Overview

This module develops an understanding of the principles and practice of silviculture, the place of silviculture in the sustainable cultivation of trees, and the role that silviculture plays in delivering ecosystem services from trees, woodlands and forests. The module is arranged broadly in three parts. Part one of the module begins with a brief review of the history of silviculture and its role in the sustainable management of tree, woodland and forest resources. We will look at some of the basic botany of tree growth, and consider the role that genetics plays in shaping species’ silvicultural characteristics and responses to silvicultural interventions. Silviculture can be thought of as applied forest ecology and to a large extent, productivity is driven by environmental conditions, particularly the edaphic (soil) environment, and we will look at how these site conditions influence the choice of species to plant. We will look at silvicultural systems and the way in which individual trees interact with others and the ecosystem as a whole. In part two of the module, we will look at silvicultural practices from regeneration through to harvesting considering examples from temperate and tropic regions. We will consider the range forest operations, from establishment, through thinning and tending to harvesting, in terms of their environmental, economic and disease-risk impacts. In part three of the module, we will look in more depth at complex silvicultural systems and consider how the choice of system is influenced by the local environmental context as well as by management objectives. Finally, we will consider ways in which we might use all the above knowledge to transform woodlands or forests, bringing them into productive management, or restoring them to a specific desired state.

The module is arranged in two parts. Part one of the module begins with a brief review of the history of silviculture and its role in the sustainable management of tree, woodland and forest resources. We will look at some of the basic botany of tree growth and consider the role that genetics plays in shaping species’ silvicultural characteristics and responses to silvicultural interventions. Silviculture is best thought of as applied forest ecology so we will look at how site conditions determine productivity and influence the choice of species to plant and we will consider the ways in which individual trees interact with others to form the ecosystem as a whole. We will cover silvicultural practices from establishment, through thinning and tending to harvesting, considering examples from temperate and tropical regions, and we will consider how these operations are combines in silvicultural systems

In part two of the module, we will consider silviculture through the lenses of environmental protection, economics, and plant health, and a set of student-led seminars will consider the ways in which silvicultural practices impact and are impacted by these.

Assessment Strategy

-threshold -(C) •show a basic understanding of the variation in silvicultural characteristics among and within species and the physical, chemical and biological properties of soils and explain why these are important when matching species to site. •be able to describe the silvicultural practices used in trees, woodlands and forests, and to explain why and where they are used currently.•be able to describe a variety of silvicultural systems and explain why and where they are used currently. •be able to identify basic silvicultural actions for achieving a set management objective and delivering a specific ecosystem service. -good -(B) •show a thorough understanding of the variation in silvicultural characteristics among and within species and the physical, chemical and biological properties of soils and be able to evaluate the importance of these when matching species to site. •be able to describe in detail the silvicultural practices used in trees, woodlands and forests, and be able to explain and evaluate their use in achieving management objectives in specific situations now and in the future.•be able to describe a variety of silvicultural systems, give examples of their use, explain their application in current situations and suggest how they might be used in future scenarios. •be able to identify detailed and workable silvicultural actions for achieving set management objectives and delivering specific ecosystem services, now and in the future. -excellent -(A) •show a comprehensive understanding of the variation in silvicultural characteristics among and within species and the physical, chemical and biological properties of soils and be able to critically evaluate the importance of these when matching species to site.•be able to describe in detail the silvicultural practices used in trees, woodlands and forests, and be able to explain and evaluate their use in achieving management objectives in a variety of situations now and in the future.•be able to describe in detail a variety of silvicultural systems, give examples of their use, critically discuss their application in current situations and suggest how they might be used in future scenarios.•be able to identify detailed and workable silvicultural actions for achieving a balanced set of management objectives and delivering multiple ecosystem services, now and in the future.

Learning Outcomes

• Identify specific silvicultural actions that favour productivity, yield or resilience outcomes from specific woodland situations now and in the future.

• Show a critical understanding of a variety silvicultural practices, understand how these practices may be viewed through environmental, economic and plant health lenses, and critically evaluate the necessary trade-offs between these perspectives in real world settings.

• Show a critical understanding of among and within-species variation in silvicultural characteristics, the characteristics of sites, and the relevance of these to the process of matching species to site.

• Show a critical understanding of the concept of silvicultural systems and evaluate the use and relative merits of a variety of these.