Overview

This module aims to familiarise foresters and those concerned with forest ecosystems with the forest and tree health problems which have caused and are likely to have significant environmental, social and economic impact on the world’s forests, whether in commercial plantation or ‘natural’ forest ecosystems. The range of organisms covered will give a general overview of the organisms causing problems including viruses, bacteria, fungi, fungal like organisms, arthropods and mammals and parasitic plants. The module will follow a classical disease triangle approach whereby interacting factors of plant defence, organismal pathogenicity and environmental factors are considered.

Forest Health, a definition Introduction to the problems in the forest: biotic, abiotic and interactions, particularly with climatic factors. An examination of forest population dynamics and a comparison between managed plantation and natural forest ecosystems and its impact on forest heath – epidemiology: the kinetics of diseases. An introduction to new and emerging tree health issues and current concerns within forests and urban tree ecosystems; pests and pathogens of concern and causes of problems; the importance of plant and fungal genetics and quarantine; indigenous and long-established problems, their impact and control; past failures in forestry and major international tree pathology events over the last two centuries.

Assessment Strategy

Excellent

Comprehensive knowledge – Detailed understanding – Extensive background study – Highly focused answer and well structured – Logically presented and defended arguments – No factual/computational errors – Original interpretation – New links between topics are developed – New approach to a problem presented – Excellent presentation with very accurate communication – Excellent use of background reading material within work and especially journal articles.

Good

Strong knowledge – Understands most but not all course material – Evidence of background study – Focused answer with good structure – Arguments presented coherently – Mostly free of factual/computational errors – Some limited original interpretation – Well-known links between topics are described – Problems addressed by existing methods/approaches – Good presentation with accurate communication – Good use of background reading material within work.

Threshold

Knowledge of key areas/principles only – Some weaknesses in understanding main areas – limited evidence of background study – Poorly focussed answers to questions with some irrelevant material and poor structure – Arguments presented but lack coherence – Several factual/computational errors – No original interpretation – Only major links between topics are described – Limited problem solving – Many weaknesses in presentation and accuracy – Limited use of background reading.

Learning Outcomes

• Critical understanding of different management and control options for long term tree-crops and for more natural forest ecosystems

• Critical understanding of environmental factors which determine the development of pests and diseases

• Critical understanding of the organisms likely to cause economic losses to trees and their significance

• Critical understanding of the reasons for spread of, and success of, organisms causing economic losses

• General understanding of the likely effects of climate change on forest health