- Docente: Maria Rosa Guerrieri
- Credits: 6
- SSD: AGR/05
- Language: Italian
- Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
- Campus: Bologna
- Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Land and agro-forestry Sciences (cod. 8525)
Learning outcomes
During this course the student will: - learn about mechanisms underlying functioning and productivity of forest ecosystems; - gain the knowledge needed to describe a forest stand and its main features, so to improve its stability and functioning in relation to most updated regulation in Italy. Specifically, the student will get familiar with main silvicultural approaches used in Italy and how they can be used to manage forest in a sustainable way, but also to restore degraded areas.
Course contents
Requirements:students should have adequate background knowledge in botanic, plant biology and diversity (with particular reference to tree species), ecology and soil chemistry.
Part 1. Forest ecology
- Tree, forest ecosystem and landscape: definition and main attributes.
- Forest types in relation to climate: how forests changed over time (with particular reference to post-glacial recolonisation), main biomes at the global scale, main vegetation belts in Italy and in Emilia Romagna.
- Forest stand growth dynamics.
- Forest productivity.
- Elements cycling in forest ecosystems (water and nitrogen cycling).
- Forests and ecosystem services provided.
- Climate and land-use changes.
- Forests in the Sustainable Development goals adopted by the United Nations Member States in 2015 and the European Gree Deal.
Part 2. Silviculture and forest management
- What's silviculture? Definition and goals.
- Main silvicultural systems: high forest.
- Thinning practices in high forest; Tree-oriented silviculture.
- Main silvicultural systems: coppice.
- Coppice conversion to high forest.
- Example of forest management practices for the main forest types Italy, including reforestation.
- Tree plantation for wood production.
- Forest stand description and basics of dendrometry and tree measurements in the field.
- Ecosystem service and stability-orientated forest management.
- Urban forest
- Landscape management, with particular reference to degraded landscapes.
Readings/Bibliography
Main resources
Presentation slides that the teacher will share through IOL and additional materials (such as scientific papers).
Paci M., 2004 - Ecologia forestale. Elementi di conoscenza dei sistemi forestali. Ed. il Sole 24 Ore Edagricole, Bologna.
Piussi P., Alberti G. 2015. Selvicoltura generale. Boschi, società e tecniche colturali. Ed. Compagnia delle Foreste, Arezzo
Bernetti G 2005: Atlante di Selvicoltura. Ed. il Sole 24 Ore Edagricole, Bologna.
Other resources
Bernetti G., Del Favero R. e Pividori M. 2012. Selvicoltura produttiva. Manuale pratico. Edagricole, Bologna
La Marca O. e La Marca A. 2012. Appunti di Progettazione Forestale. Patron Editore
Mercurio R. e Minotta G. 2000. Arboricoltura da Legno. CLUEB, Bologna
Muzzi E. e Rossi G. (eds) 2004. Il recupero e la riqualificazione ambientale delle cave in Emilia Romagna. Regione Emilia Romagna (http://ambiente.regione.emilia-romagna/suolo-bacino/sezioni/pubblicazioni/servizio-difesa-del-suolo-della-costa-e-bonifica/pdf/manuale_cave_1.pdf
Teaching methods
The course combines lectures with power-point presentations (for the majority of the hours) and excursions. However, due to restrictions related to coronavirus pandemic, no excursions will be possible.There will be a series of seminars from forest management experts and researchers to go into selected topics into more depts. The use of mobile app (Kahoots) in the class and active discussion during seminars will foster interaction between students and teacher.
Assessment methods
Course assessment. The final exam will include an oral presentation and written test.
Oral presentations (40% of the total score): the students will be divided in groups and will prepare a power-point presentation on one of the main topics included in the Forest ecology part.
Written test (part 2): a questionnaire of 15 questions (60% of the total score).
Fore more details, please get in touch with the teacher.
Teaching tools
All the material will be shared through the IOL platform
Office hours
See the website of Maria Rosa Guerrieri
SDGs
This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.