Silviculture – Ren R 323/722 2020 Course Outline
Instructor:
Brad Pinno: Office hours by appointment.
Phone: 780-492-1280.
Email: [email protected]
Teaching assistant: Calvin Jensen, [email protected]
Timetable:
Lectures – pre-recorded, available on eClass
Class meetings - Wednesday 14:00-16:50 (regular lab time) via Zoom Mandatory Field Trip - Saturday September 12,
- depart 08:00 from the ESB parking lot, return by 18:00 Midterm Exam: none
Tentative Final Exam date: December 17, 2:00 pm
Calendar description: “Forest regeneration principles and techniques, stand tending including fertilization, thinning, pruning and drainage; harvesting systems for reforestation, nursery practices; reforestation, the law and current practices.”
Textbook: There is no assigned textbook. Required readings may be assigned and will made available through eClass.
Lecture Notes: Notes, powerpoint presentations, some recorded lectures, reading materials, and website links will be posted on eClass.
Representative evaluative material: past exams will be posted on eclass.
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
1. Explain for the main silvicultural practices used in the boreal forest of western Canada, o how they are used to overcome site limiting factors
o compare and evaluate the timber production and ecological implications o predict how trees, stands, and forests will develop into the future
2. Develop a stand level silvicultural prescription and crop plan by incorporating management objectives, site characteristics, and silvicultural tools
3. Articulate informed opinions about silvicultural issues facing foresters and natural resource professionals
The purpose of this course is to provide you with an introduction to Silviculture with a focus on approaches for regenerating and manipulating stands to create various types of forests and forest products including trees for harvesting and other ecosystem services. We will cover major terminology, concepts, and underlying processes that influence selection and use of effective silviculture treatments. We will focus on practices applicable to western Canadian forests (focusing on Alberta, Saskatchewan and B.C.) with examples from other areas. The course is also designed to fulfill a number of the professional competencies of the Canadian Forestry Accreditation Board (https://www.cfab.ca). Specifically, Silviculture contributes directly to the following core competencies:
2.1 Communicate effectively with a wide variety of audiences regarding forest resource issues.
2.2 Apply critical reasoning.
2.3 Use leadership skills in collaborative decision making.
4.1 Identify trees and other plants and describe their growth characteristics.
4.2 Describe tree attributes and their relationship to forest values.
4.3 Explain past, current and possible future stand conditions and the processes that lead to them.
5.1 Identify the components, characteristics and processes in forested ecosystems and how they interact.
8A.3 Develop operational plans.
An important element of silviculture is understanding key limiting factors and identifying and applying treatments to effectively overcome these limitations. Given the near infinite number of combinations of management objectives, site characteristics, and silvicultural tools it is
impossible to teach set silvicultural prescriptions. Instead, the goal of this course is to develop the base of knowledge to choose among options to increase the likelihood of desirable
silvicultural outcomes and decrease the likelihood of poor outcomes.
Specific Learning Outcomes
Each section below is associated with a weekly section on eClass. By the end of each section, students will be able to:
Foundations Section
Silvics and tree growth
Explain the importance of leaf area in relation to tree growth
Compare tree and crown form between species and growing conditions
Describe the factors controlling general tree growth patterns over time
Explain the processes of natural and artificial branch pruning
Stand dynamics
Define and contrast stand characteristics and stand development stages
Interpret and use Alberta Vegetation Inventory (AVI) codes
Compare forest succession in different stands Site and limiting factors
Identify and quantify the tree growth limiting factors of different site types
Rank tree species in relation to their tolerances to environmental conditions
Explain how trees respond to environmental factors
Recommend silvicultural activities to overcome site limitations Silvicultural systems
Define and describe the major silvicultural systems for both even and uneven-aged management
Discuss how different silvicultural systems could be implemented in the western boreal forest
Critique or defend the choice of a clearcut vs a shelterwood or selection silvicultural system
Tools Section
Natural regeneration
Give an example of stand and site conditions where vegetative reproduction is common and explain how these conditions influence vegetative reproduction
Evaluate the components of the natural seed reproduction triangle for different stands
Predict the response of advanced regeneration to understory protection harvesting Artificial regeneration
Describe the best-practices for seed collection and storage for different species
Define the different types of planting stock used in reforestation operations
Develop a complete planting prescription for a given site including seed source, stock type, planting density, and microsite selection
Hypothesize the relationship between stock quality, handling and future performance Site preparation
Describe the impact of different site preparation techniques on soil organic layers, microsite elevation, and resource availability
Summarize how site preparation tools can overcome a variety of limiting factors
Defend your choice of site preparation tools to meet specific objectives
Predict how tree growth will respond to site preparation in both the short and longer-term
Vegetation management
Illustrate the potential negative and positive impacts of interspecific vegetation on crop trees
Choose an appropriate vegetation management plan to meet stated management goals
Summarize the risks and opportunities associated with using herbicide and other vegetation management tools
Stand density management
Generalize the impacts of intraspecific competition on individual tree and stand level growth
Illustrate and interpret different stand density management scenarios on a SDI diagram Applications Section
Mixedwood management
Describe the potential benefits and challenges of establishing and growing mixedwood (aspen-spruce) forests
Evaluate different silvicultural options for managing for mixedwoods
Apply the mixedwood silvicultural guide and construct a unique silvicultural prescription based on this
Differentiate between short and longer-term impacts of mixedwood management scenarios
Intensive forest management
Describe how silvicultural practices may impact wood quality and quantity
Provide an example of a site/stand type where intensive management may be appropriate and outline a prescription for implementing this
Discuss intensive forest management implementation worldwide Silviculture policy and other values
Compare forest management policies on public land (e.g. sustained yield, regeneration standards, zoning, intensive management) for the provision of timber and other
ecological services
Explain how silvicultural tools can be applied to land reclamation of industrial disturbances
Discuss how silvicultural tools can be used as a wildlife management option
Predict the varying impacts of climate change on future forest conditions and propose silvicultural strategies to adapt to future conditions
Course Format
Lectures will be provided asynchronously, i.e. pre-recorded and posted on eClass. I expect you to watch the lectures and complete any other requirements prior to the weekly class meeting.
The synchronous class meetings will be at 2pm on Wednesdays (regular lab time) via Zoom (link on eClass). These sessions are mandatory and will form the basis of the participation portion of the final grade. These sessions will not be recorded and will be a discussion rather than lecture format.
Weekly assignments will be due at 2pm each Wednesday. There are tentatively 12 assignments planned for the course (this is subject to change). Each assignment will be weighted evenly with the lowest mark being dropped in the determination of the final grade. All assignments must be submitted through eClass. There will be no mid-term exam.
The only in-person portion of the class will be the field trip on Saturday, September 12th. Waiver and emergency information forms must be returned by Wednesday, September 9th. Alternative assignments are available for those who absolutely cannot attend the field trip on September 12th.
The final exam is tentatively scheduled for December 17th at 2:00 pm. This will be an open book exam. No calculators are permitted, nor are they required, to complete the exam.
Grading
Ren R 323 Ren R 722
Participation: 10% Participation: 10%
Assignments: 55% Assignments: 40%
Final Exam: 35% Final Exam: 35%
Term Paper: 15%
Assignments are due on the indicated date at 2 pm and must be uploaded to eClass. 20% of assignment value will be deducted for each day assignments are late. Evaluation will be
completed and expressed as raw scores. Grades will be assigned at the end of the term using the Four Point Grading System. Students’ grades on each component of the course will be weighted and then combined to calculate a final % grade. This % grade will be converted to a letter grade which reflects the student’s level of achievement with respect to the course learning outcomes and performance relative to other students in the class. An overall course mark of 50% or more guarantees at least a D while an overall course mark of 90% or more guarantees a grade of at least A.
Students registered in Ren R 722 will write different exams than Ren R 323 and are also required to complete a term paper on a topic related to silviculture. Your term paper should contain at least 10 pages of text (Times New Roman, 12 pt font, double spaced, 2.5 cm margins on all sides) and should cite at least 15 references. The proposed title and topic is due by September 25,
followed by a detailed outline by October 16 with final term papers due Friday, November 20 at 5:00 pm.
Academic Integrity
The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and honesty. Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding academic honesty and to uphold the policies of the University in this respect. Students are particularly urged to familiarize themselves with the provisions of the Code of Student Behaviour (online at www.governance.ualberta. ca) and avoid any behaviour which could potentially result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation of facts and/or participation in an offence.
Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can result in suspension or expulsion from the University.
All students at the University of Alberta are subject to the Code of Student Behaviour, as outlined at: University Governance > Code of Student Behaviour. Please familiarize yourself with it and ensure that you do not participate in any inappropriate behavior as defined by the Code. Key components of the code include the following statements.
30.3.2(1) No Student shall submit the words, ideas, images or data of another person as the Student’s own in any academic writing, essay, thesis, project, assignment, presentation or poster in a course or program of study.
30.3.2(2)c. No Student shall represent another’s substantial editorial or compositional assistance on an assignment as the Student’s own work.”
Students should speak with the course instructor about any questions or concerns about the code.
Students should be particularly aware of the code as it pertains to internet and library research, use of previous class notes, projects of former students and interviews or discussions with others.
Audio or video recording, digital or otherwise, of lectures, labs, seminars or any other teaching environment by students is allowed only with the prior written consent of the instructor or as a part of an approved accommodation plan. Student or instructor content, digital or otherwise, created and/or used within the context of the course is to be used solely for personal study, and is not to be used or distributed for any other purpose without prior written consent from the content author(s).
Policy about course outlines can be found in Course Requirements, Evaluation Procedures and Grading of the University Calendar.
Professionalism and Online Rules of Engagement
Students are expected to attend and participate in class meetings, complete assigned readings, and treat instructors and others in the class with courtesy and respect. Cellphones and other
electronic communication devices should be in silent mode during class. Proper online etiquette must be followed by everyone. Muting video and microphones is acceptable and sessions will not be recorded.
Copyright Information
All original course materials prepared by the instructor are considered to be the intellectual property of the instructor (unless otherwise noted), and are protected by law under Canada’s Copyright Act. “Course materials” include slides, presentations, handouts, lecture notes,
recorded lectures, and any other materials distributed or made available to students by the course instructor. Permission is given for individual students to use these materials for their own study purposes in this course. Students must not publish, post on a public Internet site, sell, rent, or otherwise distribute any course materials without the instructor’s express permission.
Policy regarding missed exams
Instructors can neither give permission to a student to miss the final exam nor grant a request for a deferred final exam. Students are encouraged to check exam schedules prior to making travel or event plans. The decision to grant a deferred final exam can only be granted by their own Faculty (e.g. ALES students go to 2-06 Ag/For to obtain an exam deferral, Science students go to 1-001 CCIS). Acceptable reasons for an excused absence may include illness or bereavement, and unacceptable reasons include travel arrangements or taking a vacation. Deferred final exams will be held on Monday January 4. The University policy on deferred exams can be found in Section 23.3.2 of the University Calendar. It includes specific instructions on how to obtain a deferral.
Tentative Schedule
September 2 Introduction
September 9 Silvics and tree growth
September 12 Saturday field trip
September 16 Stand dynamics
September 23 Site and limiting factors
September 30 Silvicultural systems
October 7 Natural regeneration
October 14 Artificial regeneration
October 21 Site preparation
October 28 Vegetation management
November 4 Stand density management
November 11 Reading week
November 18 Mixedwood management
November 25 Intensive management
December 2 Silviculture policy