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New Zealand primary production systems; Ecosystem services from primary production systems; Cultural services provided by forests; Soil and water conservation and management; Biodiversity conservation and management; Policy, regulation, certification; Sustainable use of native forests for production; Management planning and monitoring.
This course provides an overview of the broader environmental and cultural issues associated with plantation forestry in Aotearoa New Zealand within the framework of ecosystem services. Ecosystem services are the goods (such as food and fibre) and services (such as water yield) that the human population derive, directly or indirectly, from ecosystems and are fundamentally important because the well-being of human society is totally reliant on them. Forests are particularly important as they provide many key ecosystem services that are not necessarily provided by other comparable land uses such as farming. This course will focus on a range of the ecosystem services provided by plantation forestry including biodiversity conservation, soil and water conservation, and cultural services. However, fibre production and carbon sequestration will not be covered here as they are covered in other courses. We will also address the policy frameworks within which ecosystem services are managed in Aotearoa New Zealand. We will be placing a particular emphasis on bicultural competence and confidence as Māori are key players in New Zealand forestry as forest and forest land owners, as forest managers and as a people to whom forests are an essential part of life.
This course will result in you obtaining the following learning outcomes: Knowledge - You will gain advanced specialised knowledge in:The NZ policy and regulatory framework (RMA, regional and district plans) within which plantation forestry operates, including the role of Te Tiriti o Waitangi | Treaty of Waitangi;National and international voluntary mechanisms that promote sound environmental forestry;The cultural, soil and water, and biodiversity values (ecosystem services) that arise from plantation forests;The relationships, historic and modern, between Māori and forestry.Skills - You will:Be able to identify and critically evaluate the effects of plantation forest management on ecosystem services;Be able to effectively communicate the results of such evaluations to others in the forestryprofession as well as to external stakeholders;Be able to respond to an environmental incident in an appropriate manner considering regulatory,voluntary and stakeholder considerations. Application - You will:Be able to generate management prescriptions to avoid adverse environmental impacts by integrating environmental considerations into forest management planning;Be able to summarise and present complex scientific information in a manner that land managers can readily understand and apply to their land management;Be able to consult with Māori in an appropriate manner over environmental issues associated with plantation forest management.These learning outcomes represent advanced specialised and theoretical knowledge that will enable you to contribute directly to decision making processes, both in the forest industry and in government agencies, associated with the environmental impacts of plantation forestry.
Subject to approval to the Chair, Forestry Board of Studies
FORE444, FORE445, BIOL379
David Norton
Domestic fee $2,204.00
International fee $9,600.00
* 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 .