Forests in a Global Context

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2015:

This subject is taught intensively, and includes a one-day field trip on Thursday 1 October.

170 hours

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. This course requires all students to enrol in subjects where they must actively and safely contribute to field excursions and laboratory activities. Students who feel their disability will impact on meeting this requirement are encouraged to discuss this matter with the Subject Coordinator and Disability Liaison http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/ students email: disability-liaison@unimelb.edu.au

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 world's 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 six questions, each of equal value, and answers should total approximately 4000 words. One question 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. 2013. Forestry in a global context. 2nd edition 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