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Forests in a Global Context (FRST20014)

Undergraduate level 2Points: 12.5Dual-Delivery (Parkville)

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Overview

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July - Dual-Delivery
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Forests cover 30% of the earth’s land surface. They provide basic sustenance for an estimated 1.6 billion people, store a large proportion of the world's biodiversity and provide raw material for a widely traded and used commodity and ecosystem services such as clean water, carbon sequestration and soil protection. Forests are also a major source of creative and artistic inspiration. Sustainable management and use of the world’s forests will be a critical component of a sustainable future for the human beings.

This subject introduces the world’s forests from social, historical, environmental and economic perspectives. It will describe the evolutionary development of forests, classification of forest types, factors determining forest distribution, how people have interacted with forests during human history and the many values and benefits of the forest including forest products and trade and environmental services, aesthetic functions and forests in literature and art. Impacts of global change, policies for sustainable forest management, the role of plantations and the use of forest products in architecture and construction.

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of this subject, students should be able to:

  • Understand the time line for the development of forests and grasslands and the evolution of Homo;
  • Describe and interpret the impacts of different species of Homo on forests and grasslands over recent millennia;
  • Explain the diversity of forest types, key wood and non-wood forest products and the state of the worlds' forests;
  • Appraise the role, opportunities and/or challenges faced or offered by forest ecosystems from an environmental, social, and/or economic perspective;
  • Interpret the role that forests play in the provision and regulation of ecosystem services involving carbon, water and nutrients; and
  • Evaluate the potential role of forests and forest management in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere.

Generic skills

This subject contributes to the development of generic skills. On completion, students should have further developed their skills in:

  • Develop critical thinking skills;
  • Develop on-line study and investigation skills;
  • Good report writing skills.

Last updated: 4 December 2021