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FOR20050

Academic Year 2025/2026

Principles of Forestry (FOR20050)

Subject:
Forestry
College:
Health & Agricultural Sciences
School:
Agriculture & Food Science
Level:
2 (Intermediate)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Professor Aine Ni Dhubhain
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This course should provide students with foundation knowledge of the basic principles of forestry. The topics covered will include: tree improvement; bare-root and container nursery practices; timber measurement, forest recreation, urban forestry, forest roads and forests and water. There will be several field study trips. Each student must submit a summary report for each field trip; the reports account for 15% of the marks for this module.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to: Explain the approaches that might be taken to improve forest productivity through genetic manipulation or other tree improvement methods. Describe the main steps involved in culturing tree seedlings in bare-root and container nurseries to produce high quality planting stock. Estimate the volume of a stand of trees using both the tariff and abbreviated tariff systems. Describe the approaches that might be taken to minimise any negative effects forests have on water quality; understand the basics of forest recreation, urban forestry and forest roads.

Indicative Module Content:

Tree improvement, including provenance selection. Nursery production systems. Bare-root nursery culture: seed sowing, fertilisation, protection, lifting and storage of nursery stock. Container nursery culture. Estimating stand volume using both the tariff and abbreviated tariff systems, urban forestry, forest and recreation, forest roads, forests and water.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

36

Tutorial

12

Field Trip/External Visits

35

Autonomous Student Learning

40

Total

123


Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
In addition to lectures and examination approach, students are assigned problems based on visits to the field, which involves applying knowledge obtained from the lectures to the assigned problems.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Exam (In-person): Midterm Exam Week 7 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
25
No
Exam (In-person): Final Exam Week 12 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
60
No
Report(s): Field trip reports Week 11 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
15
No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback provided to class following in-class exams and individual feedback provided when requested.

Name Role
Ms Marie Doyle Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Mr Charles Harper Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Professor Aine Ni Dhubhain Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Brian Tobin Lecturer / Co-Lecturer

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Mon 11:00 - 12:50
Spring Tutorial Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Thurs 11:00 - 12:50
Spring Field Trip Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Thurs 14:00 - 16:50