Forests, Carbon and Climate Change

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

Please note that this subject has a pre-teaching period and during this time students will be required to read the article "Man made world" by Andrew Charlton (Quarterly Essay 44, 2011).

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

This subject will investigate the role of forests in the carbon cycle and in a changing climate. Students will learn the scientific basis for climate change and the impact that a changing climate might have on tree physiology and forest ecology. We will discuss the role forests play in the global carbon cycle and the degree to which forests or plantations can be used as a carbon sequestration option. We will evaluate the requirements for forest carbon accounting and will apply carbon accounting tools in hands-on accounting sessions with industry partners. This scientific understanding will be extended to discuss policy instruments under consideration in Australia and in the international arena for the potential role of forests in carbon emissions trading. The subject will equip students with state-of-the-art knowledge on the impact of climate change on forest ecosystems and with practical experiences in forest carbon accounting.

By the end of this subject students should:

• Be well informed in the international and national context of climate change science as it relates to forests
• Understand the response of forests to changing climate
• Be well informed on the role of forests in carbon sequestration and emissions trading

Daily Quizzes during the intensive teaching period - 10%

Oral presentation (10 min) toward the end of the intensive teaching period - 25%

Written assignment (3000 words) due 6 weeks after Intensive ends - 65%

None

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.