Course objectives

Provide knowledge on silviculture, objectives and constraints influencing management, in tropical rain forests, based on last research results. Tropical timber wood logging modalities are exposed.

Course contents

• Silviculture of natural forests: general concepts. Results of experimental plan in French Guiana. Natural forest dynamic modelling. Role of thinning and logging. Reduce impact logging. Basis for a sustainable management. Sustainable logging.
• Tropical plantations: bio-physical sustainability (water, mineral nutriments, organic matter, soil biology, biodiversity...). Stakes and limits of genetic improvement. Silviculture in plantations. Seedling production in nursery. Symbiosis (inc. tour at the IRD/CIRAD Laboratory for Tropical and Mediterranean Symbiosis).

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures

Course evaluation

Individual written examination

Target skills

Knowledge of the principal systems of tropical silviculture and management, and understanding of the factors influencing them