Module DDL-4004:
Agroforestry Systems and Practices

Module Facts

Run by School of Natural Sciences

20.000 Credits or 10.000 ECTS Credits

Semester 1

Organiser: Dr Eefke Mollee

Overall aims and purpose

This module is core for MSc Agroforestry & Food Security (residential and part-time) and is suitable both for those interested in temperate and tropical agroforestry. It introduces the concepts behind this land use system and ways in which it is practiced around the world. Topics covered are the principles of ecological interactions, agroforestry practices across the world, and the social, economic and ecosystem benefits. It is also available to students on the MSc Forestry and MSc Tropical Forestry programmes.

Course content

Agroforestry classification

Biophysical principles and interactions

Agroforestry and livelihood systems

Food security & environmental resilience

Agricultural components of agroforestry systems

Temperate and tropical agroforestry systems

Agroforestry and conservation

Assessment Criteria

threshold

Be able to demonstrate knowledge of, with few factual errors, global agroforestry systems and how their constituent components (including humans) interact and compete. Be able to develop simple working models of ecological interactions. Be able to collate and synthesise material for a case study and present it, orally or in written form, to a descriptive level.

good

In addition to above, demonstrate an ability to think critically about the roles of agroforestry in sustainable land use and rural livelihoods.

excellent

Achieve an A grade overall for the module. In addition to the above, be able to present well reasoned arguments for and against particular approaches to sustainable land use where agroforestry might be appropriate. Present clear evidence of wide reading around the subject and an ability to analyse and synthesise arguments and information.

Learning outcomes

  1. Be able to analyse and classify agroforestry practices based upon their components and their various spatial and temporal arrangements

  2. Be able to evaluate the key ecological interactions between trees and other components in agroecosystems.

  3. Be able to demonstrate an understanding of how agroforestry practices can contribute to ecosystem service provision at multiple scales of analysis.

  4. Be able to recognise the scope and limitations of agroforestry practices taking into account local ecological and socio-economic conditions.

Assessment Methods

Type Name Description Weight
ESSAY Critical Review 20.00
COURSEWORK Livelihood and Land use (LLU) diagram 30.00
REPORT Practitioner Activity: Agroforestry Design 50.00

Teaching and Learning Strategy

Hours
Tutorial

This module has two 2-hour scheduled tutorials with the module that are part of assessed assignments, the critical review paper and the livelihood and land use diagram.

 6
Fieldwork

Originally for residential students, a field visit to agroforestry sites of interest in the vicinity of Bangor, while distant learning students are encouraged to undertake a day's field visit, and share their experiences via the discussion forum hosted on the Blackboard site. However due to current COVID-19 conditions instead a seminar will be organised where different cases from various parts of the world are presented and discussed.

 6
Private study

Personal study to support material delivered in lectures, field site visits and seminars.

 152
Lecture

Lectures delivered face-to-face for residential students and on-line via Panopto/Collaborate or Teams for distance learning students. Recordings will also be available via Blackboard afterwards. Sessions will be interactive and form a combination of classical lectures and discussion groups.

 36

Transferable skills

  • Literacy - Proficiency in reading and writing through a variety of media
  • Numeracy - Proficiency in using numbers at appropriate levels of accuracy
  • Computer Literacy - Proficiency in using a varied range of computer software
  • Self-Management - Able to work unsupervised in an efficient, punctual and structured manner. To examine the outcomes of tasks and events, and judge levels of quality and importance
  • Exploring - Able to investigate, research and consider alternatives
  • Information retrieval - Able to access different and multiple sources of information
  • Inter-personal - Able to question, actively listen, examine given answers and interact sensitevely with others
  • Critical analysis & Problem Solving - Able to deconstruct and analyse problems or complex situations. To find solutions to problems through analyses and exploration of all possibilities using appropriate methods, rescources and creativity.
  • Presentation - Able to clearly present information and explanations to an audience. Through the written or oral mode of communication accurately and concisely.
  • Argument - Able to put forward, debate and justify an opinion or a course of action, with an individual or in a wider group setting
  • Self-awareness & Reflectivity - Having an awareness of your own strengths, weaknesses, aims and objectives. Able to regularly review, evaluate and reflect upon the performance of yourself and others

Subject specific skills

  • Recognize and apply appropriate theories and concepts from a range of disciplines.
  • Appreciate the interdisciplinary and/or reciprocal nature of relationships within the subject area.
  • Understand the provisional nature of information and appreciate competing and alternative explanations.
  • Appreciation of the complexity and diversity of processes through the study of relevant systems.
  • Apply subject knowledge to the understanding and addressing of problems.
  • Recognize the moral, ethical and social issues relating to the subject.
  • Consider issues from a range of interdisciplinary perspectives.
  • Prepare effective maps, diagrams and visualizations.

Resources

Courses including this module

Compulsory in courses:

Optional in courses: