Courses objectives
To acquire the scientific basis for understanding the functioning of tropical humid forests.
To make students aware of the problems posed by biodiversity conservation and forest management in the humid tropics, based on concrete examples and testimonies of Guyanese stakeholders.
Course contents
- Course
- The functioning of tropical humid forests: biogeography, geomorphology, pedogenesis, characterisation of soils and soil-plant relationships, botany, definition, measurement and maintenance of biodiversity, forest dynamics
- Forest management issues in French Guiana: presentation of the specificities of French Guiana, peasant production systems, forest management, timber industry, non-timber forest products.
- Field projects: group projects dealing with scientific or technical problems, relating to various subjects such as tree root systems, wood resource management, plant-soil interactions, forest inventories, forest typology, standing timber quality, vegetation mapping, or mangrove characterisation...
Teaching and learning methods
- Lectures, seminars and practical work on the AgroParisTech campus in Kourou and on field trips (2 weeks).
- Group field projects (2 weeks: bibliography, fieldwork, analysis and preparation of an oral presentation).
Course evaluation
Field project defence
Target skills
Understanding of the principles of functioning and management of a tropical rainforest. Collective execution of a field project. Ability to live and work in a tropical rainforest environment.
