Sustainable Forests

Sustainable Forests is offered as a major field of study in the Master of Environment degree.

Forest landscapes and ecosystems have a massive impact on all our lives as evidenced by the 2009 bush fires in Victoria. The Sustainable Forests major looks at issues related to management of carbon, water, fire and biodiversity at landscape scales in relation to forests with a view to making them more sustainable. We study the challenges of fire management, the role of forests in climate change management, environmental policy and timber and non-timber production.

Students in this specialisation will understand: biological, economic, social and environmental factors that impact on forests; the development of forest and natural resource management enterprises both in Australia and internationally; and carbon sequestration and water resource management.

Students can expect to develop skills in forest ecosystem sciences; sustainable forest management; and the design, conduct and analysis of forestry research.

Suitable for professionals and aspiring entrants to the forest and natural resource management sectors, we will prepare you for middle and upper management positions within the forest and natural resource management and provide a pathway to further study.

Students who complete the Master of Environment will have:

• Knowledge to undertake professional practice in environment or sustainability, including:
• Specialised knowledge in an environmental discipline or field of practice, including knowledge of recent developments in this field
• Knowledge of the cross-disciplinary nature of environmental issues and professional practice to promote sustainable futures
• Knowledge of research principles and methods applicable to specialist field of environmental inquiry
• Skills for collaborative and creative problem solving in environmental practice, including:
• Ability to critically analyse and synthesise environmental knowledge
• Ability to envision environmental change and propose pathways to realise this change
• Ability to communicate complex environmental knowledge and research effectively to a range of audiences
• Ability to work effectively in cross-disciplinary teams
• Technical skills for professional practice and research in field of specialisation
• Demonstrated capacity to:
• Exercise well developed judgement, adaptability and responsibility as a practitioner in an environmental discipline or professional field
• Plan and execute a substantial project in an area of environmental research or practice

The Sustainable Forests major will prepare professionals and aspiring entrants to the forest and natural resource management sectors for management positions within the forest and natural resource management sectors by:

• Developing knowledge, skills, understanding and competence in the area of forest ecosystem sciences;
• Developing a thorough approach to forest sciences and sustainable forest management through an understanding of the biological, economic, social and environmental factors which shape the development of forest and natural resource management enterprises both in Australia and internationally, including climate change science and water resource management;
• Increasing knowledge and analytical capabilities appropriate to forest and ecosystem science and related specialist disciplines;
• Developing competence in the design, conduct and analysis of research questions and experimental work, particularly for those students interested in pursuing a research career;

Extending scholarly and critical attitudes in forest and natural resource management disciplines.

Students will be required to complete the two core subjects, plus choose three subjects from the compulsory specialisation subject list. Students must also take at least 25 points of subjects from the compulsory capstone subjects – these subjects enable students to complete an independent project related to sustainable forest management. Students must also undertake electives to make up the balance of the award. The selection of electives is made in consultation with the Sustainable Forests major coordinator.

A full list of subjects available within this specialisation can be found at http://environment.unimelb.edu.au/courses/streams/sustainable_forests

Core Subjects

Students are required to complete the subjects:

Compulsory Specialisation subjects

Students must complete the following subjects:

Compulsory Capstone Experience Subjects

Students must complete the following subject:

Elective Subjects

plus undertake electives to make up the balance of the award. The recommended list of electives includes:

Other subjects may be approved at the discretion of the coordinator.