FOR1412H F
Instructor: Danijela Puric-Mladenovic
Meeting Section: L0101
May 23 - June 30
In-Person

Forests and vegetation, as primary producers, are providers of diverse ecological functions and are the backbone of biodiversity and sustainability. As building blocks of green infrastructure in settled landscapes, they also serve as a natural climate solution, provide numerous ecological goods and services, and are the most efficient and sustainable way to combat climate change and environmental degradation. However, their functions and productivity are the complex products of their structure, composition, environmental conditions, and various disturbances. Forest and vegetation change over time. Sometimes these changes are more abrupt and visible (e.g., loss of ash due to impact of EAB), and sometimes, changes are more subtle (e.g., slow decline of a native plant species). Occasionally changes follow known successional trajectories, but sometimes, they take new directions, and novel communities are formed. To understand and detect the changes, it is first necessary to know the baseline condition of forest structure, composition, environmental conditions, and disturbances. Such quantified baseline vegetation condition, at specific geographic locations, is the first step toward monitoring forests, vegetation, and ecosystem health over time. Monitoring, in return, provides quantitative information necessary for informing adaptive management, conservation, and restoration. Monitoring outcomes also serve to evaluate the effectiveness of the existing policies (e.g., land use planning and forest policies) and provide evidence to support new policies.

This elective course introduces graduate students to vegetation monitoring and inventory and their relevance to the conservation, restoration, and management of forests and other natural vegetation. It also introduces students to the significance of standard, quantitative, and geo-referenced vegetation information. The course will demonstrate the importance of sampling and monitoring, quantitative vegetation and environmental information, and their relevance to p and research needs. It will teach students how to utilize strategic sampling, field data, and vegetation information to facilitate a range of practical and research applications ranging from a species, plant community, stand, and patch to a landscape level. The specific course objectives are to provide students with

• An understanding of southern Ontario vegetation, vegetation communities, and plants and their relevance and application to forest conservation;
• Advanced skills in vegetation monitoring and field sampling;
• An understanding of vegetation informatics and how to expertly collect, record and manage monitoring data;
• Competencies in using, analyzing, summarizing, and interpreting vegetation information; 5) Learn how to utilize field data in analysis and write a summary of findings from text, graphs, to GIS maps;
• Develop knowledge and skills transferable to the job market and research projects.

The course offers a hands-on experience and an experiential learning opportunity in vegetation sampling, monitoring, bioinformatics, and the use of vegetation information. Students will gain functional knowledge in vegetation and ecosystem health and a range of practical and theoretical skills transferable to their specific projects and/or job market. During field sampling, they will also have an opportunity to interact with and learn from conservation and forestry professionals.

The summer course will run on May 23 with the following (contact hours) intensity:

• The course will run for 9 full days (full days are at least 8 hours long). The full field (hands-on) days will be from May 23 to June 2.

The course will start with a whole day (theory and background) lecture at the downtown campus (May 23rd).

• For four weeks in June, 2 hours of lectures and discussion per week (equivalent to 8 hours of lecture = 4 days) (zoom).

The course has in total 80 contact hours (equivalent to 10 days total).

• After the last lecture in June, students have a maximum of four weeks to submit the final paper (by August 1st)

In-person 9 days
Post-field lectures 4 lectures will be online in the evenings.

The post-field course timing and mode of delivery in June are adjusted to the MFC program and other grad students in forestry. The course starts after their required field courses and before their internships. The course timing allows MFCs and other grad students to take this summer course, and complete the field component before starting their internship or field sampling related to their research or projects.

This is a graduate-level course, and familiarity and knowledge of plants and the ability to identify plants and work in field conditions are required.

Courses in forestry, plant identification, biology, ecology, plant biology, and upper-level BIO. Plant identification and plant taxonomy skills are considered assets.