Overview

The module will include a mixture of lectues, practicals and field visits arond the following themes: Woodland Inventory (both botanical and economic); The role of farm woodlands; Regulating functions of woodland systems, Riparian woodlands, Carbon capture associated with different forms of woodland, Resilience and restoration; The role of woodlands in conservation; Management of trees in the rural landscape; woodland products; soil erosion and woodlands; tree hydrology and woodlands as socio-ecological systems.

Assessment Strategy

-threshold -Grade D- to D+. Students will have an basic understanding of the ecological structures, relationships and processes the underpin the ecosystem functions present in woodland systems based primarily on lecture content. They will have limited ability to demonstrate how different forms of woodland management feed into different outcomes both for landowners and society and can identify mensuration techniques. The will be able to conduct basic evaluation of the relative merits of different forms of woodland management -good -Grade C--B+. Students will have an good comprehension of the ecological structures, relationships and processes the underpin the ecosystem functions present in woodland systems. They will be aware of how different forms of woodland management feed into different outcomes both for landowners and society and can confidentally identify how these might be measured. Their reading around the subject area will enable them to evaluate the relative merits of different forms of management in response to external drivers and challenges. -excellent -Grade A- and above. Students will have an comprehensive overview of the ecological structures, relationships and processes the underpin the ecosystem functions present in woodland systems. They will be able to differentiate between various forms of woodland management and be able to evaluate how these practices feed into different outcomes both for landowners and society. In addition they will be able to identiify and critique different ways to measure the effectivenmess of these outcomes. Their reading around the subject area will enable them to critically evaluate their relative merits of different forms of woodland management and confidentally discuss future management options and opportunities in response to external drivers and challenges.

Learning Outcomes

• Analyse and contrast of the principles and processes associated with different forms of sustainable management of trees and woodland in a range of rural contexts

• Differentiate between distinct stakeholder needs for managing and utilising different types of woodland system. This includes how to assess and manage different products associated with a range of woodland systems (such as fuelwood and other non timber forest products; but also cultural aspects)

• Evaluate and assess the complex set of drivers that feed into woodland expansion, restoration and contraction and the implications of this.

• Utilise and evaluate the techniques used to assess the physical, biological and economic processes that underpin woodland systems and feed into associated management strategies