Tropical and International Forestry

Course Overview

The Georg-August-Universitat Gattingen offers the MSc programme Tropical and International Forestry with the international degree Master of Science (M.Sc.). The MSc programme Tropical and International Forestry provides advanced study in management and conservation of tropical and subtropical forest ecosystems. It especially focuses on the ecologically sound and economically viable management of forests and tree-based land use systems in developing or emerging countries. Particular emphasis is given to scientific methods, interdisciplinary project work and problem solving. The programme is for students interested in pursuing an international career in forestry, nature conservation, ecosystem research or in development organisations. During the 3rd semester (winter term) an interdisciplinary student project is conducted, usually abroad. In 2012 the project took place on the Philippines and students made a forest management plan for lowland Dipterocarp Forest and exotic plantations. Students are involved in the project preparations. They are suppose to manage a lot of aspects of project planning like financial matters, room and flight booking and establishing contacts in the host country. Moreover students need to collect information and facts about the project region for fieldwork preparation in advance like botany of species, silvicultural methods in the region, climate data, forest policy and law, culture of people, socio-economic aspects. Students are usuall abroad for field work about one month, supervised by professors of the faculty. They meet officials from partner universities and institutions, from the municipality; they have talks with experts from GIZ and other organisations. Normally they also visit some forestry projects in the region. Later on students work in gropus on forest inventories and mapping; and make interviews with local village people. Back in Germany students prepare a forest management plan and a report as group work which is represented in a presentation.