Farm Trees & Agroforestry

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2011:

Intensive teaching, Creswick, Burnley and in the field.

Attendance of at least 80% of the lectures and field trips; unless alternative arrangements are made.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

This subject covers the principles and practices of integrating trees into the rural agricultural landscape for both conservation and profit. The farming community require trees and shrubs for shade and shelter, soil conservation, salinity control and aesthetics. Farmers can also produce commercial tree products such as timber, fuel, fodder, essential oils and food. Because farmers manage the majority of the Australian landscape governments, community groups and industry are increasingly working in partnership with them to grow trees for environmental services including carbon sequestration, biodiversity and downstream water quality.

By the end of the subject students should:

• Have a working knowledge of farm planning and agroforestry diagnosis and design as tools for developing farm re-vegetation plans;
• Have an understanding of the role of trees in providing for landowner, community and industry needs and aspirations;
• Be able to develop technical design criteria for effective re-vegetation for resource conservation, agricultural production and commercial purposes;
• Be able to measure and monitor the growth, productivity and environmental impact of forests on farms;
• Be familiar with extension and development approaches for promotion of re-vegetation and forest management on farms;
• Have an understanding of multipurpose tree research methodologies and economic evaluation; and,
• Recognise the potential for trees on farms, both in Australia and overseas, to contribute to international development goals such as poverty elimination, human health, environmental protection and mitigating climate change.

Exam 40%, two assignments (totalling 2000 words) 60%

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.