Farm Trees & Agroforestry

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2015:

Please note that this subject has a pre-teaching period, where you will be required to undertake reading material prior to the intensive.

170 hours

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

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

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 (take home test - equivalent to 2000 words) 40% - due one month after the completion of the subject.

Communication exercise (1000 words) 20% - due one month after the completion of the subject.

Assignment (2000 words) 40% - due 2 months after the completion of the subject.

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Agroforestry for Natural Resource Management, Nuberg, George and Reid 2009. CSIRO Publishing

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.