Preparing Global Forestry Fieldwork

The course is a preparatory course for the Global Forestry Field Course (subsequently organised by the University of Padova and the Technical University of Dresden): the focus is on developing a minor research project implemented during the subsequent field course in a low or middle-income country in the Global South. The course covers the research process from idea generation to identification of specific objectives and research questions to the development of data collection instruments. This includes developing (i) a concise introduction and justification, leading to identification of a research gap; (ii) general and specific objectives, and operational research questions and hypotheses; (iii) frameworks and data needs; (iv) appropriate data collection instruments; (v) data recording procedures and analyses; all collected in (vi) a fieldwork project proposal. The course also covers issues related to: a general introduction to the case country and study area, e.g. regarding natural resources management policies and forest types; and training in locating and assessing white and grey literature. In addition, the course pays particular attention to practical considerations concerning fieldwork, e.g. ethics, personal safety, training and managing enumerators.