Non-timber production models

Acquire a complete training on the various techniques and methodologies for estimating non-wood forest production and agroforestry systems in a European context, with emphasis on the interactions between understory and trees as a basis for the management of shrublands and woodlands understory.

Being able to select and use appropriate methodologies for the development of models that simulate the growth and evolution of forest ecosystems as well as non-wood forest production (mushrooms, resin, pine, etc.).

Models for understory-trees interactions. Productive approaches. Effect of silvicultural management on the composition and structure of the understory. Optimization of the composition of the understory and forest development. Dynamic of recovery in the understory after disturbances. Models for the production of non-wood products.

These contents will be developed according to the following syllabus:

Productive facets of agroforestry systems: the woodland, the herbaceous and the animal component.

Silvicultural management on the composition, structure and understory productivity.

SAFE management model (silvoarable systems).

Dynamic of recovery in the understory after disturbances.

Models for the production of non-timber forest products: mushrooms, resin, cork, pinyon.

BASIC BIBLIOGRAPHY

BRAVO et al. 2012. Growth and yield models in Spain: historical overview, contemporary examples and perspectives. Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Gestión Forestal Sostenible (Universidad de Valladolid-INIA), Unidad de Gestión Forestal Sostenible (Universidad de Santiago de Compostela). Grafistaff, S.L. 76 pp. ISBN: 978-84-615-7145-1

CALAMA R., TOMÉ M., SÁNCHEZ-GONZÁLEZ M., MIINA J., SPANOS K., PALAHÍ M. 2010. Modelling non wood products in Europe: a review. Forest Systems: 19(SI), 69-85

GRAVES AR, BURGESS PJ, LIAGRE F, TERREAUX JP, BORREL T, DUPRAZ C, PALMA JHN, HERZOG F. 2011. Farm-SAFE: the process of developing a plot- and farm-scale model of arable, forestry, and silvoarable economics 81(2).93-108.
GRAVES AR, BURGESS PJ, PALMA J, KEESMAN K, VAN DER WERF W, DUPRAZ C, VAN KEULEN H, HERZOG F, MAYUS M.2010. Implementation and calibration of the parameter-sparse Yield-SAFE model to predict production and land equivalent ratio in mixed tree and crop systems under two contrasting production situations in Europe. Ecological Modelling 221, (13-14).1744-1756.

KAREL J, KEESMAN A, GRAVES A, VAN DER WERF W, BURGESS PJ, PALMA JHN, DUPRAZ C, VAN KEULENB H 2011. A system identification approach for developing and parameterising an agroforestry system model under constrained availability of data, 26(12):1540-1553.

PALMA JHN, PAULO JA,TOMÉ M.2014. Carbon sequestration of modern Quercus suber L. silvoarable agroforestry systems in portugal: a YieldSAFE-based estimation. Agroforestry systems 88:791-801.

VAN DER WERF W, KEESMAN K, BURGESS PJ, GRAVES AR, PILBEAM D, INCOLL LD, METSELAAR K, MAYUS M, STAPPERS R, VAN KEULEN H, PALMA J DUPRAZ C. 2007. Yield-SAFE: a parameter-sparse process-based dynamic model for predicting resource capture, growth and production in agroforestry systems. Ecological Engineering 29: 419-433.

VÁZQUEZ-PIQUÉ J., PEREIRA H. 2008. ¿Qué hay que tener en cuenta para elaborar modelos de producción de corcho?: revisión bibliográfica y consideraciones estadísticas. Investigación Agraria: Sistemas y Recursos Forestales: 17(3), 199-215

COMPLEMENTARY BIBLIOGRAPHY

BONET J.A., COLINAS C., FISCHER C.R., MARTÍNEZ DE ARAGÓN J., MIINA J., PALAHÍ M., PUKKALA T., 2010. Modelling the production and species richness of wild mushrooms in pine forests of Central Pyrenees in north-eastern Spain. Can J For Res 40, 347-356

CALAMA R., GORDO F.J., MONTERO G., MUTKE S. 2008. An empirical ecological-type model for predicting stone pine (Pinus pinea L.) cone production in the Northern Plateau (Spain). For Ecol Manage 255, 660-673.

CALAMA SAINZ R., GARRIGA GARCÍA E., BACHILLER BACHILLER A., GORDO ALONSO J.,FINAT GÓMEZ F., MONTERO GONZÁLEZ G.2007. PINEA2: un modelo integrado para la gestión de las masas regulares de Pinus pinea L.. en la meseta norte Cuad Soc Esp Cienc For. 23: 147-152

FAIAS S. P. , PALMA J. H. N., BARREIRO S., PAULO J. A. , TOME M. 2012. Resource communication. sIMfLOR – platform for portuguese forest simulators. Forest Systems 21(3), 543-548

Basic skills:

CB6 - Knowledge and understanding to provide a basis or opportunity for originality in developing and / or applying ideas, often in a research context.

CB7 - That the students can apply their knowledge and their ability to solve problems in new or unfamiliar environments within broader (or multidisciplinary) contexts related to their field of study.

CB8 – That students are able to integrate knowledge, handle complexity and formulate judgments based on information that was incomplete or limited, including their reflection on social and ethical responsibilities linked to the application of their knowledge and judgments.

CB9 - That students can communicate their conclusions, and the knowledge and the reason behind these, to specialist and non-specialist audiences, clearly and unambiguously.

CB10 - Students must possess the learning skills that enable them to continue studying in a way that will be largely self-directed or autonomous.

General skills:

CG2 - Ability to design, manage, develop, implement and interpret projects and comprehensive action plans in the natural environment.

CG7 - Capacity for policy development in Forestry

Transversal competences:
CT1 - Capacity for analysis and synthesis.
CT2 - Capacity for reasoning and argumentation
CT3 - Ability to work individually with self-criticism
CT4 - Ability to work in group and cope with problematic situations collectivelly.
CT5 - Ability to obtain adequate, diverse and updated information.
CT6 - Ability to develop and present an organized and understandable text
CT7 - Ability to make an oral presentation in a clear, concise and consistent manner.
CT8 - Commitment to accuracy of the information provided to others.
CT9 - Skill in managing information and communication technologies (ICT).
CT10 - Use of bibliographic information and of the Internet.
CT11 - Use of information in a foreign language.
CT12 - Ability to solve problems through the integrated application of their knowledge.

Specific skills:

CE5 - Knowledge and ability to design comprehensive plans for sustainable development of forest regions and the development of management indicators.

CE49 - Acquire a complete training on the different techniques and methodologies for the estimation of non-wood production in Atlantic forests of the Iberian Peninsula, with emphasis on the interactions between understory and trees, as a basis for the management of shrubs and agroforestry systems.

The course will be conducted following the distribution of hours in the classroom and of individual work of students which are indicated in the verification report of the degree.

The face-to face classes consist of 24 hours. Participatory lectures to be developed in the classroom by professors cover a total of 12 hours. The interactive teaching includes complementary activities in which professors monitor the oral presentation of work done by students (CT1, CT2, CT5, CT6, CT7, CT9, CT10, CT11). With this type of teaching, teamwork and cooperative learning is promoted as it includes active discussion sessions (CB9, CT4, CT12). The 12 hours that make up the interactive teaching also include computer management of existing models for non-wood forest production, prompting a type of learning based on the resolution of case studies (CG2, CG7, CE5, CE49).These activities will allow students the development of the knowledge acquired through their personal work and the lectures. Attendance of students at the face-to-face sessions are mandatory.

Personal work of students consists of 48 hours of autonomous work. It covers reading and preparation of topics, preparing work for later oral presentation and discussion in class groups, as well as the prior preparation of computer lab classes and further work on them, and the study for assessment tests (CB6, CB7, CB8, CB9, CB10, CT3, CT8, CE5, CE49).

The activities of teaching / learning will be largely supported by the Virtual tools available and managed by the Center for Learning Technologies (CETA) of the USC. It provides online teaching resources and support for exercises and cases to be solved by students and it allows a virtual track.

There are office hours at the student disposition that will allow to discuss, comment, clarify or resolve specific issues in relation to their tasks within the course (information gathering, test preparation, performance of reports ...). The student is encouraged to attend these hours and to contact the professor via email if it were convenient.

For cases of fraudulent completion of exercises or tests, the provisions of the "Regulations for evaluating the academic performance of students and reviewing grades" will apply.

The evaluation system will include the following activities:
- student participation in classroom activities
- conducting case studies and questionnaires
- performing reports and their oral presentation and discussion
- written tests

Participation in lectures and in face-to-face interactive classes will be evaluated by the professors based on the degree and quality of student participation in the development and resolution of issues. The evaluation process will be continuous. Attendance at the face-to-face teaching is compulsory. The weight on the final grade of that activity will cover 20%.

Examples of skills that students must incorporate and that will be evaluated are: CB6, CB7, CB8, CB9 and CB10, CT2, CT4, CT7, CT8, CT11, CT12, GG2, CG7, CE5, CE49.

Students delivery of reports and case studies should be made electronically (virtual USC) or on paper (which so requested) in the dates indicated by the professor or during the official calls. The oral presentation and discussion of the reports will be an essential requirement to pass the subject. Its weight in the final grade will be 40% and some examples of competencies that students should incorporate in this section are: CB6, CB7, CB8, CB9 and CB10, CT1, CT2, CT3, CT5, CT6, CT7, CT8, CT9, CT10, CT11, CT12, CG2, CG7, CE5, CE49.

Overcoming written tests will count 40% in the final grade. Examples of skills that students must incorporate and that will be evaluated are: CB6, CB7, CB8, CB9 and CB10, CT1, CT2, CT3, CT6, CT8, CT12, CG2, CG7, CE5, CE49.

Students will be entitled to two examination sessions (official calls) each academic year in the periods indicated in the academic program.

It is estimated about 48 hours in addition to the face-to-face classes. It includes the reading and preparation of syllabus, preparing reports and their later oral presentation and discussion in class groups, the prior preparation of computer lab classes and their further work, and the preparation of the evaluation tests.

Attending to the educational activities and to proceed with a daily and continuous dedication to the work done in the face-to-face classes. Office hours are recommended for any questions or need of clarification in any conceptual knowledge application. Consultation of suggested bibliography is recommended. It is valuable that students have ability to read English and to have extensive knowledge in forest botany, forestry and pasture management