Undergraduate Forestry 2014-2015

This one week non-residential field course with visits to different forests introduces you to some of the main forest types in Scotland, from ancient semi-natural woodland to recent plantations – all found here in Aberdeenshire.

The range of forest management objectives discussed (conservation, timber production, recreation etc.) helps you appreciate the multiple functions of Scottish forests.

By the end of the week you should be able to identify all the main tree species found in Aberdeenshire.

Practical measurement exercises enable you to calculate timber volumes and estimate market values.

This five day residential field course follows one of two alternating programmes: one in northern Scotland and the other in the Borders and Lake District. 

We visit forests in both the public and private sectors (including at least one with a conservation designation) and meet the local forest managers who give us the benefit of their knowledge and experience.

Meetings with forest managers and other land use professionals gives you an insight into the sort of careers that are open to you when you graduate (in Forestry and also other degrees, e.g. Ecology, Conservation Biology...)

Current theory and practice of silviculture will be covered in five themes to allow you to explore the science of establishing, maintaining, thinning and regenerating forests.

Weekly lectures will consolidate knowledge on the growth and development of single trees and of whole forest ecosystems.

Discussions during the lectures will encourage inquiry and informed argument.

One main assignment on a real forest scenario will allow you to demonstrate individual thought and analysis.

This course looks at wood as a natural resource: how it is harvested and also its properties and how it is used.   This includes learning about how forest management practices affect timber quality.

You will learn about efforts to develop techniques of sustainable timber harvesting with minimal negative environmental impacts, in both the tropics and in temperate forests, and why best practice is not always followed.

Visits to an active harvesting site and a local sawmill enable you to experience these operations first hand and discuss them with the people in charge.

• This course focuses on two topics: the measurement of trees and forest stands, usually for forest management; and on the use of GIS (Geographic Information Systems).

• Practical exercises in a local forest allow you to become confident in a range of forest measurement techniques.  These sessions are followed by computer classroom sessions where data gathered are analysed and discussed.

• GIS practicals include both classroom sessions using existing forest datasets and also data gathering in the field using GPS (Global Positioning System) devices so you learn some of the practical skills used in modern forest (and other land use) management.

This course explores a number of important forest management topics including the concept of sustainable forest management, forest economics, environmental impact assessment (EIA) and forest health.

Students learn about the long history of sustainable forest management – it’s not just a modern idea! – and how forest management plans are developed.

Two visits to different forests help you recognise forest management issues in the field.  One visit is hosted by the Regional Manager and the Senior Ecologist of a major forest management company which gives you the opportunity to discuss issues with professional practitioners.

This five day residential field course complements FY2805 and visits the part of Britain not visited the previous year.

Students visit various multi-functional forests (again at least one with a conservation designation) and learn about balancing different management objectives: including timber production, environmental services and amenity – with visits hosted by the local forest managers.

Assessment includes a reflective essay which allows you to compare what you have learnt in the classroom with what you have experienced in the field.

Over two weeks of field work in the forest allows you to explore the function of a forest from stand to landscape level.

Use of spreadsheets will improve your confidence in data handling and analysis.

The main assignment in the form of a forest management plan allows you to demonstrate your skills aimed at a professional standard.

The mixture of science and management offers you a unique range of skills required by employers

• This independent research project develops your skills in scientific inquiry and critical analysis, as well as useful generic skills, including time management.

• Projects are field-, lab- and/or desk-based, developed on a topic of your interest under the direction of a supervisor. 

• Training in the skills needed to perform your project is provided by world-leading researchers and their teams.

• Workshops and drop-in sessions provide training in data analysing and thesis production.

• This skill set will be useful both for future careers and further study in forestry or other careers making use of these generic skills.

Lectures provide the basic framework for considering the range of abiotic and biotic agents that cause forest damage.

A specialist on forest insect pests delivers a section of the course, providing students with an expert’s insights into current issues in forest health.

Preparation of two case studies, one on a disease and one on an animal pest, provide students with an opportunity to pursue their own interests and develop specialist knowledge.

An extended essay provides an opportunity to strengthen skills in synthesis and written presentation.

This residential field course is based in Freiburg in SW Germany.  6/7 days are spent visiting different forests and meeting German forestry professionals.

This is a joint course with Freiburg University and University College Dublin which allows you to share ideas with students who have studied in different institutions.

Visiting forests overseas challenges many assumptions of how forests should be managed and allows you to reflect on how culture and policy as well as forest type affect forest management.

The sessions are tutorial based that allow critical discussions on topical issues related to forestry and forest science.

Two of the topics for discussion are chosen by you and there is the opportunity lead the group.

Three assignments are required including the preparation of a newspaper article and a special topic in a subject of your choice.

The discussions allow you to listen to alternative points of view, to develop reasoned arguments and to communicate your ideas in a coherent and concise way.