Overview

The main aim of this module is to enable students to develop an understanding of the physical, biological, economic, and sociological principles and processes that underpin woodland management and conservation. The module will teach students to apply these principles in the sustainable management of trees and woodland for multiple goods and ecosystem services (including, carbon accumulation; conservation; landscape; production of wood and non-wood forest products; protection of soil and water resources; and recreation). The module will cover the key considerations associated with woodland expansion and restoration. Finally, it will provide an understanding of the social and environmental contexts in which woodland management is practised and the consequences of this for society and the environment.

This is a CORE module for the Woodland Management and Conservation programme and is unique to that programme.

The course consists of lectures covering topics such as: Introduction to Woodlands (& vegetation communities); Ancient Woodland; Veteran Trees; Ancient Woodland Indicators/Condition Assessment; Identification of Important Understory Species; Trees outside woodland/Agroforestry; Trees and Fungi;

How people and nature have shaped landscapes; Woodland Creation; Woodland Restoration; Rewilding

Structural complexity of woodlands; Riparian Management; Game and wildlife management

Stakeholder engagement, volunteer management; fundraising and PES mechanisms; Wood and Woodland products (NTFPs); Social benefits of woodlands; Community Forests/Forest Schools; Regulating functions of woodland; Resilience; Building resilient woodlands (habitat networks); Managing Trade-offs; Woodland management outside the UK

Assessment Strategy

-threshold (D; 40-49%) -Shows a basic knowledge of without major omissions or misunderstanding and in sufficient depth to form a coherent answer

-good (C; 60-69%)-Shows an intermediate level of understanding, competence and skill with some evidence of additional reading

-excellent (A; 70+%) -Shows and advanced and in-depth knowledge with extensive use of primary and current literature resources

Learning Outcomes

• Critically discuss the principles and processes associated with the establishment and maintenance of trees and woodland

• Describe the complex set of drivers that feed into woodland expansion and contraction across scales and the implications of this for ecosystem services and resilience thinking.

• Differentiate between different stakeholder needs for managing and utilising different types of woodland systems. This includes understanding of the different products associated with different benefits associated with different types of woodland management

• Identify the techniques used to assess the physical, biological, economic, and sociological processes that underpin woodland systems