Content (Syllabus outline)
Introduction to tending and silviculture: Definitions and historical development. Ecological, social and economic basis of tending and silviculture.
Forest as Earth’s natural ecosystem: Origins and development of forests. Timberline. Natural range, structure and management of forests in the world, Europe, Balkans and Slovenia. Natural range, ecological and silvicultural characteristics of tree species (silvics).
Forest ecology: Ecology as a basis for silviculture. Structure and development of forest ecosystem. Ecological factors in forests and their influence on tree morfogenesis and stand silvigenesis. Influence of forests on ecological factors and environment. Developmental processes and ecophysiological characteristics of forests. (growth, regeneration, organization, decomposition). Developmental phases and forests stands.
Forest tending: Genetic, ecophysiological and economic foundations of forest tending. Tending of young, growing up, mature stands and selection forests. Additional tending (pruning). Tending for biodiversity and forest services (ecocells, large diameter trees and CWD, forest edge, riparian forests). Detailed silvicultural planning and realization of forest tending. Introduction to silvicultural systems.
Prerequisites
1. Condition for inclusion in the work:
- Inscription to adequate academic year
- passed exam Forest phytosociology and Timber harvesting
- For students of other disciplines a requirement is passed exam in Botany
2. Condition for performing study obligations:
- Active participation at the lectures
- Positive evaluation of two colloquia,
- Individual tasks
- Seminar
- Collaboration during field exercises
- Reports from field excursions.