Forest Stewardship

Catalog description

Forests are a key component of the ecological and cultural landscapes of Wisconsin, the Driftless Area, and the world. They also play fundamental roles in supporting biodiversity, ecosystem function, and climate adaptation. Changes in species composition resulting from changes in disturbance regimes, the arrival of non-local beings, climate change, and shifting societal relationships with forests highlight the fact that people are key contributors to the composition, health, and resilience of forest ecosystems, and therefore carry the responsibility of understanding how these systems work and in what ways people can support their stewardship. This course will help students understand the interactions of forest species and successional dynamics, their relationships with resource availability such as water and sunlight, and the ways in which humans can engage with forests to promote diverse and resilient landscapes. Learning will primarily be field-based and applied, and will include chainsaw safety certification and skills development to safely and effectively promote forest health. Components: Field Studies Prereqs/Coreqs: P: ENVSS 1040 or ECORES 1010 or BIOLOGY 1750 Typically Offered: Winter