In this minor you will learn about the most relevant topics related to sustainable management of tropical forests and landscapes. You zoom in on project development, sustainable use of forests and forest ecology and socio-economic aspects of forestry. You also dive into soil and landscape processes using remote sensing and GIS and about the role of forests in climate change.

We integrate the different aspects of forest and nature management (such as ecological, ecological and socio-economic) when designing a management plan in a real world environment. This requires several activities, such as the necessary steps to analyze a situation, formulate a vision, collect data and propose alternative solutions. The forest area for which the plan will be made is a selected area in a tropical country (presumably Suriname). It includes field research (ecological, social), which is mandatory.

Added value:
Students learn how to combine different data (ecological, economic and social data) into a the sustainable management of forests. They’ll work in a tropical forest setting and determine the value of the forest for the local communities. They will get experience in an international context, contribute to a better livelihood of the farmers and learn about the different aspects of tropical forestry. 

Conducting research

• student is able to collect and analyse field data on vegetation structure and species composition of a tropical forest;
• student is able to collect and analyse social-economic data on the use of forests by different stakeholder groups;
• student is able to integrate social-economic and environmental data in a relatively complex setting and can recommend potential management activities
• student is able to apply sophisticated GIS- and remote sensing technologies and to analyse environmental spatial data for monitoring the status of natural resources
• student understands landscapes in terms of geomorphology and soils present at different spatial and temporal scales
• student understands the role of forests in climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies

Management of forest and nature

• student is familiar with techniques to harmonize, sustain and optimize people’s diverse forest-based needs and demands
• student can relate differences in landscape with respect to soils and landforms to management options
• student has insight in a range of management interventions directed at the sustainable delivery of relevant ecosystem goods and services
• student has knowledge and understanding of conservation practices
• student is able to develop a harvest plan for timber- and non-timber products, based on sustainability criteria
• student is able to develop forest- and nature management interventions as a strategy for climate change mitigation and climate adaptation

Project and Process Management

• student is able to work in a intercultural group to develop a constructive specific plan (using a logical framework following internationally accepted project cycle guidelines)
• student can analyse problems from points of view of different stakeholders and turn this into development objectives
• student is able to apply participatory methods in the planning, implementation, and monitoring of the project cycle

Entrepreneurship

• student is able to assess and evaluate costs and benefits of forest and nature management
• student is able to identify and design sustainable green business options for local communities in forest landscapes
• student is able to design and set up a so called payments for environmental services scheme (PES) in a tropical forest setting, including carbon offset programs (REDD+)

Design of plans

• student is able to integrate ecological, social and economic criteria in a sustainable forest management plan
• student knows and understands the causes and impacts of important issues in the domain of tropical forestry
• student is able to include relevant principles of Good Governance in a forest management plan
• student is able to prepare a management plan considering relevant conventions- laws and regulations influencing management

Communication

• Student understands and is able to apply the basic rules for good inter-cultural communication
• Student has knowledge about the process of and steps in interactive communication and can position this in a development project
• Student is able to view a problem and to assess impacts of developments from the perspective of different stakeholders

At least 120 credits obtained in previous bachelor programs, intake meeting and Acceptance of earlier obtained competences.

Provide documents for entry requirements:
CV and prove of obtained credits in earlier education at bachelor level.

ITTO/IUCN (2009); ITTO / IUCN guidelines for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in tropical timber production forests. ITTO Policy Development Series no. 17

Bauhus J, v.d. Meer P., Kanninen M. (2010), Ecosystem Goods and Services from Plantation Forests, earthscan, London Washington D.C. http://www.cifor.org/library/3156/ecosystem-goods-and-services-from-plantation-forests/

Beentje, H. 2020 The Kew Plant Glossary; na illustrated dictionary of plant terms 2nd edition with Some additions. Royal botanical Gardens, Kew.

FAO. 2011. FRAMEWORK FOR ASSESSING AND MONITORING FOREST GOVERNANCE. Profor. Roma.  http://www.fao.org/3/i2227e/i2227e00.pdf

Gräfe, S., Köhl, M., Eckelmann, C.M., Bremner, Q., Oatham, M., Pacheco, R., Playfair, M. and Shono, K. 2021. Sustainable management of logged tropical forests in the Caribbean to ensure long-term productivity. Forestry Working Paper No. 27. FAO. Roma. https://doi.org/10.4060/cb5484en

Jaboury Ghazoul and Douglas Sheil, 2010. Tropical Rain Forest Ecology, Diversity, and Conservation, Oxford University Press,  ISBN 9780199285884

There are 5 lecture-blocks covering in total 840 hours of teaching

Lectures: 154 hours
Case studies (group work):224 hours
Fieldwork: 120  hours
Self-study: 342 hours

1. proposal development (PD)– 150 hrs (lectures, practical, group work, self-study)
2. landscape processes (LP)– 150 hrs (lectures, practical, group work, self-study)
3. global forest issues (GFI) – 120 hrs (lectures, practical, debating session, self-study)
4. forest use systems (FUS)– 150 hrs (lectures, practical, group work, self-study)
5. Forest management plan (FMP) – 270 hrs (lectures, field excursion, group work)

Assessment 1
Name: TF Theory 1-PD (Proposal Development):
Topics: Various stages of developing project proposal, including stakeholder analysis, participatory planning, logical framework
Type assessment: Written
Weight: 3
Ind. or group assessment Individual assessment

Assessment 2
Name: TF Theory 2-LP (Landscape Processes)
Topics: IGSO – Geomorphology & Soils; GIS: creating, processing & analysing spatial data using ArcGIS; Remote sensing
Type assessment: Written exam (open questions) & computer exam: GIS skills exam. numeral 0 -10 (0,1 Int - 5,5 pass)
Weight: 3
Ind. or group assessment: Individual assessment

Assessment 3
Name: TF Theory 3-GFI (Global Forest Issues)
Topics: Tropical Forest Ecology, Tropical Nature Management and Sustainable Supply Chain
Type assessment: Written exam, open questions; numeral 0 -10 (0,1 Int - 5,5 pass)
Weight: 4
Ind. or group assessment: Individual assessment

Assessment 4
Name: TF Theory 4: FUS (Forest Use Systems)
Topics: Forest Use Systems: NTFP, Tropical Silviculture, Community Forestry & Taxonomy
Type assessment: Written exam, open questions numeral 0 -10 (0,1 Int - 5,5 pass)
Weight: 5
Ind. or group assessment: Individual assessment

Assessment 5
Name: TF Competence assessment FMP
Topics: In an individual interview of 30 minutes students will be questioned about their integral knowledge on the content of the Forest Management Plan they prepared;
Type assessment: Oral exam; numeral 0 -10 (0,1 Int - 5,5 pass)
Weight: 3
Ind. or group assessment: Individual assessment

Assessment 6
Name: TF Assignments – LP & PD
Topics: Assignments related to project development & landscape processes. Includes: project proposal report, GIS analysis report, remote sensing assignment
Type assessment: Portofolio of assignments; numeral 0 -10 (0,1 Int - 5,5 pass)
Weight: 5
Ind. or group assessment Individual

Assessment 7
Name: TF FMP Report
Topics: Report on sustainable Forest Management Plan for community forest.
Type assessment: Report; numeral 0 -10 (0,1 Int - 5,5 pass)
Weight: 4
Ind. or group assessment Group assessment

Assessment 8
Name: TF FMP Data Analysis/ GIS
Topics: Analysis of forest Inventory data; calculating sustainable logging volumes; Using remote sensing & ground thruthing for developing forest maps; role of maps in management of forest resources
Type assessment: Portofolio: number of assignments; numeral 0 -10 (0,1 Int - 5,5 pass)
Weight: 3
Ind. or group assessment: Individual assessment

In case of a low number of applications for the minor, the minor may not be offered. After closing the registration period, you will be informed as soon as possible.