Second year at Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences: Module 3

National and International Forest Policy

Course objectives The course has two primary objectives: (1) to provide a wide perspective beyond traditional forestry disciplines by examining interactions between forests and society, and (2) to compare forest policies and approaches to forest management in some countries, especially those in the Baltic region. After completing the course, students should be able to: (i) Recognise regional, European and global forestry structures, including resources, actors and processes (ii) Carry out comparative analyses of national and international forest policies and economic systems. (iii) Apply political and economic theories to analyse national and international forest policy issues and processes. (iv) Debate forest policy and economic issues in an international context, advocate own viewpoints. (v) Write reflective and creative essays in English.

Course contents: The first 2 weeks of the course primarily deal with policy processes and approaches to policy and analyses. Delivered by teachers from different countries, class work includes lectures intermingled with exercises in groups and presentations by students. Class work in the 3rd and 4th weeks focuses on forest values and economic analysis. In addition to lectures, students will take part in an interactive game that simulates the behaviour of forest industries in timber markets. In the 5th, 6th, and 7th weeks various forest policy issues are covered, such as European and global forest policies, forest certification, property rights and national forest policies of the countries in the Baltic region. Students will participate in debates with stakeholders from several countries, discussing hot issues in forest policy. In home essays, student will analyse selected policy issues. At the end of the course, around 1-week long study trip to countries outside Sweden is undertaken, with focus on comparison of forest policies in selected countries. Further details on the course topics and learning activities are provided in detailed syllabus that can be obtained from the course organiser.

Implementation:

Requirements for examination Teacher-directed examination: (i) Formative (mid-course) tests, primarily in the form of multiple choice quizzes and assessment of essays. (ii) Summative (final) exam, in the form of written essays. Student-directed assessment: (i) Peer- and self-evaluation of selected home essays. (ii) Peer evaluation of debating and presentation skills. Requirements for examination: Successful completion of the course requires passes in the intermediate and final exams, presence and satisfactory performance in compulsory course activities.