Forest health and variable climate (5 cr)

Objective

You recognize the most important biotic and abiotic forest damages.
You are able to fight off and prevent forest damages by different means.
You are familiar with the current legislation connected with forest damages and its oblications.
You understand the process of the climate change and its effect on the forests.
You know how to protect forests against the risks caused by climate change.

Content

What are forest damages and how can they be recognized?
How do you prevent forest damages by silviculture and forest management?
How does the climate change effect on the forests?
How do you strengthen the forests to fight against climate change?

Course material

Study and exam materials:
- Lecture materials (powerpoints, exercises, articles, etc.)
- Species indentification material in Learn
- Uotila, A., Kasanen, R. & Heliövaara, K. 2015. Metsätuhot.
- Laki metsätuhojen torjunnasta (1087/2013)
- Äijälä, O ym. (toim.), 2019: Hyvän metsänhoidon suositukset luku 4. Riskien hallinta metsänkasvatuksessa.
- In addition, the material shown by the teacher at the beginning of the course to the changing climate.
Additional material:
- Natural Resources Institute Finland's material for species indentification
- Kasanen, R. 2009. Metsäpuiden sienitaudit.
- Nuorteva, M. 1999. Metsähyönteisten maailmasta

Study forms and methods

During the course, the most important pest species threatening the health of Finnish forests are studied, their identification and control.

In addition, the threats posed by climate change - abiotic - to forest health are studied both in Finland and on a global scale.

The course covers the possibilities of forest and forest management to combat climate change and the threats to forests and biodiversity posed by climate change.

The course includes lectures, field exercises, learning assignments, independently studied online learning materials and exams. Some field exercises are mandatory.

RDI and work-related cooperation

The content, materials and assignments have been developed with the resources of DIGIFOR-project. The forestry expert Pekka Kuitunen from Forest Centre Finland was a working-life mentor.

Timing of exams and assignments

The student compiles the destruction folder and performs learning tasks and species identifications. The destruction folder is returned and the species identifications are made at the end of the course.
The damage section will be dealt with by the autumn holiday and the proportion of the changing climate thereafter.
The destruction theory exam is before the fall vacation
The exam on the changing climate is separately at the end of the course.

The species identification is three-step.
Core competence - when you do this, you can get a grade of H3 Complementary competence - when you do this in addition to the previous one, you can get a grade of H4 Expert competence - when you do this in addition to the previous one, you can get a grade of K5

International cooperation

The course contents, assignments and materials have been developed in the DIGIFOR project.

Student workload

Contact classes (includes lectures and field exercises) 60 hours
Extermination folder 15 hours
Species identification 15 hours
Learning tasks 10 hours
Written exams 35 hours

Evaluation scale

1-5

Assessment methods and criteria

Emphasis on evaluation

Extermination folder 20%
Species identification 20%
Destruction Theory Exam 40%
Changing climate -exam 20%

Qualifications

Forest regeneration