Woody plants are important elements of forest ecosystems and landscapes. The course gives an introduction to dendrology as well as to the identification of native tree and shrub species. It is a highly recomended course for the BSc specialization of Forest and Landscape and it provides the basic requirements for the consecutive course Woody Plants of Central Europe in the spring semester.

The lecture provides a systematic overview of the Swiss forest vegetation, its site conditions and methods of vegetation survey.

In this practical, students get to know important field and laboratory methods of forest and landscape research as well as landscape management. They apply these methods in the context of small projects. The practical consists of three parts: Ecology (both forest and landscape), Site Classification (soil science & vegetation science), and Land Management.