Introduction

Historically, we have viewed the forest as a source of industrial timber but, with recent world developments such as the United Nations Rio de Janeiro Conference on Environment and Development, focus has shifted to include sustainability and wilderness preservation, in addition to timber production. Forest conservation examines forest environments in the context of national and global sustainability, management, and biodiversity protection. The forest conservation programs combine social and community issues, such as aboriginal land tenure, recreation, wilderness travel and preservation of urban green space, with the traditional biological (botany, zoology) and physical (soil science, hydrology) sciences to address broader environmental and resource management issues.

The management of forests is of greater social, environmental and economic importance in Canada than in any other major developed country. The changing focus to forest conservation from timber production has greatly expanded the capabilities necessary for sustainable forest management. Experts who understand the complex issues and details surrounding forest conservation are essential to the proper stewardship of our forested regions. Career opportunities include forest conservation management, planning, and assessment in private, government or non-governmental agencies. Increasingly, foresters and forest conservationists work as part of multidisciplinary teams of environmental and resource managers where effective interdisciplinary communication is of vital importance. The programs can also lead to graduate degree studies in forestry, forest conservation or a number of other related environmental disciplines.

Students may take a specialist program in forest conservation leading to either an Hon.B.Sc. or an Hon.B.A. degree. The B.Sc. (Forest Conservation Science) focuses primarily on forest ecology with electives in life and physical sciences, while the B.A. (Forest Conservation) focuses on communal forest management and the development of forest policy with electives in the social sciences.

The specialist programs provide a grounding in forest conservation with emphasis on forest breadth as well as research depth, and can particularly meet the needs of individuals who are considering graduate level education in forestry (M.F.C., M.Sc.F. or Ph.D.).

A major in Forest Conservation Science is available in the B.Sc. stream and is intended to build on a student’s interest in forestry and related issues. Students should consider combining this program with a major in another related discipline such as environment, geography, botany, zoology, chemistry, urban studies or architecture.

Undergraduate Co-ordinator: Professor Shashi Kant, Room 4020, Earth Sciences Centre (416-978-6196)

Undergraduate Administrator: Ms. A. Veneziano, Room 1016E, Earth Sciences Centre (416-978-5480)

FOREST CONSERVATION PROGRAMS

FOREST CONSERVATION SCIENCE (B.Sc.)
Enrolment in the specialist program is open to students who have completed four first-year courses with a minimum GPA of 2.3. Enrolment in the major program is open to students who have completed four first-year courses with a minimum GPA of 2.0.

Specialist program (Hon. B.Sc.):
(13.5 full courses or their equivalent, including at least four 300+series courses and 2.5 400-series courses)

First Year:
BIO150Y1; CHM (138H1, 139H1); GGR 100Y1

Second Year:

1. ENV 234Y1; FOR 200H1, 201H1
2. One FCE from: ECO 220Y1, 227Y1; GGR 270Y1; JBS 229H1/STA 221H1; STA 220H1
3. One FCE from: BIO 260H1; BOT 251Y1; EES C20H(Scar); GGR 205H1, 206H1, 272H1, 273H1; PHL 273H1

Third Year:

1. BIO321H1; FOR 300H1, 301H1, 302H1, 303H1
2. 0.5 FCE from: BIO 319H1, 323H1, 328H1; BOT 307H1, 322Y1, 340H1, 341H1
3. One FCE from: BIO 302H1, 303H1, 306H1, 308H1, 324H1, 465H1; GGR 305H1, 310H1; ZOO 324Y1, 360H1, 361H1, 386H1, 387H1, 388H1, 389H1

Fourth Year:

1. FOR 400Y1, 401H1/402H1
2. One FCE from: FOR 403H1, 404H1, 405H1, 406H1, 407H1, 408H1, 409H1, 410H1, 411H1, 412H1, 413H1, 414H1, 415H1, 416H1; INI 495H1, 496H1; JFG 470H1, 475H1

Major program (B.Sc.):
(8 full courses or their equivalent, including at least 2.0 300+series courses and one 400-series course)

First Year:
BIO150Y1; CHM (138H1, 139H1), recommended GGR 100Y1

Second Year:
ENV 234Y1; FOR 200H1, 201H1

Third Year:
BIO 321H1; 1.5 FCE from: FOR 300H1, 301H1, 302H1, 303H1

Fourth Year:
FOR 400Y1

FOREST CONSERVATION (Hon. B.A.)
Enrolment in this program is open to students who have completed four first-year courses with a minimum GPA of 2.3.

Specialist program:
(12 full courses or their equivalent, including at least 3.5 300+series courses and 2.5 400-series courses)

First Year:
BIO 150Y1, GGR 100Y1

Second Year:

1. ENV 234Y1; FOR 200H1, 201H1
2. One FCE from: ECO 220Y1, 227Y1; GGR 270Y1; JBS 229H1/STA 221H1; STA 220H1
3. One FCE from: ABS 201Y1; ANT 204Y1; ENV 221Y1; GGR 233Y1; INI 220Y1; PHL 273H1

Third Year:

1. BIO 321H1; FOR 300H1, 301H1, 302H1, 303H1
2. One FCE from: ANT 365Y1; ENV 321Y1; GGR 331H1, 393H1; HIS 318Y1; INI 331H1, 320Y1; UNI 302H1, 315Y1, 317Y1

Fourth Year:

1. FOR 400Y1, 401H1/402H1
2. One FCE from: ANT 450H1, 453H1; FOR 403H1, 410H1, 411H1, 412H1, 414H1, 415H1, 416H1; INI 421H1, 422H1, 494H1, 495H1, 496H1; JFG 470H1, 475H1; JIE 410H1