VVZ API is not affiliated with ETH Zurich. Data might be outdated or incorrect. Please view the official ETHZ Vorlesungsverzeichnis for binding information.

701-1635-00L 5 Credits MSC D-USYS
You're viewing possible stale or outdated data. Please check the latest semester for more up-to-date information.

Multifunctional Forest Management

VVZ CR n/a

Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:34:13

Abstract

Forests provide a variety of ecosystem goods and services. Multifunctional forest management attempts to control natural processes in a sustainable and near-natural way so that various requirements from the society can be met. Adaptivity to changing conditions (global changes), handling of conflicting goals and the development of alternative management strategies are of central importance.

Objective

- To understand and evaluate forest management and silvicultural measures aim to enhance forest resilience to climate change, increased disturbances and invasive species. - To know silvicultural strategies and solutions for the management of multifunctional forests. - To understand the various social expectations towards forest functions and their implications for forest management and evaluate the requirements to meet the different expectations. - To distinguish conflicts and synergies resulting from different forest functions. - To evaluate segregative and integrative forest management approaches for biodiversity conservation.

Content

The course will cover important topics for the sustainable management of multifunctional forests and present silvicultural strategies to fulfil a variety of forest ecosystem goods and services. Current and future challenges of forest management will be presented. The course is structured into the following sub-topics: 1) Climate change and adaptive forest management. 2) Invasive species: implications and mitigation measures 3) Introduced tree species: risks and opportunities 4) Silvicultural and forest management options to fulfil multi-dimensional ecosystem goods and services. 5) Challenges and silvicultural strategies for wood production. 6) Integrative and segregative forest management approaches for biodiversity conservation.

Resources

Lecture Notes

No class notes or text booksLecture presentations are available for download

Literature

Reading assignments are given in class A bibliography of cited literature will be available

General Information

Language
English
Levels
MSC
Frequency
Yearly recurring

Examination

Type
session examination
Mode
oral 30 minutes
Grade consists of a group presentation (compulsory continuous performance assessment, 25%) and an oral session exam (75%).In addition, participation at all 4 full-day excursions is a prerequisite for the credits.

Course Components

Type Title Time & Place Hours
lecture with exercise Multifunctional Forest Management
Lecture will be held online. The lecturers will communicate the exact lesson times of ONLINE courses. In addition to the lecture, 4 full-day excursions (in presence if security rules can be applied) are obligatory to attend in order to obtain the credits. The excursion dates will be communicated at the beginning of the semester. Some excursions may take place on Saturdays.
  • Thu 14:00-16:00 (ON LI NE)
2 h weekly

Offered In