| Responsible Department | Forest & Landscape | ||||||||
| Earliest Possible Year | MSc. 1 year to MSc. 2 year | ||||||||
| Duration | One block | ||||||||
| Credits | 7.5 (ECTS) | ||||||||
| Level of Course | MSc | ||||||||
| Examination | Continuous Assessment written examination Portfolio Examination All aids allowed Description of Examination: Students eligible to participate in the exam will be assessed according to (i) their completion of exercises throughout the course, and (ii) through two tutor marked assignments completed during the course. The assignments are distributed electronically and answers must be submitted electronically. Weight: Completion of exercises and tutor marked assignments each count 50% towards the final mark. 7-point scale, internal examiner | ||||||||
| Organisation of Teaching | Teaching and exercises are web-based: students can complete the course anywhere in the world (internet access is required). | ||||||||
| Block Placement | Block 1 Week Structure: Outside schedule | ||||||||
| Language of Instruction | English | ||||||||
| Restrictions | None | ||||||||
| Course Content | |||||||||
| The course takes a people oriented approach to issues that all natural resources managers in developing countries should be familiar with. Emphasis is on the relationships between people and forest use and conservation in developing countries. Central themes are: (i) Paradigms - what ideas and views guide tropical forestry development? (ii) Livelihoods - how do poor people depend on forests and trees? (iii) Valuation - how can we put a price on forest products and make visible their importance to local people? (iv) Forest cover - how much forest is there and how do we know? (v) Deforestation - why do forests disappear and what can be done? (vi) Policies - what characterises national policies? What global policies exist and why? Do policies work? and (vii) Sustainable management - can REDD, certification or other instruments save the tropical forests? | |||||||||
| Teaching and learning Methods | |||||||||
| The course is provided through a web-based teaching and learning system. Course participants can therefore follow the course exclusively through the internet by completing online e-modules and participating in online discussions and group work. Modules focus on integrating literature studies and exercises, including online discussions mediated by faculty. Exercises focus on understanding theory and using theory on actual cases. | |||||||||
| Learning Outcome | |||||||||
| This course provides an introduction to essential contemporary issues in forestry in developing countries. The aim is to give students a thorough understanding of the current and potential role of forests and trees in improving rural livelihoods. It is stressed that forestry is an integral part of society and should not be considered in isolation. After finishing the course the student is expected to be able to: Knowledge Understand key contemporary issues in tropical forestry, including forest-dependency, deforestation, national and global forest policy and processes, and the potential of using market based mechanisms to achieve sustainable forest management Understand the potential of using forest and trees to prevent and reduce poverty Understand basic forest valuation methods Skills Apply principles, theories and frameworks to case studies Make judgment on the quality of scientific publications Communicate clearly, concisely and confidently in written format Competences Argue cogently and think critically within the parameters of a particular academic discipline Reflect on the nature of poverty and the role of forests in poverty alleviation Demonstrate the values of scholarship: inquiry, reflection, integrity, open mindedness, evidence-based thinking, and collegiality Tackle problems by collecting, analysing and evaluating appropriate qualitative and quantitative information and using it creatively | |||||||||
| Course Literature | |||||||||
| Course material consists of selected scientific articles and book chapters. These are included in the compendium or on the course homepage. The compendium is: Smith-Hall, C., Nielsen, Ø.J., Kamelarczyk, K., Bosselmann, A.S., Pouliot, M., Carlsen, K., Bakkegaard, R.K. and Dons, K. 2011. Tropical forests, people and policies - selected papers. University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Life Sciences, Centre for Forest, Landscape and Planning, Copenhagen. | |||||||||
| Course Coordinator | |||||||||
| Carsten Smith-Hall, cso@life.ku.dk, Forest & Landscape Denmark/Unit of Forestry, Phone: 353-31763 | |||||||||
| Study Board | |||||||||
| Study Committee NSN | |||||||||
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