BSc (Hons) Woodland Ecology and Conservation

Program Overview

The BSc (Hons) Woodland Ecology and Conservation program at the University of Cumbria equips students with the knowledge and skills to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss through sustainable forest management. It emphasizes practical experience, research, and collaboration, preparing graduates for careers in forestry, conservation, environmental consulting, and research. The program is accredited by the Institute of Chartered Foresters, ensuring industry-standard education.

Program Outline

BSc (Hons) Woodland Ecology and Conservation - University of Cumbria

Degree Overview:

This degree program is designed to equip students with the ecological knowledge and practical skills needed to tackle the twin challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss. It focuses on modern sustainable forest management, with a particular emphasis on protecting biodiversity and optimizing the delivery of benefits to human society, including timber production, recreation, and ecosystem services (carbon, nutrient, and water cycling, flood and erosion control). The program aims to:

• Develop a comprehensive understanding of forest management principles: Including physical, biological, economic, and sociological aspects.
• Apply these principles to the sustainable management of woodlands: Focusing on multiple goods and ecosystem services.
• Critically assess contemporary issues in woodland conservation: Such as rewilding and species reintroductions.
• Explore the commercial, social, and environmental contexts of forestry: Understanding the consequences of forestry practices for the rural economy, society, and the environment.
• Conduct research: Monitoring changes in forest condition, health, and carbon capture.
• Acquire skills in describing tree and forest types: Understanding the ecological systems and processes they support.

Outline:

The program is structured across three years, with a variety of modules designed to develop a diverse range of skills and knowledge.

Year One:

• Introduction to Managing Trees, Woods, and Forests: Covers the history of forestry, soil and plant science, and principles of sustainable forest management.
• Measuring Trees and Forests: Focuses on standard methods of tree and woodland measurement in British forestry.
• Silviculture: Provides a grounding in silvicultural practice, including plantation, conservation, and amenity woodland establishment and maintenance.
• Woodland Ecology: Introduces ecology and ecological processes, including interactions between organisms and their environments.
• Forestry Fundamentals: Develops key writing and presentation skills.
• Biodiversity 1: Introduces the range of biodiversity on the planet, covering both theoretical and practical aspects.
• Biodiversity 2: Builds on identification and field skills, focusing on practical applications of biodiversity.

Year Two:

• Biodiversity Monitoring: Develops biological survey design and monitoring techniques.
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS): Provides an understanding of GIS theory and application within forestry.
• Research Methods and Data Analysis: Introduces the scientific method, research design, data collection, and analytical skills for dissertation projects.
• Forest Policy and Governance: Explores national and international legislative and policy frameworks in forest management.
• Forest Health and Protection: Focuses on identification, understanding, and management of biotic and abiotic factors affecting tree and forest health.
• Forests & People (Optional): Explores the historical and contemporary roles of forests and woodlands in rural and urban communities.
• Valuing the Environment (Optional): Examines concepts like natural capital, nature's contribution to people, and ecosystem services.
• Environmental Change: Past Present Future (Optional): Covers the evidence for and forcing of past climate change, its impact on landscapes, and the evolution of humans and society.

Year Three:

• Dissertation: Students will conduct independent research and develop a dissertation project on a self-selected topic related to woodland ecology and conservation.
• Woodland Conservation: Compares conservation to ecology and sustainability, examining the historical development of the conservation movement.
• Forest Plan: Provides students with the opportunity to engage in objective-led forest management planning using sustainable forest management principles.
• Applied Field Studies (Optional): Offers practical experience in data collection, analysis, and scientific reporting.
• Advanced Silviculture (Optional): Deepens understanding of silvicultural practices in temperate and tropical regions.
• Business Skills (Optional): Develops business planning skills, including evaluating business impacts and resource planning.
• Advanced GIS and Remote Sensing (Optional): Provides advanced skills in using GIS and remote sensing for conservation and natural resource management.
• Climate Smart Forestry (Optional): Focuses on the causes and impacts of climate change and adaptation/mitigation strategies in forestry.
• Wildlife Management (Optional): Applies knowledge of wildlife and conservation to real-life situations, focusing on management techniques and planning for habitat, populations, and species.

Assessment:

• Variety of assessments: Practical and theoretical, including:
• Fieldwork and laboratory reports
• Essays and reports
• Critically analyzing real-life case studies
• Role-playing simulations
• Group-working: Especially in outdoor practical sessions, developing collaborative and organizational skills.

Teaching:

• Delivered by research-active academics: Many with recent woodland management experience.
• Methods: Lectures, laboratory practicals, computer sessions, and fieldwork in woodlands around the Ambleside campus.
• Emphasis on practical experience: Field trips and discussions about ecologically-based decision-making.
• Collaborative learning: Group work and team projects.

Careers:

• Excellent graduate job prospects: Due to the growing need for skilled professionals in woodland ecology and conservation.
• Potential career paths:
• Forestry Officer:
Managing forests for timber production, recreation, and conservation.
• Conservation Officer: Working on biodiversity conservation projects, habitat restoration, and species management.
• Environmental Consultant: Advising on environmental impact assessments, land management, and sustainability.
• Research Scientist: Conducting research into woodland ecology and conservation, contributing to policy development.
• Strong links with organizations: Including the Royal Forestry Society and Woodland Trust, providing placement and job opportunities.

Other:

• Location: The Ambleside campus, in the heart of the Lake District National Park, provides a unique opportunity to study in a beautiful and inspiring natural environment.
• Hands-on experience: The program emphasizes practical experience through fieldwork, laboratory sessions, and study tours.
• Integrated Foundation Year: Available for students who do not meet the standard entry requirements.
• Sandwich Placement: Students can opt for a one-year work placement in a related profession.
• Accredited by the Institute of Chartered Foresters: Ensuring the program meets industry standards.

Note:

While the document provides detailed information on the program's content, structure, assessment, and teaching methods, it does not explicitly address career outcomes.

Tuition Fees and Payment Information:

• Tuition Fees
2024 - 2025 £9,250 - UK £13,575 - International
• The figures above don't include accommodation and living costs.
• Tuition fees are set annually and are subject to review each year.
The University may therefore raise tuition fees in the second or subsequent years of a course, in line with inflation and/or the maximum permitted by law or Government policy. Students will be notified of any changes as soon as possible.