Learn the essentials of managing forests for Agroforestry
Trade skills are a cornerstone of the forestry industry. Forestry starts with planting and growing trees (using horticultural skills) and ends with harvesting and processing timber (which is mostly mechanised). Forestry employs people to work with all sorts of light and heavy equipment, requiring both skills to operate and to maintain that equipment.
This course is ideal to help you learn the essentials of managing forests, harvesting and growing trees for timber as well as the processing and milling that will need to take place. It is suitable for those who would like to also learn about conservation and restoration forestry as well as urban, farming and plantation forestry.
Course Code: BAG109
Course Duration: 100 hours of self paced studies
TYPES OF FORESTS
In the past, a lot of forestry was carried out in natural forests. Trees were removed to both obtain timber and at the same time, clear land for farming. We now recognise that approach is often short term gain for long term pain. Some enlightened communities have long used more sustainable forestry practices such as:
- Pollarding - cutting wood from a tree perhaps every several years, but leaving the tree alive to regrow. Certain timber species can live for hundreds of years with poles being taken perhaps every 5 to 10 years.
- Selective Harvesting - taking some trees, but leaving others, and replanting after harvest. Well managed forests treated this way can provide an ongoing source of wood for hundreds of years without degrading the forest environment. The quantity of timber that is taken however must be very carefully managed,
Apart from natural forests, modern forestry also uses plantation forests, farm forests (agroforestry) and urban forests.
COURSE CONTENTS
There are nine lessons in this course:
Lesson 1 The Scope, Nature and Fundamentals of Forestry
- Introduction to Forests
- Tree Value
- Understanding Wood
- Tools in Forestry
- Power Tools and General Tool Maintenance
- Deciding on Tools in Agroforestry Applications
- Extending Chain Life
- Duty of Care in The Workplace
- Protective Equipment
Lesson 2 Timber Types
- Introduction to Timber and Forest Products
- Different Types of Wood and Their Uses
- Composites
Lesson 3 Harvesting
- Tree Felling and Stump Removal
- Protecting Trees
- National Tree Registers
- Keeping the Work Site Safe
- Duty of Care
- Costing Jobs
Lesson 4 Milling and Processing
- Introduction to Processing Timber
- Turning Trees into Timber
- Reviewing Saws
- Effecting of Shrinkage
- Wood Preservation in Cut Timber
Lesson 5 Plantation and Forestry Management
- Introduction
- Key terms
- Silviculture
- Shelterbelts
- Pruning and Thinning
Lesson 6 Conservation & Restoration Forestry
-
Introduction to conservation and restoration
- Forestry for Wildlife Conservation
- Forestry for Erosion Control
- Forestry for Salinity Control
- Design Options including wide-spaced, clump and cluster and woodlots
Lesson 7 Agroforestry
- Introduction to agroforestry
- Benefits of Agroforestry including carbon sinks and credits
- Agroforestry in Farming
- Future Developments
Lesson 8 Urban Forestry
- Introduction to Urban Forestry
- Selecting Tree Species
- Where to Plant
- Environmental and Health Benefits of Trees in Urban Environments
- Production Benefits of Trees in Urban Environments
Lesson 9 PBL: Planning a Commercial Timber Production
- Project Based Activity: to write a plan for commercial timber production on a small 5-acre woodlot, taking account of the site specific and environmental considerations.
Modern Forestry is More Environmentally Sensitive
Forests are grown for two reasons; to harvest timber and to provide a desirable environment. With concerns about global warming, forests are more important than ever for their environmental value, but timber is still a highly valued commodity. There is a delicate balance to be struck between growing trees for their environmental benefit and harvesting them for their timber. Modern forest workers need to appreciate this balance to avoid unnecessary damage to the environment in their daily work practices.
Why study this Course?
- A foundation - a start for anyone seeking to work in the forestry industry
- To broaden an understanding of the industry (for anyone working in forestry)
- Farmers, land managers, property owners wanting to diversify perhaps into farm or urban forestry
Thinking of Enrolling? Get in Touch
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Contact us and let us guide you on your learning pathway.
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