Florencia Montagnini
Professor in the Practice of Tropical Forestry and Director of the Program in Tropical Forestry of the Global Institute of Sustainable Forestry
Teaching Statement
F&ES 3206a (old FES 574a), Tropical Forest Ecology. The Basis for Conservation and Management. 3 credits. Topics include: Importance of tropical forests, productive and environmental services. Ecological characteristics of tropical forests. Natural forest structure and composition. Soils of the tropics: types, fertility, physical properties, and management. Nutrient cycling. The forest microenvironment: light, temperature, and water. Tree growth and reproductive ecology; plant species diversity; plant-animal interactions. Deforestation, causes and consequences. Effects of disturbance; forest succession and regeneration. High-elevation forests and savannas. Management of primary and secondary forests. Non-timber forest products. Plantation forestry: productivity and environmental services. Community forestry. Ecological and social aspects of agroforestry. Rehabilitation of degraded tropical forest ecosystems. Three hours lecture.
F&ES 62013a (old F&ES 530a), Introduction to Soil Science. 3 credits. An introduction to the fundamental concepts of soil science. Soil topics are presented in relation to natural and managed ecosystems with emphasis on soil processes and their relationship to plant productivity. Two lectures a week. Four all-day Saturday field trips.
F&ES 53005b (old FES 592b), Agroforestry Systems: Productive, Environmental and Rural Development Services. 3 credits. Topics include: Environmental variables in agroforestry: light and water. Soil productivity and sustainability in agroforestry. Nutrient cycling and nutrient use efficiency. Agroforestry components: multiple-purpose trees, nitrogen-fixing trees. Economic aspects. Examples of subsistence-oriented and commercial agroforestry: shifting agriculture and improved fallows, home gardens, agrosilvopastoral systems, and alley-cropping. Environmental services of agroforestry: biodiversity conservation and carbon storage. Social functions of agroforestry: agroforestry as a tool for rural development. Agroforestry in semi-arid ecosystems. Agroforestry in the highlands. Agroforestry and fuelwood production. Agroforestry extension and education. Current trends in agroforestry research. In addition, seminar presentations by students and discussion sessions deal with particular aspects of agroforestry of interest to students. 3 hours lectures per week, 2-3 half-day field trips.
F&ES 50104b (old FES 584b), Seminar in Ecological Restoration, 3 credits. Topics include: Concepts and principles of landscape restoration. Types of disturbances, effects at the ecosystem level. Forest succession and ecosystem rehabilitation. Soil formation and development. Strategies for rehabilitation of soil physical and chemical properties. Wetlands: inland and coastal restoration. Techniques to control invasive species. Agroforestry systems as a tool for recovery and conservation of biodiversity in managed landscapes. Pasture degradation and restoration for productivity, sustainability, and biodiversity. Reclamation of mine spoils. Forest fires. Who does restoration? Community participation and challenges to implementation of restoration projects. In addition, seminar presentations by visitors, students and discussion sessions deal with particular aspects of landscape restoration. 3 hours lectures per week, 3 field trips. An optional field trip to Costa Rica to visit forest restoration projects in progress.
F&ES 62013a (old F&ES 530a), Introduction to Soil Science. 3 credits. An introduction to the fundamental concepts of soil science. Soil topics are presented in relation to natural and managed ecosystems with emphasis on soil processes and their relationship to plant productivity. Two lectures a week. Four all-day Saturday field trips.
F&ES 53005b (old FES 592b), Agroforestry Systems: Productive, Environmental and Rural Development Services. 3 credits. Topics include: Environmental variables in agroforestry: light and water. Soil productivity and sustainability in agroforestry. Nutrient cycling and nutrient use efficiency. Agroforestry components: multiple-purpose trees, nitrogen-fixing trees. Economic aspects. Examples of subsistence-oriented and commercial agroforestry: shifting agriculture and improved fallows, home gardens, agrosilvopastoral systems, and alley-cropping. Environmental services of agroforestry: biodiversity conservation and carbon storage. Social functions of agroforestry: agroforestry as a tool for rural development. Agroforestry in semi-arid ecosystems. Agroforestry in the highlands. Agroforestry and fuelwood production. Agroforestry extension and education. Current trends in agroforestry research. In addition, seminar presentations by students and discussion sessions deal with particular aspects of agroforestry of interest to students. 3 hours lectures per week, 2-3 half-day field trips.
F&ES 50104b (old FES 584b), Seminar in Ecological Restoration, 3 credits. Topics include: Concepts and principles of landscape restoration. Types of disturbances, effects at the ecosystem level. Forest succession and ecosystem rehabilitation. Soil formation and development. Strategies for rehabilitation of soil physical and chemical properties. Wetlands: inland and coastal restoration. Techniques to control invasive species. Agroforestry systems as a tool for recovery and conservation of biodiversity in managed landscapes. Pasture degradation and restoration for productivity, sustainability, and biodiversity. Reclamation of mine spoils. Forest fires. Who does restoration? Community participation and challenges to implementation of restoration projects. In addition, seminar presentations by visitors, students and discussion sessions deal with particular aspects of landscape restoration. 3 hours lectures per week, 3 field trips. An optional field trip to Costa Rica to visit forest restoration projects in progress.
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