6 ECTS Padua Year 1 Semester 2 Compulsory Environmental sciences
Content
This course is designed to familiarize students with the basic concepts and techniques of restoration ecology, specifically applied to assist in the recovery of main ecosystem services in degraded forest ecosystems due to the occurrence of natural or anthropic disturbances, or alterations in the previous land uses.
Students will learn how to apply restoration techniques and tools to plan restoration interventions, based on the knowledge of ecological processes determining forest composition, structure and productivity.
The course includes the following main chapters:
- Main paradigms of forest restoration ecology;
- Restoring degraded ecosystems following natural or anthropic disturbances;
- Ecological knowledge supporting forest restoration (natural regeneration dynamics, facilitation mechanisms, biodiversity and ecosystem functioning);
- Prioritizing restoration projects to assist in the recovery of specific ecosystem services;
- Advances in restoration and regeneration techniques and systems at the stand- and landscape-scale;
- Natural vs artificial regeneration;
- Active vs passive management;
- Nursing techniques and planting methods;
- Forest restoration planning.
Learning outcomes
Upon completing this class, students will be able to use ecological and management principles and select appropriate methods and tools for designing and conducting restoration projects. The students will understand the major ecological principles underlying the successful restoration of ecosystems including concepts of disturbance and succession, and they will be capable of discerning elements of successful versus failed restoration projects.
Teaching and learning methods
Teaching methods include:
- Frontal lectures;
- Field and lab activities;
- Individual assignment.
Teaching materials used in class and additional readings and media made available through the e-learning Moodle platform of the School.
Type of assessment
- Individual
- Oral presentation, Written assignment
The final exam will be based on an oral test in which students will answer questions directly derived from lectures, assigned readings, field and lab activities. During the oral examination, the individual assignment will be discussed.
The assessment will be based on the capability of the student to discuss and present a case study, raising problems and highlighting likely solutions.
Institution(s)
- Location : Padua
- ECTS granting : University of Padua
- Organisation : University of Padua
Coordinator(s)
Emanuele Lingua
