I. General Information

1. Course Title:
Silviculture and Forest Management

2. Course Prefix & Number:
NATR 2235

3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:

Credits: 3

Lecture Hours: 2

Lab Hours: 3

4. Course Description:

This course is designed to familiarize students with basic silvicultural techniques and forest management considerations needed to take care of today’s forests. Topics include cultural techniques used in harvesting, thinning, timber stand improvement, and regeneration. Management considerations for wildlife, watershed, and recreation will be discussed as well. Other topics of discussion will include yearly management and allowable cut information.

5. Placement Tests Required:

6. Prerequisite Courses:

8. Prerequisite (Entry) Skills:
Needs to be able to use a compass and read various maps, have pacing skills, and be able to use GPS and GIS. Needs to be able to identify trees and understand the silvics and site ecology and characteristics of an area.

9. Co-requisite Courses:

There are no corequisites for this course.

II. Transfer and Articulation

1. Course Equivalency - similar course from other regional institutions:

Name of Institution	Course Number and Title	Credits
University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point	Forestry 320 – is a summer camp credit	3
University of Minnesota – Crookston	Natr 1244 Elements of Forestry – it includes our Dendrology as well	4

2. Transfer - regional institutions with which this course has a written articulation agreement:

Name of Institution	Date of Acceptance	Discipline/Area/Program of Transfer
University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point	Updated 4-16-09	NRES 250 + Forestry 320 + Soils 359
University of Minnesota – Crookston	12-04-2008	NatR Emphases -  Elements of Forestry

3. Prior Learning - the following prior learning methods are acceptable for this course:

• Written
• Oral
• Demonstration
• Portfolio

III. Course Purpose

1. Program-Applicable Courses – This course is required for the following program(s):

Natural Resources, AAS Degree

IV. Learning Outcomes

1. College-Wide Outcomes

College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies	Students will be able to:
Utilize appropriate technology	Use GPS/GIS technologies as well as other forest tools to collect data
Apply ethical principles in decision-making	Use appropriate environmental and ecological forest principles to create management plans

2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of the course:

• Take various tree measurements appropriately.
• Determine a site index from a particular site. 
• Collect the appropriate data using different timber cruising techniques.
• Classify the various categories of trees within the forest.
• Determine best harvesting techniques for any particular forest type.
• Determine best kinds of timber stand improvement methods.
• Determine thinning procedures for a particular stand.
• Determine various kinds of site preparation and regeneration techniques.
• Work safely in a forest environment throughout the year.

V. Topical Outline

Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.

1. Lecture Sessions

1. Discuss and analyze the differences between Silvics, Silviculture and Forest Management and why we study these aspects of forestry
2. Discuss and determine and analyze tree age, site index and site factors such as soil, light and moisture
3. Discuss and analyze the classification of trees within the forest
4. Discuss and analyze the various classifications of Forests
5. Describe, discuss and analyze the characteristics that govern the handling of forest types
6. Describe and discuss the various intermediate cuttings
7. Describe and discuss spacing determination
8. Describe and discuss the various harvesting systems
9. Describe and discuss the considerations for marking damaged and defecting trees
10. Describe consideration in selecting trees under partial cutting systems.
11. Describe site prep and the various kinds of reforestation
12. Describe consideration in caring for the young forest
13. Describe and discuss seasonal work loads
14. Describe, discuss, and analyze the forest Management plan
15. Describe, discuss and determine from data sustained yields, growing stock, and allowable cut
16. Discuss stumpage values

2. Laboratory/Studio Sessions

1. Determine site index using appropriate tools and charts
2. Determine dominant, co-dominant, intermediate and suppressed trees with a forest stand
3. Work with line a plot method of timber cruising – discussing cords and board foot volumes and calculations
4. Work with wedge prism method of cruising
5. Mark trees for thinning suing wedge prism – mark crop trees within the stand
6. Cruise a timber sale and write it up on DNR Timber sale form – 2 weeks
7. Make type maps for timber sale
8. Work in teams on a timber management plan – 3 weeks
9. Calculate growing stock and allowable cut determinations from given data
10. Visit a logging job and discuss the logging operation with logger
11. Go to a paper mill
12. Work with Forester and discuss the various aspects to the Forest site.
13. Present management plans to class