FORE331-26S1 (C) Semester One 2026

Plantation Silviculture

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 16 February 2026
End Date: Sunday, 21 June 2026
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 1 March 2026
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 10 May 2026

Description

Plantation silviculture in New Zealand: establishment, tending, and harvest preparation of forestry tree crop species in even-aged, single-species stands for the management of wood and non-wood products.

This course will explore how our most important plantation forestry species can be trained to grow in a way that satisfies the needs of both domestic and export log markets, as well as other timber and non-timber forest product markets. The science and processes behind this growth are investigated so that key decisions on what tree crop species to plant, where to plant them, how to plant them, and the best way to care for them until harvest can be made. Societal and ecological considerations that factor into silvicultural decisions are also explored and discussed.

Learning Outcomes

1. Understand the key biological processes influencing plantation forests in New Zealand (EEI3)
2. Analyse the interactions between social, financial and biological factors, as they influence decision making in plantation forests (EEI1, EEI3, CE3)
3. Apply the principles and tools available for decision-making in forest plantations (EEI1, EEI3, EEI4, CE3, GA2)
4. Understand alternative regimes as they are applied in plantations from establishment through to harvest (EEI3)

University Graduate Attributes

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attributes specified below:

Critically competent in a core academic discipline of their award

Students know and can critically evaluate and, where applicable, apply this knowledge to topics/issues within their majoring subject.

Employable, innovative and enterprising

Students will develop key skills and attributes sought by employers that can be used in a range of applications.

Engaged with the community

Students will have observed and understood a culture within a community by reflecting on their own performance and experiences within that community.

Globally aware

Students will comprehend the influence of global conditions on their discipline and will be competent in engaging with global and multi-cultural contexts.

Prerequisites

FORE219 - Introduction to Silviculture

Restrictions

FORE307, FORE620

Timetable 2026

Students must attend one activity from each section.

Lecture A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Monday 14:00 - 15:00 F1 Lectorial
16 Feb - 29 Mar
20 Apr - 31 May
Lecture B
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Tuesday 11:00 - 12:00 Rehua 102
16 Feb - 29 Mar
20 Apr - 31 May
Lecture C
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Friday 11:00 - 12:00 A7
16 Feb - 29 Mar
20 Apr - 31 May
Computer Lab A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Tuesday 13:00 - 15:00 Forestry 252 Computer Lab
23 Feb - 1 Mar
23 Mar - 29 Mar
20 Apr - 3 May
11 May - 24 May
Computer Lab B
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Tuesday 13:00 - 17:00 Forestry 252 Computer Lab
16 Mar - 22 Mar
Field Trip A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Tuesday 12:00 - 16:00 - 2 Mar - 15 Mar
4 May - 10 May

Course Coordinator

Justin Morgenroth

Lecturer

Matt Deering

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage 
Silvicultural technique report 30%
Silviculture prescription 30%
Final exam 40%

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $1,190.00

International fee $5,875.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see School of Forestry .

All FORE331 Occurrences

  • FORE331-26S1 (C) Semester One 2026