DIPLOMA IN FORESTRY COURSE OUTLINES

 

 

Introductory Forestry- FOR 111

  

This course provides an overview of modern forestry practice with emphasis on tropical forests.

COURSE OUTLINE

HOUR

TOPIC

L

P

Week

1

Introduction to Forestry

1

  

1

2-3

World forestry

2

  

1

4-5

Practical

  

2

1

6-7

Caribbean/Guyana forestry

2

  

2

8-9

Practical

  

2

2

10-14

Dendrology

5

  

3

15-19

Field work – tree identification

  

5

4

20-21

Forest ecology

2

  

5

22-23

Practical

  

2

5

24-26

Forest establishment and silviculture

3

  

6

27-28

Field work

  

2

6

29-30

Inventory and mensuration

2

  

7

31-33

Field work

  

3

7

34-36

Forest management and administration

3

  

8

37-38

Practical

  

2

8

39-40

Harvesting

2

  

9

41-42

Practical

  

2

9

43-44

Forest policy and laws

2

  

10

45-46

Practical

  

2

10

47-48

Wood properties and identification

2

  

11

49-51

Practical

  

3

11

52-53

Utilisation and marketing

2

  

12

54-55

Practical

  

2

12

56-57

Social and environmental forestry

2

  

12

58-60

Practical

  

3

13
 

Revision

    

14
 

Exam

    

15
         
 

TOTAL

30

30

  

 

Forest Surveying and Mapping- FOR 121

INTRODUCTION

This course provides the basic mapping and surveying skills and knowledge required for forest management.

COURSE OUTLINE

HOUR

TOPIC

L

P

WEEK

1

Introduction to mapping, surveying and equipment

1

  

1

2-3

Map types, scales, symbols

2

  

1

4-5

Practical

  

2

1

6-8

Contours, projections and grids

3

  

2

9-10

Practical

  

2

2

11-15

Map drawing

5

  

3

16-20

Practical

  

5

4

21-22

Compass types and use, magnetic declination

2

  

5

23-25

Practical

  

3

5

26-29

Navigation, compass and chain, traverses

4

  

6

30-34

Field work

  

5

7

35-38

Surveying road and trail lines, boundary surveys, area measurement

4

  

8

39-43

Field work

  

5

9

44-45

Levelling

2

  

10

46-47

Field work

  

2

10

48-49

Stock map systems

2

  

11

50-51

Practical

  

2

11

52-53

Fundamentals of GPS

2

  

12

54-55

Field work

  

2

12

56-58

Introduction to remote sensing and GIS

3

  

13

59-60

Practical

  

2

13
 

Revision

    

14
 

Exam

    

15
         
 

TOTAL

 

 

Mathematics for Forestry- FOR 122

  

INTRODUCTION

This course provides an introduction to algebra, geometry, trigonometry and calculus for the Forestry student.

COURSE OUTLINE

HOUR

TOPIC

L

WEEK

1

Properties of real numbers

1

1

2-4

Solving simple linear equations and inequalities

3

1

5-7

Relations, functions

3

2

8-9

Linear, constant and identity functions, reciprocal functions, graphs of functions

2

2

10-12

Composition of functions, inverse functions

3

3

13-14

Quadratic functions – properties and graphs, max/min values, range

2

3

15-16

Solving quadratic equations – factorisation and use of quadratic formula

2

4

17-18

Solving quadratic inequalities

2

4

19-20

Logarithms

2

5

21-22

Algebraic fractions

2

5

23-24

Coordinate geometry – the coordinate plan, quadrants and the coordinates of points in the plane

2

6

25-26

Distance between two points in the plane, gradients and the inclination of the line

2

6

27-29

Equation of a straight line – through the origin, of given gradient and intercept, of given gradient and point on the line

3

7

30-31

Equation of a straight line – given two points on the line, of parallel and perpendicular lines

2

7

32-33

Point of intersection of two lines (elimination and substitution), point of intersection of a line and a quadratic curve (substitution)

2

8

34-35

The circle – general equation, equation of the tangent line to a circle, equation of a circle of given diameter, length of a tangent from an external point.

2

8

36-37

Coordinate geometry of a conic section, general equation of a conic section

2

9

38-39

Polar coordinates – the pole, radial line, plotting points in polar coordinates, sketching curves in polar coordinates

2

9

40-42

Trigonometry – review of angles (degrees) and general properties of a triangle, the right-angled triangle, Pythagoras’ Theorem

3

10

43-44

Sine, cosine and tangent ratios of acute angles, use of trig ratios in finding heights and distances

2

10

45

Solution of non right-angled triangles

1

11

46-47

Inverse trig ratios sin-1, cos-1 and tan-1 and use in finding angles, trig ratios up to 360°

2

11

48-49

Graphs of sin x, cos x and tan x, 0 x 360°

2

11

50

Identities – sin2x + cos2x = 1 and use in solving identities

1

12

51

Radian measure

1

12

52

Limits, gradients

1

12

53-54

Differentiation, curves, higher derivatives

2

12

55

Tangents and normals, maxima and minima

1

13

56-57

Turning points and curve sketching

2

13

58-60

Integration, definite and indefinite integrals, area under the curve

3

13

 

Revision

  

14

 

Exam

  

15

       
 

TOTAL

60

  

 

Dendrology -FOR 211

 

INTRODUCTION

This course provides a background to taxonomy, tree structures, herbarium collections and tree identification.

COURSE OUTLINE

HOUR

TOPIC

L

P

WEEK

1

Introduction to Dendrology

1

  

1

2-4

Principles of taxonomy, classification and nomenclature

3

  

1

5-6

Practical

  

2

2

7-9

Principal families of Guyanese trees and their characteristics

3

  

2

10-12

Identification features – leaves, bark, stem, flowers, fruit, roots etc

3

3

13-14

Practical

  

2

3

15-16

Keys and other identification aids

2

  

4

17-18

Practical

  

2

4

19-22

Collection, preservation, mounting and labelling of samples

4

  

5

23

Key features of morphology, anatomy, phenology and distribution of Guyanese timber trees 1-5

1

  

6

24-27

Field work/practical

  

4

6

28

Key features of morphology, anatomy, phenology and distribution of Guyanese timber trees 6-10

1

  

7

29-32

Field work/practical

  

4

7

33

Key features of morphology, anatomy, phenology and distribution of Guyanese timber trees 11-15

1

  

8

34-37

Field work/practical

  

4

8

38

Key features of morphology, anatomy, phenology and distribution of Guyanese timber trees 16-20

1

  

9

39-42

Field work/practical

  

4

9

43

Key features of morphology, anatomy, phenology and distribution of Guyanese timber trees 21-25

1

  

10

44-47

Field work/practical

  

4

10

48

Key features of morphology, anatomy, phenology and distribution of Guyanese timber trees 26-30

1

  

11

49-52

Field work/practical

  

4

11

53-56

Exotic tree species, indicator species and shrubs

4

  

12

57-60

Important NTFP species

4

  

13
 

Revision

    

14
 

Exam

    

15
         
         
 

TOTAL

30

30

  

 

 

 

Forest Mensuration and Inventory- FOR 212

 INTRODUCTION

This course covers the theory and techniques required to carry out tree and forest measurements and to plan and conduct forest inventories.

 

HOUR

TOPIC

L

P

WEEK
1 Introduction to Inventory and Mensuration

1

1
2 Mensuration parameters

1

1
3 Practical

1

1
4-6 Measurement of tree diameter and calculation of cross-sectional area, measurement of tree height

3

1
7-10 Field work

4

2
11-12 Calculation of single tree volumes – taper, form height, volume tables

2

2
13-16 Field work

4

3
17-19 Stand parameters – basal area, stocking, stand tables, stand volume

3

3
20-21 Practical

2

4
22-23 Sample plots, plotless sampling, elementary statistics

2

4
24-25 Field work

2

4
26-27 Permanent sample plots, increment

2

5
28-31 Practical

4

5
32-33 Measurement of logs and piles

2

6
34-37 Field work

4

6
38-40 Growth and yield models

3

7
41-42 Practical

2

7
43-44 Forest information requirements

2

7
45 Types of inventory, standard procedures

1

8
46-47 Inventory parameters

2

8
48 Sampling systems, stratification, intensity, plot size

1

8
49 Practical

1

8
50 Management inventory

1

8
51-52 Practical 2

9
53-55 Pre-harvest inventory, post-harvest inventory

3

9
56-57 Practical

2

9
58-59 Planning, execution, supervision

2

10
60-62 Data analysis and presentation

3

10
63-64 Practical

2

10
65-71 Field work – pre-harvest inventory

7

11
72-73 RS, GIS and GPS use in inventory

2

12
74-77 Practical

4

12
78-79 Inventory of NTFPs

2

13
80-83 Practical

4

13
Revision

14
Exam

15
TOTAL

38

45

 

Forest Engineering- FOR 213

INTRODUCTION

This course covers the theoretical and practical engineering requirements for forest management.

HOUR

 TOPIC

L

P

WEEK
1 Introduction to Forest Engineering

1

1
2-4 Forestry machinery

3

1
5-6 Processing plant

2

2
7-8 Internal combustion engines

2

2
9-11 Practical

3

3
12-13 Transmission, hydraulic, electrical systems

2

3
14-16 Practical

3

4
17-18 Plant and vehicle maintenance and maintenance schedules

2

4
19-20 Practical

2

5
21-22 Skid trail and log-landing construction

2

5
23-24 Practical

2

6
25-27 Road design and specification, road construction

3

6
28-30 Practical

3

7
31-32 Bridges and culverts

2

7
33-42 Field work – trail, log-landing and road construction

10

8 + 9
43-45 Settlement planning and design, drainage, water supply, disposal

3

10
46-47 Practical

2

10
48 Power generation and distribution systems

1

11
49-51 Simple building design and construction

3

11
52-54 Practical

3

12
55-56 Quantity and cost estimation

2

12
57-58 Practical

2

13
59 Ergonomics

1

13
60 Standards and guidelines

1

13
Revision

14
Exam

15
TOTAL

30

30

 

Forest Ecology- FOR 214

INTRODUCTION

This course covers essential elements of forest ecology as they relate to silviculture and management of tropical forests. 

HOUR

TOPIC

L

P

WEEK
1 Introduction to Forest Ecology

1

1
2 Major forest types of the world and their origins

1

1
3-4 Practical

2

1
5-6 Forest types of Guyana and their origins

2

2
7-9 Practical

3

2
10-11 Abiotic influences on the forest – climate, geology, soils, pollution, fire

2

3
12-13 Practical

2

3
14-16 Nutrient and water cycles

3

4
17-18 Practical

2

4
19-20 Communities, population structure, species composition

2

5
21-23 Practical

3

5
24-25 Ecological guilds, life strategies, succession

2

6
26-27 Practical

2

6
28-29 Flowering and reproduction

2

7
30-31 Practical

2

7
32-34 Population dynamics

3

8
35-36 Practical

2

8
37-39 Ecology of major tree species in Guyana

3

9
40-41 Plant/animal interactions, food webs and niches, adaptation

2

9
42-46 Field work

5

10
47-48 Keystone species

2

11
49-50 Practical

2

11
51-53 Biodiversity measures

3

12
54-55 Practical

2

12
56-57 Human influences and interaction, ecosystem disturbance and stability

2

13
58-60 Field work

3

13
Revision

14
Exam

15
TOTAL

30

30

 

Information Technology in Forestry- FOR 215

 INTRODUCTION

This course provides a grounding in the application of common software packages in forest management.

HOUR

 TOPIC

L

P

WEEK
1-3 Introduction to IT in forestry and computer basics

3

1
4-6 Word-processing

3

2
7-12 Practical

6

3-4
13-15 Spreadsheets

3

5
16-21 Practical

6

6-7
22-23 Databases

2

8
24-29 Practical

6

8/9
30-31 Internet

2

10
32-37 Practical

6

10/11
38 Statistical packages

1

12
39-41 Practical

3

12
42 Graphics/Image processing packages

1

13
43-45 Practical

3

13
Revision

14
Exam

15
TOTAL

15

30

 

Silviculture -FOR 221

  INTRODUCTION

This course covers essential elements of silviculture and silvicultural systems primarily in the neotropical situation.

HOUR

TOPIC

L

P

WEEK
1 Introduction to Silviculture

1

1
2-3 Tree growth patterns

2

1
4-5 Practical

2

1
6-7 Stand structures and profiles

2

2
8-10 Practical

3

2
11-12 Stand growth patterns

2

3
13-15 Practical

3

3
16-17 Silvics of major timber species of Guyana

2

4
18-19 Regeneration

2

4
20-24 Field work

5

5
25-28 Thinning

4

6
29-33 Field work

5

7
34-35 Elements of forest protection

2

8
36-37 Practical

2

8
38-39 Nurseries and propagation

2

9
40-41 Field work

2

9
42-44 Essentials of plantation establishment and management

3

10
45-46 Principles of agroforestry

2

10
47-51 Field work

5

11
52-55 Silvicultural systems

4

12
56-58 Practical

3

13
59-60 Standards and guidelines

2

13
Revision

14
Exam

15
TOTAL

30

30

 

Forest Utilisation- FOR 222

INTRODUCTION

This course covers conversion and processing of timber and non-timber forest outputs for the manufacture of forest products.

 OBJECTIVES

By the end of the course, students should:

1. Be familiar with essentials of wood structure and properties

2. Understand conversion and processing methods and technologies

3. Be familiar with the range of traditional and modern forest products

HOUR

 TOPIC

L

P

WEEK
1 Introduction to Forest Utilisation

1

1
2-3 Wood structure

2

1
4-5 Practical

2

1
6-7 Timber identification

2

2
8-10 Practical

3

2
11-12 Wood properties

2

3
13 Practical

1

3
14-15 Timber specifications and log grading

2

3
16-20 Field work

5

4
21-22 Major forest products in Guyana

2

5
23-24 Conversion processes I Sawmilling

2

5
25-29 Field work

5

6
30-31 Conversion processes II Peeling, chipping, pulping

2

7
32-33 Conversion processes III Portable mill and chainsaw conversion

2

7
34-35 Timber seasoning I – Air drying, kiln drying

2

8
36-37 Timber preservation and storage

2

8
38-42 Field work

5

9
43-45 Plywood manufacture, other laminates and composites

3

10
46 Firewood and charcoal

1

10
47-50 Non-timber forest products

4

11
51-55 Field work

5

12
56 Health and safety, standards

1

13
57-60 Field work

4

13
Revision

14
Exam

15
TOTAL

30

30

 

Forest Management and Planning- FOR 223

INTRODUCTION

This course provides an overview of forest management and planning techniques within the context of sustainable, multi-purpose and participatory forest management.

HOUR

TOPIC

L

P

WEEK
1 Introduction to Forest Management and Planning

1

1
2 Objects of management

1

1
3-5 Principles of sustainable and multiple-use forest management

3

1
6-7 Forest zoning, divisions and management units

2

2
8-9 Practical

2

2
10-12 Yield regulation and control, allowable annual cut, harvest scheduling

3

3
13-14 Practical

2

3
15-18 Forest administration, forest records, log-tracking, stumpage appraisal, rent and royalties

4

4
19-23 Practical/Field work

5

5
24-25 Method study and work measurement

2

6
26-27 Practical

2

6
28-29 Certification, standards and guidelines

2

7
30-31 Practical

2

7
32-33 Forest management plans – large and small concessions

2

8
34-35 Forest management plans – watersheds, forest reserves, forest parks

2

8
36-45 Practical – management plan

10

9 + 10
46-48 Community involvement

3

11
49-50 Practical/Field work

2

11
51-53 Forest management decisions – decision trees, networks, critical paths

3

12
54-55 Practical

2

12
56-57 Strategic forest planning

2

13
58-60 Practical

3

13
Revision

14
Exam

15
TOTAL

30

30

 

Forest Harvesting -FOR 224

INTRODUCTION

This course provides the theory and techniques required to plan and supervise efficient and safe harvesting operations of timber and non-timber forest output.

HOUR

 TOPIC

L

P

WEEK
1 Introduction to Forest Harvesting

1

1
2 Principles of Reduced Impact Logging (RIL)

1

1
3 Tree location/stock maps

1

1
4-5 Practical

2

1
6-7 Chainsaws I – components, maintenance, operation and safety

2

2
8-9 Practical

2

2
10-11 Felling systems, directional felling

2

3
12-14 Practical

3

3
15-16 Extraction systems I – Skidding, skid trail design

2

4
17-19 Practical

3

4
20-22 Extraction systems II – Cable-crane, shortwood and other systems

3

5
23-24 Loading, unloading and storage

2

5
25-28 Transportation

4

6
29-37 Field work – felling and extraction systems

9

7 + 8
38-39 Planning harvesting operations, costing

2

9
40-42 Practical

3

9
43-45 Supervising harvesting operations

3

10
46-47 Practical

2

10
48-50 NTFP harvesting

3

11
51-52 Practical

2

11
53-54 Health and safety

2

12
55-56 Standards and guidelines

2

12
57-60 Practical

4

13
Revision

14
Exam

15
TOTAL

30

30

 

Human Resource and Financial Management -FOR 225

INTRODUCTION

This course provides an introduction to concepts and practice of human and financial management relevant for supervisory and sub-professional level in forestry enterprises.

HOUR

 TOPIC

L

P

WEEK
1 Introduction to HRM and FM

1

1
2-3 Organisational structures

2

1
4-5 Introduction to staff management and managerial responsibilities

2

1
6-9 Supervision

4

2
10-11 Practical

2

3
12-13 Motivation, discipline

2

3
14-15 Performance appraisal, training and development

2

4
16-17 Conflict resolution

2

4
18-19 Practical

2

5
20-21 Industrial relations

2

5
22-23 Employment legislation and contracts

2

6
24-25 Interviews

2

6
26-27 Practical

2

7
28-29 Occupational health and safety

2

7
30-33 Basic first aid

4

8
34-35 Financial records

2

9
36-37 Practical

2

9
38-40 Costing, capital valuation and depreciation

3

10
41 Practical

1

10
42-43 Cash flow and trading accounts

2

11
44-45 Practical

2

11
46-47 Profit and loss accounts, balance sheets

2

12
48-49 Practical

2

12
50-51 Budgeting and control

2

13
52-53 Practical

2

13
Revision

14
Exam

15
TOTAL

38

15

 

        University of Guyana-Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry Home Page