Faculty of Arts & Science 2012-2013 Calendar

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Forest Conservation

Faculty

Forests have traditionally been managed primarily as sources of timber and revenue. However, there is increasing recognition of their immense cultural, social and environmental role, focused particularly by recent United Nations conferences in Rio de Janeiro and Johannesburg. Increasingly the focus of forest management has shifted to include biodiversity maintenance, ecological sustainability, and the protection of wildlife and their habitats. Canadians, as custodians of 10% of the remaining global forest cover, and 25% of the undisturbed frontier forest, have both the option and the responsibility to provide global leadership in forest conservation and sustainable forest management. Forest conservation programs prepare students for this critically important role by combining traditional ecological (biology, zoology) and physical (soil science, hydrology) sciences with social sciences. Forest conservationists increasingly focus on complex, emerging social and community issues, such as aboriginal rights and land tenure, protection of wilderness parklands, preservation of urban green space, and the use of forests for carbon sequestration.

Responsible stewardship of our forests and the changing focus from industrial timber production to forest conservation has greatly expanded the range of expertise necessary. Graduates can pursue a wide range of new career opportunities developing in private, government and non-government environmental organizations where forest conservationists increasingly work as members of multidisciplinary teams of environmental and resource managers. Graduates from forest conservation programs can also pursue graduate programs in a wide range of disciplines, including forest conservation, forestry, environmental sciences and international development.

Students may take a specialist 4-year degree leading to an H.B.A. in Forest Conservation or an H.B.Sc. in Forest Conservation Science. The arts program focuses on communal forest management, development of forest policies, forest economics and forest product trade, with electives in social sciences, while the science program concentrates on forest biology and ecology with electives in life and physical sciences.

The specialist programs provide a grounding in forest conservation with emphasis on 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.).

The major programs in Forest Conservation are intended to build on a students interest in forestry and related issues. Students should consider combining these programs with a major in another related discipline such as environment, geography, biology, chemistry, urban studies or architecture.

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

Forest Biomaterials Science

Canada is not only a key player in global forest conservation but is also more economically dependant on forests than any other major developed country. Wise and innovative use of forest biomaterials is a mandatory component of global forest conservation. It is recognized that right and proper use of forest-based materials can help resolve global environmental problems as they are renewable, have low life cycle costs and contribute to carbon sequestration. Traditionally, forest materials have been used in wood construction and paper products. Today, new and exciting technologies are transforming the forest resource into biodegradable polymers, specialty chemicals and carbon neutral fuels. Students in this program will acquire a thorough understanding of forest sustainability; material science of wood and other forest based materials; bio-conversion technologies related to forest and agricultural materials and optimal use and maintenance of natural fibre based materials. The program is highly interdisciplinary, combining aspects of forestry, biology, chemistry, chemical and mechanical engineering and building sciences.

The major and minor in Forest Biomaterials Science will be of interest to students that recognize the value of conserving the forest through good design, application and utilization of forest based products. Graduates from this program can pursue careers in private industry, research and government organizations where knowledge of new and changing technologies will be required to lead the transformation from petro-chemical based industries to ones established on renewable biomaterials.

Undergraduate Co-ordinator: Professor John Caspersen, Room 3011 , Earth Sciences Centre (416-946-8506)

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

Forest Conservation Programs

Enrolment in the specialist program is open to students who have completed four first-year courses. 

(12 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, University of Toronto Mississauga or University of Toronto Scarborough may be eligible for inclusion.)

First Year:
BIO120H1; 2.5 Science FCEs (GGR100H1, GGR101H1; CHM138H1, CHM139H1 recommended)

Second Year:
1. ENV234H1; FOR200H1, FOR201H1
2. 1.0 FCE from ECO220Y1, ECO227Y1; GGR270H1, GGR271H1; STA221H1, STA220H1
3. 1.0 FCE from BIO220H1, BIO251H1, BIO260H1; GGR205H1, GGR206H1, GGR272H1, GGR273H1; PHL273H1; ENV221H1, ENV222H1, ENV236H1

Third Year:
1. FOR301H1, FOR305H1. 1.0 FCE from FOR300H1, FOR302H1, FOR303H1, FOR306H1, FOR307H1, FOR310H1; ENV334H1
2. 0.5 FCE from: EEB319H1, EEB321H1, EEB323H1, EEB328H1; CSB340H1
3. 1.0 FCE from EEB324H1, EEB360H1, EEB365H1, EEB386H1, EEB388H1, EEB389H1; GGR303H1, GGR305H1, GGR314H1; ENV320H1, ENV322H1, ENV323H1

Fourth Year:
1. FOR400Y1, FOR401H1
2. 0.5 FCE from: FOR403H1, FOR405H1, FOR410H1, FOR413H1, FOR416H1, FOR417H1, FOR418H1, FOR419H1, FOR420H1, FOR423H1; GGR403H1; ENV347H1; JFG470H1, JFG475H1; EEB403H1, EEB406H1, EEB407H1

Enrolment in the major program is open to students who have completed four first-year courses.

(8 full courses or their equivalent, including at least 2.0 300-series courses and 1.0 400-series course; other equivalent and approved courses offered by other Faculties, University of Toronto Mississauga or University of Toronto Scarborough may be eligible for inclusion.)

First Year:
BIO120H1; 2.5 Science FCEs (GGR100H1, GGR101H1; CHM138H1, CHM139H1 recommended)

Second Year:
FOR200H1, FOR201H1; 1.0 FCE from ENV234H1, JGE236H1; BIO220H1

Third Year:
FOR305H1; 1.5 FCE from FOR300H1, FOR301H1, FOR302H1, FOR303H1, FOR306H1, FOR307H1, FOR310H1; EEB321H1

Fourth Year:
FOR400Y1

Enrolment in the minor program is open to students who have completed four first-year courses.

(4 full courses or their equivalent, including at least 1.0 300-series course and 1.0 400-series course)

First Year: 1.0 FCE from: BIO120H1; GGR100H1, GGR101H1; CHM138H1, CHM139H1

Second Year: FOR200H1, FOR201H1

Third Year: 1.0 FCE from: FOR300H1, FOR301H1, FOR302H1, FOR303H1, FOR305H1, FOR306H1, FOR307H1, FOR310H1

Fourth Year: FOR400Y1

Enrolment in the specialist program is open to students who have completed four first-year courses. 

(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, University of Toronto Mississauga or University of Toronto Scarborough may be eligible for inclusion.)

First Year:
BIO120H1; 1.5 Social Science FCE

Second Year:
1. ENV234H1; FOR200H1, FOR201H1
2. 1.0 FCE from ECO220Y1, ECO227Y1; GGR270H1; STA220H1, STA221H1, STA250H1, STA255H1
3. 1.0 FCE from ABS201Y1; ANT204Y1; ENV221H1, ENV222H1/GGR222H1; PHL273H1

Third Year:
1. FOR301H1, FOR305H1; At least 1.0 FCE from FOR300H1, FOR302H1, FOR303H1, FOR306H1, FOR307H1, FOR310H1; EEB321H1
2. At least 1.0 FCE from: ANT365H1; JGE331H1; HIS318Y1; ENV320H1, ENV321H1, ENV323H1, ENV347H1; UNI302H1; JAG321H1

Fourth Year:
1. FOR400Y1, FOR401H1
2. 1.0 FCE from: ANT450H1; FOR403H1, FOR416H1, FOR417H1, FOR418H1; ENV421H1, ENV422H1, ENV440H1; JFG470H1, JFG475H1; GGR416H1

Enrolment in the major program is open to students who have completed four first-year courses.

(8 full courses or their equivalent, including at least 2.0 300-series courses and 1.0 400-series course; other equivalent and approved courses offered by other Faculties, University of Toronto Mississauga or University of Toronto Scarborough may be eligible for inclusion.)

First Year:
BIO120H1; 1.5 Social Science FCE’s

Second Year:
1. ENV234H1; FOR200H1, FOR201H1
2. 1.0 FCE from: ABS201Y1; ANT204Y1; ECO220Y1, ECO227Y1; GGR270H1; STA221H1; ENV221H1, ENV222H1; PHL273H1; STA220H1/STA250H1/STA255H1

Third Year:
FOR305H1; 1.0 FCE from FOR300H1, FOR301H1, FOR302H1, FOR303H1, FOR306H1, FOR307H1, FOR310H1; EEB321H1

Fourth Year:
FOR400Y1

Enrolment in the minor program is open to students who have completed four first-year courses.

(4 full courses or their equivalent)

First Year: 1.0 of ANT100Y1, ECO100Y1, ENV200H1, GGR100H1, GGR101H1

Higher Years: 3.0 FCEs from FOR200H1, FOR201H1, FOR300H1, FOR301H1, FOR302H1, FOR303H1, FOR305H1, FOR306H1, FOR307H1, FOR310H1, FOR400Y1, FOR401H1

The Forest Biomaterials major or minor may be strengthened by an accompanying major or minor(s) in Biology (major, minor), Biochemistry (major), Forest Conservation (major, minor) , Chemistry (major, minor),  Environmental Chemistry (minor), Materials Chemistry (minor) or Environment & Science (major, minor).

Consult the Program Coordinator, Professor Sally Krigstin, Room 3029; Earth Sciences Centre (416-946-8507)

Enrolment in the major program is open to students who have completed four first-year courses.

(8 full courses or their equivalent, including at least 2.0 FCE 300-series courses and 2.0 FCE 400-series courses; other equivalent and approved courses offered by other Faculties may be eligible for inclusion.)

1. BIO120H1; 1.0 FCE from MSE101H1; ECO100Y1/ECO105Y1; CHM138H1, CHM139H1; ARC132H1; MAT135Y1
2. FOR200H1, STA220H1; 1.0 FCE from CHM220H1, ENV221H1, ENV234H1; MSE219H1; BCH210H1/BCH242H1; STA221H1/EEB225H1; MGT201H1/RSM100Y1; BIO220H1, BIO251H1
3. FOR300H1; FOR310H1; 1.0 FCE from FOR302H1, FOR305H1; ENV315H1, ENV350H1; MSE316H1; ARC341H1, 342H1; BCH370H1; JGE348H1
4. FOR401H1; FOR410H1; 1.0 FCE from FOR403H1, FOR405H1, FOR420H1, FOR423H1; CHE575H1

The Forest Biomaterials major or minor may be strengthened by an accompanying major or minor(s) in Biology (major, minor), Biochemistry (major), Forest Conservation (major, minor) , Chemistry (major, minor),  Environmental Chemistry (minor), Materials Chemistry (minor) or Environment & Science (major, minor).

Consult the Program Coordinator, Professor Sally Krigstin, Room 3029; Earth Sciences Centre (416-946-8507)

Enrolment in the minor program is open to students who have completed four first-year courses.

(4 full courses or their equivalent, including at least 1.5 FCE 300-series course and 1.0 FCE 400-series courses)

1. 1.5 FCE from BIO120H1; MSE101H1; ECO105Y1; CHM138H1 CHM139H1, CHM220H1; ARC132H1; FOR200H1; ENV234H1; MGT201H1
2. FOR300H1; FOR310H1; 0.5 FCE from:  ENV315H1, ENV350H1; MSE219H1, MSE316H1, FOR305H1, ARC341H1, ARC342H1; BCH370H1; JGE348H1
3. 1.0 FCE from:  FOR401H1, FOR405H1, FOR410H1, FOR420H1, FOR423H1

Forest Conservation Courses

The 199Y1 and 199H1 seminars are designed to provide the opportunity to work closely with an instructor in a class of no more than twenty-four students. These interactive seminars are intended to stimulate the students’ curiosity and provide an opportunity to get to know a member of the professorial staff in a seminar environment during the first year of study. Details here.

Forest conservation issues in Canada; development of forest management philosophy in Canadian and temperate forest regions; and concepts of sustainability. Techniques for more sustainable forest management: structural retention; forest certification; old growth; value-added and non-traditional forest products.

The world's major tropical and subtropical forest biomes; prospects for conservation and sustainable management; consequences of different forest development strategies; tropical deforestation and selective logging; agroforestry; biodiversity and non-timber forest products; the fuelwood crisis; large carnivore conservation; ecological, economic and social perspectives.

Traditional and non-traditional forest products; wood structure; properties and material attributes; functional characteristics and logistics of wood product industry. Contribution of innovative product development to conservation; adding value; residue use; biorefinery; under-utilized species; wood protection. Forest product certification; eco-labelling; life cycle analysis.

A practical introduction to the field methods used by forest conservationists in Ontario. This field course will last 10-days from August 30 September 8 approximately. Field exercises will provide students with practical training in tree identification, forest ecosystem classification, forest inventory, stand management prescriptions, tree marking, and silvicultural systems. Each student is required to pay an ancillary fee of $600 to cover the costs of their transportation and accommodation. Students must contact the Faculty to register we strongly recommend that you do so by the end of May, but later registrations will be considered if class size permits.

The course will provide diverse perspectives about societal values and forests, such as Aboriginal perspective, ecosystem services and human well-being, climate change and carbon sequestration, and forest management systems, such as community-based forest management and adaptive management systems; and will develop an understanding of the need of integrative approach to address the social, cultural, economic, and scientific issues associated with forest management.

Global forest resources; relationships between societies and forests, consumption, trade and valuation of timber and non-timber products; ecosystem services, climate change and forestry, tropical deforestation and softwood lumber dispute.

An overview of the biology of trees and the ecological principles that govern the structure and function of forests. Topics in tree biology will include tree identification, wood anatomy, tree architecture, resource acquisition and allocation, tree growth and mortality. Topics in forest ecology will include resource competition, stand development, species succession, and the cycling of nutrients and energy. This course will include a substantial field and lab component.

This course will provide practical experience in tropical forest conservation, introducing tools for rapid assessment of biodiversity, analysis of human use and natural disturbance impacts on forest structure and diversity, and the development of effective forest conservation strategies. The 10-day course will be field-based in the country of Dominica, West Indies.  

Insect identification and ecology, biodiversity and conservation, invasive species, insect-tree interaction, biological control, pesticide use, and integrated pest management.

Socio-economic, technical, political and environmental issues associated with the utilization of forest biomass (e.g., harvesting residues, thinnings, salvage, short rotation woody crops) for a source of renewable energy.

Examination of current and emerging critical issues affecting sustainable management and conservation of global forests. Seminars led by students, faculty and visiting speakers.

Individual in-depth student research projects on significant forest conservation and forest biomaterial issues, based on field and/or laboratory research, or literature survey.

Provides opportunities for students to carry out individual in-depth study of current forest conservation and forest biomaterials issues, under the direction of a faculty member.

Processing of wood into commercial products focusing on products produced in conjunction with water. Also includes composite manufacturing; specifications and testing; bending; wood drying; spalting and decay protection; life cycle analysis of wood-based products.

Technological advances and approaches in deriving biofuels and chemical feedstocks from forest and other biomass. Fundamental chemical attributes of biomass, as they affect the fuel value and potential for deriving liquid, solid and gaseous fuels and valuable chemicals for other applications will be discussed.

Temperate and tropical wildlife ecology and conservation; roles of wildlife in forest conservation; impacts of forestry practices and landscape modification on wildlife; ecology and viability of wildlife populations; human uses and abuses of game and non-game species.

Current research and practice in the conservation and enhancement of urban forests. Reviews the role of trees and woodlands in providing environmental, social and economic benefits to urban and peri-urban residents and to the broader environment. Examines approaches to the characterization of urban forest ecosystems, and their planning and management.

The roles of trees and forests in agricultural land-use systems primarily in the third world. An examination of the biological and management aspects of agroforestry, within the socio-economic constraints of the developing world. The sustainability of particular agroforestry systems is a theme throughout.

A ten day field course examining urban forestry issues in the GTA, southern and eastern Ontario, Quebec and northern New York State. Topics include: urban forest inventories, nursery production, arboricultural techniques, urban woodland management, urban forest health, urban forest administration, urban dendrology, and urban forestry research.

Understanding forest fire activity is important for predicting fire's impact on forests and the wildland-urban interface, as well as understanding the impacts of climate change. Basic principles of forest fuel moisture exchange, fire occurrence and fire behaviour are explored. Emphasis is placed on application of these models to real fire management problems.

This course provides an overview of the chemistry of wood and wood materials involving cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, extractives. It also covers some reaction chemistry associated with these chemical components.

This course focuses on the manufacturing processes, properties and uses of wood and agricultural fibre based products including wood based composites, ligno-cellulosic/thermoplastic composites and structural or engineered composites, and the practical use of these products in design.

Application of operational research and information technology to develop decision support systems for forest land management planning. Basic principles of mathematical programming, simulation and decision analysis, and their application to planning for forest conservation and sustainable development, policy analysis and other land management planning problems.

Use of operational research and information technology to develop mathematical models and decision support systems to design and evaluate the performance of forest fire and other emergency response systems. Forest fire management systems are used to illustrate the basic principles of emergency response system planning that can also be applied to urban fire, police and ambulance services.