Understanding and management for 'wise use' of natural resources depends on quantifying ecological services and products, often over large areas/regions. The products include such diverse elements as carbon, biomass, solid wood product volumes, biodiversity, medicinal herbs and other rare non-timber elements. Such large regions cannot be measured in detail and some form of inventory or sampling is essential. The course goal is to promote student understanding of the art and science of forest resource management by focusing on the issues involved in quantitative assessment of trees and forests.

Topics introduced will include the presentation and use of state of the art tools and methodologies applicable to modern forest inventory and the formulation and planning effective and efficient inventory. More specifically:

• Introduction to sampling theory
• Issues involved in effective inventory design
• Equal and unequal probability sampling techniques
• Modern mensuration tools and techniques for quantifying various products
• examining modern inventory systems at various scales, e.g. national (National Carbon Accounting System); regional (SFRI); and stand (point-3P)
• Designing and implementing an unequal probability-based inventory
• Dealing with problem data

On satisfying the requirements of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. understand the underlying principles of equal and unequal probability sampling approaches
2. design and implement a modern inventory system, and determine the advantages and disadvantages of available systems
3. process inventory data to determine reliable estimates and confidence limits of targeted population parameters, including solid wood products, carbon and aspects of biodiversity

Assessment will be based on:

• 4 computer-based quizzes (only 2 assessed) to show understanding of underlying theories and practice of sampling (40%; LO 1, 2, 3)
• 8-page major project that integrates development of a sample framework; measurement of a sample of trees; calculations; and presentation of a final report with management recommendations (60%; LO 1, 2, 3)

Intensive: 5-day field/block course supported by web-based reading and interaction.  The course runs as an intensive block during the period 9-20 July 2012.

Bachelor degree; knowledge equivalent to SRES1003 or STAT1003

Requires SRES1003 or STAT1003 or equivalent knowledge