Forest Science Major
| Offered By | ANU College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences, ANU College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, ANU College of Asia and the Pacific, ANU College of Business and Economics, ANU College of Engineering and Computer Science, and ANU College of Law |
|---|---|
| Academic Contact | Professor Peter Kanowski |
| Areas of Interest | Environmental Studies, Forestry, Geography, Interdisciplinary Studies - Sustainability, and Resource Management and Environmental Science |
Forests are amongst the most important terrestrial ecosystems. They embody a diversity of values, deliver a variety of critical ecosystem services, and are important sources of sustainable products and livelihoods. Forests take a variety of forms: Australia’s native forests are globally unique, and important at global, national and local scales; Australia’s plantation forests supply the majority of our wood; forests on farms deliver important economic and environmental values; and urban forests enhance the liveability of our cities. Because of the diversity of values, services and products that forests represent, their management is often contested. The forest sciences generate knowledge about all forms of forests, and provide the basis for their ecologically sustainable management.
This major provides the opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills to
- understand the biophysical and ecological processes which shape forest ecosystems, and provide the context for their management;
- integrate knowledge relevant to forest science and management across disciplines;
- apply a range of written, oral and visual communication skills to effectively convey and discuss information about forest science and management in multidisciplinary contexts; and
- engage with the societal processes that determine how forests should be managed.
Requirements
A minimum of 42 units of courses including:
- ENVS1004 Australia’s Environment
- ENVS2021 Vegetation and Soils: Co-evolution and Ecology
- ENVS3014 Ecological Restoration and Management
The major must also include:
a. no more than 6 units from:
- *ENVS1003 Environment & Society Research Methods
- *STAT1003 Statistical Techniques
b. at least 6 units from:
- ENVS2004 Weather, Climate & Fire
- *ENVS2009 Quantitative Methods & Applications in Environment
- ENVS2010 Australia’s Forests
- *ENVS2015 GIS & Spatial Analysis
c. at least 12 units from:
- ENVS3008 Fire in the Environment
- ENVS3010 Independent Research Project (in an approved forest-related topic)
- ENVS3039 Biodiversity Conservation in modified Landscapes
- *ENVS3040 Solving Complex Environmental Problems
- ENVS3041 Managing Forested Landscapes
* Students pursuing this major must include at least one of the starred courses.
Fenner School Course and Major Advice
Students considering taking fourth-year Honours in the Fenner School, or enrolled in a direct-entry Honours degree program and studying in the Fenner School, are expected to take ENVS3040 Solving Complex Environmental Problems. This course may be included in an appropriate major or taken as part of the degree more generally.
Students seeking advice on appropriate course selections are invited to consult the convener of the Forest Science major.
The information published on the Study at ANU 2012 website applies to the 2012 academic year only. All information provided on this website replaces the information contained in the Study at ANU 2011 website.
