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FOR30420

Academic Year 2025/2026

Forest Management and Economics (FOR30420)

Subject:
Forestry
College:
Health & Agricultural Sciences
School:
Agriculture & Food Science
Level:
3 (Degree)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Amanda Sosa
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This is an undergraduate module for stage 3 BAgrSc Forestry students. It focuses on concepts and analytical tools associated with decision-making in the sustainable management of forest resources. The first part of the module provides an overview of forest management problems as they have evolved in modern forestry and includes the scope of environmental services products provided by forests. Part 2 of the module looks at the decision analysis to achieve ecological, economic and social values. The financial and economic criteria for forest valuation and management are introduced, including discount rate, price-size relationship, net discounted revenue, land expectation value, and the valuation of non-market inputs and outputs. This knowledge is then used to develop procedures to deal with problems such as land and forest valuation, rotation determination, investment appraisal and sustained yield calculations. The concepts behind the preparation of forest management plans are also included.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

Explain the basic principles of sustainable forest management. Carry out a range of financial and economic calculations as used in the strategic, tactical and operational decision-making in commercial forest management. Recognise the significance of the range of market and non-market values in the management of specific forest resources. Select and evaluate potential management options aimed at specific management objectives.

Indicative Module Content:

Concept and criteria for forest management, land classification, forests as capital, inflation, forest investment, uneven and even age management, optimal timber stocking, risk analysis, forest valuation, growth and yield models, multiple use forestry

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

36
Specified Learning Activities

24
Autonomous Student Learning

50
Total

110

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This module will be delivered face-to-face. There will be three assignments and a final in-class exam.

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
Assignment(Including Essay): Assignment 1. Use of the dynamic yield model Growfor Week 3 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
15
 No
Assignment(Including Essay): Assignment 2. Basic Economic Calculations.
The use of AI is not allowed in this module.		 Week 5 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
10
 No
Assignment(Including Essay): Assignment 3. Forest Investment
The use of AI is not allowed in this module.		 Week 7 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
15
 No
Assignment(Including Essay): Assignment 4. Determining optimal rotation length.
The use of AI is not allowed in this module.		 Week 9 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
10
 No
Exam (In-person): Final Exam Week 12 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
50
 No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring 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

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Name Role
Professor Aine Ni Dhubhain Lecturer / Co-Lecturer

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Mon 14:00 - 15:50
Autumn External & School Exams Offering 1 Week(s) - 15 Mon 14:00 - 15:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Thurs 14:00 - 14:50
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