FOREST RESTORATION AND REHABILITATION (UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI, VIIKKI TROPICAL RESOURCES INSTITUTE, VITRI)

Course: Forest Restoration and Rehabilitation
Credits: 5 ECTS
Time: Spring 2012
Coordinating University: University of Helsinki
Coordinators: Prof. Olavi Luukkanen, Dr Eshetu Yirdaw and Adrian Monge
Teaching language: English
Registration Deadline: TBC

Course content: The course will focus on the restoration and rehabilitation of degraded ecosystems and landscapes; including agro-forest ecosystems and soils. Degradation through inappropriate land-use practices, introduction of invasive exotics species, mismanagement or exploitation for timber and natural resources will be covered with cases representing different environments and geographical regions. The course will start by giving the necessary introduction to restoration and rehabilitation theory and concepts. The species composition, structure, dynamics and biodiversity (including fauna) of degraded forests and land, and methods of how they can be rehabilitated, as well as the socio-economic aspects, will be examined by looking at and evaluating various case studies.

Prerequisites: The course participants should preferably be masters-level or doctoral students in the field of natural resources management, such as agriculture, forestry, biology, geography or development studies.

Learning methods: The course will be interactive and involves reading of pre-course literature, virtual lectures, group works, individual essays and discussions.

Objectives: The objective of the course is to provide students with knowledge about the principles, concepts, methodologies and socio-economic aspects of rehabilitating and restoring degraded forest ecosystems and lands.

Study material: Course participants will be provided with pre-course reading materials before the beginning of the course. Other teaching materials will be provided during the course.

Assessment: The scale of grading will be 0-5. Grading will be based on: individual student essay, group work report and active participation.

Additional information: adrian.mongemonge@helsinki.fi