Integrated Resources Management
FOR 490
Mondays 12:45 – 4:45pm
313 Bray Hall
Instructor: Teaching Assistant:
Dr. René Germain Chandrani Ghosh
316 Bray Hall 414 Bray Hall
470-6698
Office
Hours: Open Door Policy Office
Hours: TBA
(or by appointment)
The goal of this course is to have students prove their
competency in nine broad subject and skill areas prior to graduation. Students
will show evidence of each of the nine areas through the development of a
comprehensive forest management plan of a section of
Acquisition and demonstration of knowledge can occur at up to six different levels depending on how one classifies knowledge. The outline presented below is drawn from Bloom’s Taxonomy of Cognitive Levels. The activities listed for each level are measurable and capable of evaluation.
Cognitive Levels Activities
2. Comprehension explain, predict, interpret, infer, summarize, give examples
3. Application apply, solve problems, modify, demonstrate
4. Analysis breakdown material into component parts, describe
interrelationships
5. Synthesis produce something new or original from component parts
6. Evaluation make a judgment based on set of criteria, appraise, judge
The Department of Forest and Natural Resources Management expects students to demonstrate abilities in the nine areas up to levels three and four – application and analysis.
Physical Fitness for Field Work:
Each student will be required to participate in field activities under potentially difficult conditions due to terrain and winter weather. Please contact me immediately if you have health issues that may limit your ability to perform in the field.
Student Code of Conduct:
You have all signed an
agreement to abide by the College’s Code of Conduct. As young professionals, I
expect you to act respectfully to me and your classmates.
Each group will be assigned a section of the
i. Full-time resident of property (not absentee landowner) with long-term outlook
ii. Primary reason for owning land is recreation
iii. Landowner has a passive attitude towards forest management
iv. No knowledge of forestry but wants what is best for the woodlot
v. Considering timber harvest because they were told it was good for the woodlot, plus could use the money to pay property taxes
vi. The landowner is seeking a recommendation on whether to enroll in the NYS Forest Tax Law (480A). What will this require?
i. The company manages their forestlands to ensure the production of forest products for this and future generations while also providing a diversity of wildlife, clean air and water, soil conservation and recreational opportunities.
ii. The lands are strategic for supplying wood fiber to the mill and creating cash flow.
iii. The company uses both hardwood and softwood species.
iv. The company is seeking a recommendation on whether to become third party certified under the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. What will this require?
i. The Nature Conservancy's mission is to preserve the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive.
ii. The Nature Conservancy's vision is to conserve a set of places that, if managed appropriately, will ensure the long-term survival of all their native life and natural communities—not just those that are threatened.
iii. They work with resource-based industries to alter their business practices to have less environmental impact.
iv. They are seeking a recommendation on whether to become third party certified under the Forest Stewardship Council. What will this require?
Attendance 10% (Individual)
Personal Logs* 10% (Individual)
Draft – Management Plan 10% (Group)
Final – Management Plan 30% (Group)
Class Presentation/Field Interpretation 15% (Group) (bonus pts for early groups)
Class Presentation/Field Interpretation 15% (Individual)
Peer Evaluation 10% (Individual)
* Weekly Personal Logs
will itemize the time spent on the following activities: Personal Log Sheet
·
Field
work
·
Data
Management (input and analysis; generating maps)
·
Writing
Management Plan
·
Planning
Meetings
·
Travel
The weekly log will be itemized to the nearest quarter hour.
It is critical that you are accurate and honest with the log.
Class Presentation/Field Interpretation
Date Topic
January 12 Introduction
January 19 No Class – Martin Luther King
January 26
February 2
February 9
February 16
February 23
March 2 Heiberg
March 9 No Class – Spring Break
March 16 Heiberg
March 23 Workshop
1 –
March 30 Workshop
2 –
April 6 Workshop
3 –
April 13 Workshop
4 –
April 20 Workshop
5 –
April 27 Workshop
6 –
Deliverables:
Draft 1 – Written
Management Plan due by noon on March 23, 2009 (minus 10 pts for each day
late)
Final Draft – Final
Written Management Plan due by noon: April 27, 2009 (minus 10 pts for
each day late)