. It is
designed as a specialist module for
which students will require knowledge
of plant population and community
ecology (from previous study or
preparatory reading).
World Forest Resources: Policy
and Management reviews the key
resource characteristics of the world’s
main forest types, the scale and
causes of deforestation and forest
degradation, the world market for
forest products, and the policy issues,
instruments and initiatives for
achieving sustainable forest
management. Guest lecturers are
invited to speak on issues of current
global concern.
Environmental Silviculture aims to
give a detailed introduction to
silviculture based on ecological
principles with particular emphasis
on continuous cover forestry (CCF)
and practical management methods.
The module covers the following
topics: differences between processes
in virgin forests and managed
forest; recent polices influencing
silvicultural activities; ecological
processes forming the basis of
environmental silviculture; tree
species and provenance selection;
mixed forest stands; stability;
silvicultural techniques. Students
will use spreadsheets specially
designed for applications in
environmental silviculture.
Tropical Silviculture and
Management introduces students
to the principal systems of tropical
forest management and silviculture,
and develops their understanding
of the factors influencing them.
It includes several case studies of
tropical forest management,
including: management for
protection of catchments and
biodiversity; management for
medicinal plants; reduced impact
logging; management of secondary
forests and restoration; participatory
forest management.
Forest Products provides a general
introduction to wood and nontimber
forest products (NTFPs). It is
intended for those with no previous
experience in the subject. It covers
the following topics: timber
harvesting systems; processing of
round wood; technologies of the
board and pulp and paper industries;
wood properties affecting timber
utilisation; classification of NTFPs and
their significance to people; case
studies of global NTFPs,
Forest Biometrics introduces basic
methods and conventions for
measuring trees and forest stands,
estimating basic forestry summary
characteristics, and assessing the
patterns of genetic diversity in forest
tree species. It covers the following
topics: individual tree variables,
forest stand / population variables
and biodiversity measures; adaptive
genetic diversity and provenance
tests; molecular methods for
estimating genetic diversity.
Natural Resource Economics and
Policy gives students with no
previous knowledge of formal
economics an introduction to the
basics of the subject as it applies to
natural resource decision-making.
It offers the opportunity to specialise
in a selection from several
professionally orientated submodules.
At the end of the module
participants should be capable of
undertaking simple economic
appraisals of land use options, and
be able to offer intelligent comment
on professional economic appraisals.
Field Course / Study Tour Details
of the course vary from year to year,
but it is always based on visits to
forests managed for multiple
purposes in both the public and
private sectors. Students meet forest
owners and managers, and are
encouraged to engage in discussion
with them.
Research Skills and GIS This
module includes a series of seminars
on the use of information sources,
experimental design and statistical
analysis, and practical classes on the
use of GIS (geographical information
systems). Students are also required
to prepare a research plan and for
the dissertation they will undertake
in Part 2 of the programme. The plan
is written in consultation with the
student’s supervisor, and includes a
literature review, a statement of
objectives and descriptions of the
methods to be used for data
collection and analysis.
