Sustainable Forest and Nature Management

The main aim of this field-trip based course is to visit and critically discuss issues on sustainable forest and nature management. The course is developed and implemented jointly gathering students and teaching staff from all of the SUFONAMA consortium universities (University of Copenhagen, Swedish Agricultural University, University of Padova, Georg-August University Göttingen, and Bangor University). Overall theme, responsible institution, and location will change between years (contact course responsible for information). The studies will cover the following aspects of the study region: geology, landscape and ecology, climate, pedology, vegetation types, biodiversity, demographics, socio-economics, tourism, policy, etc. Students will critically compare and contrast the approaches used by the organizations visited during the course. Similarly, the report should organize and critically discuss the academic topics covered during the field trip. Students should identify the main management objectives, constraints affecting the achievement of objectives, and critically evaluate the effectiveness of management/approaches used in achieving the objectives. Students will individually present their findings during the last days of the field trip (see description above). In addition they will attend a written exam.

The course deals mainly with the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDG):

SDG 12. Responsible consumption and production. Sustainable forest and nature management implies responsible consumption and production, promoting resource and energy efficiency, providing access to basic services, green and decent jobs and a better quality of life for all. Sustainable forest management helps society to achieve overall development, reduce future economic, environmental and social costs, strengthen economic competitiveness and reduce poverty.

SDG13. Climate Action: Forests play a significant role in mitigating climate change. The course specifically focuses on how forests can be managed to mitigate rather than contribute to global climate change.

SDG15. Life on Land: In addition to carbon storage and C0₂ sequestration, forests, especially natural forests, are habitats for most of the Earth's terrestrial life forms. Further, the hydrological functions of forests contribute to life-supporting rivers and streams throughout the world.

Digitization is included in the course as part of: 1) data management, collection and handling of empirical data (quantitative and qualitative data), 2) technological understanding of the application of digital technologies within the sector, 3) digital information collection as part of literature search