Landscape Level Forest Management Planning

Abstract

This course covers and integrates knowledge from the disciplines of landscape level forest management planning, ecology, and forest economics. Students will apply knowledge and methods acquired throughout their studies to real world case studies, and will learn to make predictions about the development of forest ecosystems, prescribe realistic management solutions, and assess the economic conseque

Objective

After participating in this course, students will be able to: • Identify and integrate environmental, social and economic objectives for managing a forest. • Design landscape level forest management concepts to meet these objectives. • Identify criteria and indicators appropriate for assessing and monitoring the success of alternative forest management approaches in achieving their objectives. • Apply standard procedures for cashflow-based evaluations to review the economic sustainability of different forest management scenarios. • Develop forest-based business proposals including income from traditional timber harvesting operations and complementary sources. • Prepare, write and defend a comprehensive landscape level forest management plan. Additionally, students will practice and enhance soft skills – such as providing constructive feedback to peers – or by learning to effectively work in diverse teams.

Content

What is forest management planning (FMP)? What is a Waldentwicklungsplan? Basic definitions of forests as complex dynamic systems in the context of forest management planning. The history of FMP and classic approaches to calculating sustained yield (Cotta, Hartig). Components and structure of a sustainable forest management plan (SFMP). The planning process and timber supply modelling. Determining long-term sustained yields and allowable annual cut in clear cutting and close to nature systems. Management choices and how they impact timber supply. Certification standards and the use of criteria and indicators (taught by FSC externals) Introduction to Business Planning and Financial evaluation in forestry. Faustmann and the Land expectation value. Calculating internal rates of return. Choice experiments and valuing forest attributes Payments for ecosystem services Economics of risk, uncertainties and natural disturbances Economics of forest property rights and certification

Resources