Forests in the Asia Pacific Region

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

An enrolment quota of 28 students applies to this subject. For detailed information on the quota subject application process, enrolment deadlines and selection preferences, refer to the Faculty of Science website: http://science.unimelb.edu.au/students/course-planning-and-advice

This subject is taught intensively (internationally) in November. International field tour subject. Students will be required to organise and pay for their own air travel to Vientiane, Laos and back to Australia from Da Nang Vietnam. A deposit payment will be required once enrolment is confirmed.

Subject involves field experiences that will require students to be physically capable of hiking in remote locations in Laos and Vietnam

Please note that this subject has a pre-teaching period and during this time students will be required to read 'essential readings' provided and complete first assignment of 1500 words.

There is also a post-intensive/travel period from beginning of December - last week of January to complete the main assignment of 3000 words.

170 hours.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

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. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

The Asia Pacific region is of crucial importance to Australia and to the future management of global forest resources. The region has over half the world’s population and countries with the fastest growing populations and economies. This is placing increased demand on forest resources in the region and elsewhere. There are extensive spiritual and cultural associations between people and forests in this region and an extensive history of forest use and development. In this subject students experience the diversity of connections between forests and people in Laos and Vietnam to illustrate the importance of forests to local and national development, and contemporary forest policy and management challenges in the region. The program includes policy briefings and site visits to conservation and production forests, local village forests, hydropower and plantation development projects and small- and large-scale forest industries.

At the completion of this subject students will have an advanced understanding of:

• The forest ecosystems of the SE Asia and their role in human development
• Forest management and governance systems for different parts of the Asia Pacific region
• Current issues and future trends in forest policy and management in the Region

Pre-tour reading assignment (1500 words) 20% due 1 day before the intensive subject start date, field tour journal 20% due 1 week after the intensive subject ends, field tour group work 10%, major assignment (3000 words) 50% due last week of January.

It is a hurdle requirement that students must attend the field trip.

Leslie, RN (ed.), The Future of Forests in the Asia Pacific: Outlook for 2020. UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, Bangkok.

Also available online at http://www.fao.org/docrep/011/i0627e/i0627e00.htm

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.