Forests in a Global Context

This subject is not offered in 2013.

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/

Forests cover 30% of the earth’s land surface. They provide basic sustenance for an estimated 1.6 billion people, store a large proportion of the worlds biodiversity and provide raw material for a widely traded and used commodity and ecosystem services such as clean water, carbon sequestration and soil protection. Forests are also a major source of creative and artistic inspiration. Sustainable management and use of the world’s forests will be a critical component of a sustainable future for the human beings.

This subject introduces the world’s forests from social, historical, environmental and economic perspectives. It will describe the evolutionary development of forests, classification of forest types, factors determining forest distribution, how people have interacted with forests during human history and the many values and benefits of the forest including forest products and trade and environmental services, aesthetic functions and forests in literature and art. Impacts of global change, policies for sustainable forest management, the role of plantations and the use of forest products in architecture and construction.

• To introduce forests from different scientific, cultural, historic, economic and geographic perspectives
• To develop an understanding of global economic, social and environmental and political systems using forests as a integrating theme

100% of assessment is based on answers to 12 questions, each of equal value, and answers should total approximately 4000 words. Two questions will be posed each day of teaching and answers must be submitted on-line by the end of the week after the subject is delivered.

Attendance and participation in the field day is a hurdle requirement.

Sands, R. 2006. Forestry in a global context. CABI Publishing

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Biomedicine
• Bachelor of Commerce
• Bachelor of Environments
• Bachelor of Music
• Bachelor of Science
• Bachelor of Engineering

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

• Develop critical thinking skills
• Develop on-line study and investigation skills
• Good report writing skills