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.

A minor in Forest Conservation Science in the B.Sc. stream and a minor in Forest Conservation in the B.A. stream are also available. Students should consider combining these programs with a minor in other related disciplines.

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 (Science program)

Specialist program:
(13.5 full courses or their equivalent, including at least four 300+series courses and 2.5 400-series courses; other equivalent and approved courses offered by other Faculties, Erindale or Scarborough may be eligible for inclusion.)

First Year:
BIO150Y1; Two Science FCEs (GGR100Y1; CHM138H1, CHM139H1 recommended)

Second Year:
1. ENV234Y1; FOR200H1, FOR201H1
2. One FCE from: ECO220Y1, ECO227Y1; GGR270Y1; JBS229H1/STA221H1; STA220H1
3. One FCE from: BIO260H1; BOT251Y1; EES C20H1(Scar); GGR205H1, GGR206H1, GGR272H1, GGR273H1; PHL273H1; ENV200Y1; JIE222Y1

Third Year:
1. BIO321H1; FOR301H1. At least One FCE from FOR300H1, FOR302H1, FOR303H1
2. 0.5 FCE from: BIO319H1, BIO323H1, BIO328H1; BOT307H1, 322Y1, BOT340H1, BOT341H1
3. At least One FCE from: BIO302H1, BIO303H1, BIO306H1, BIO308H1, BIO324H1, BIO465H1; GGR305H1, GGR310H1; ZOO324Y1, ZOO360H1, ZOO361H1, ZOO386H1, 387H1, ZOO388H1, ZOO389H1

Fourth Year:
1. FOR400Y1, FOR401H1
2. One FCE from: FOR403H1, FOR404H1, FOR405H1, FOR408H1, FOR409H1, FOR410H1, FOR412H1, FOR413H1, FOR416H1; INI442H1, 495H1; JFG470H1, JFG475H1

Major program:
(8 full courses or their equivalent, including at least 2.0 300+series courses and one 400-series course; other equivalent and approved courses offered by other Faculties, Erindale or Scarborough may be eligible for inclusion.)

First Year:
BIO150Y1; Two Science FCEs (GGR100Y1; CHM138H1, CHM139H1 recommended)

Second Year:
FOR200H1, FOR201H1; One FCE from ENV200Y1, ENV234Y1; JIE222Y1

Third Year:
BIO321H1; 1.5 FCE from: FOR300H1, FOR301H1, FOR302H1, FOR303H1

Fourth Year:
FOR400Y1

Minor Program:
(4 full courses or their equivalent, including at least 1.0 300+series course and one 400-series course)

First Year: BIO150Y1; GGR100Y1/ENV200Y1

Second Year: FOR200H1, FOR201H1

Third Year: One FCE from: FOR300H1, FOR301H1, FOR302H1, FOR303H1

Fourth Year: FOR400Y1

Forest Conservation (Arts program)

Specialist program:
(12 full courses or their equivalent, including at least 3.5 300+series courses and 2.5 400-series courses; other equivalent and approved courses offered by other Faculties, Erindale or Scarborough may be eligible for inclusion.)

First Year:
BIO150Y1; GGR107Y1 or One Social Science FCE

Second Year:
1. ENV234Y1; FOR200H1, FOR201H1
2. One FCE from: ECO220Y1, ECO227Y1; GGR270Y1; JBS229H1/STA221H1; STA220H1
3. One FCE from: ABS201Y1; ANT204Y1; ENV200Y1; JIE222Y1; GGR233Y1; PHL273H1

Third Year:
1. BIO321H1; FOR301H1. At least One FCE from: FOR300H1, FOR302H1, FOR303H1
2. At least One FCE from: ANT365Y1; ENV321Y1; GGR331H1, GGR393H1; HIS318Y1; INI331H1, INI320Y1; UNI302H1, 315Y1, UNI317Y1; JAG321H1

Fourth Year:
1. FOR400Y1, FOR401H1
2. One FCE from: ANT450H1, ANT453H1; FOR403H1, FOR410H1, FOR412H1, FOR416H1; INI421H1, INI422H1, INI494H1, 495H1; JFG470H1, JFG475H1; JIE410H1

Minor program:
(4 full courses or their equivalent)

First Year: One of ANT100Y1/ECO100Y1/ENV200Y1/ GGR100Y1/GGR107Y1

Higher Years: 3 FCEs from (FOR200H1, FOR201H1, FOR301H1, FOR302H1, FOR303H1, FOR400Y1, FOR401H1)