FOR30420 Forest Management and Economics

Academic Year 2020/2021

This is an undergraduate module for stage 3 BAgrSc Forestry students. It focuses on concepts and analytical tools associated with decision-making in the sustainable management of forest resources. The first part of the module provides an overview of forest management problems as they have evolved in modern forestry and includes the scope of environmental services products provided by forests. Part 2 of the module looks at the decision analysis to achieve ecological, economic and social values. The financial and economic criteria for forest valuation and management are introduced, including discount rate, price-size relationship, net discounted revenue, land expectation value, and the valuation of non-market inputs and outputs. This knowledge is then used to develop procedures to deal with problems such as land and forest valuation, rotation determination, investment appraisal and sustained yield calculations. The concepts behind the preparation of forest management plans are also included. This module will be taught online for autumn 2020.

Show/hide contentOpenClose All

Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

Explain the basic principles of sustainable forest management. Carry out a range of financial and economic calculations as used in the strategic, tactical and operational decision-making in commercial forest management. Recognise the significance of the range of market and non-market values in the management of specific forest resources. Select and evaluate potential management options aimed at specific management objectives.

Indicative Module Content:

Concept and criteria for forest management, land classification, forests as capital, inflation, forest investment, uneven and even age management, optimal timber stocking, risk analysis, forest valuation, growth and yield models, multiple use forestry

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

36

Specified Learning Activities

24

Autonomous Student Learning

50

Total

110

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This module will be taught online for autumn 2020. There will be a combination of online lectures via blackboard and small group work. There will be three assignments and a final exam that can be completed at home. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Continuous Assessment: 3 assignment and a take home exam. Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded Yes

100


Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.