• Designed for forest resource managers and technical staff who wish to implement professional forestry knowledge and skills in their organisation or Forest Management Unit, based on the principles of Sustainable Forest Management.
• All courses are designed as a combination of lectures with examples, and subsequent discussions with participants.
• Course duration varies according to present qualification and skills of participants, as well as on the degree of detail required.
• Minimum advance booking period: 2 months.
• Minimum number of participants per course: 10 participants.
• Fees: chargeable on a per person / per day basis, depending on course duration and level of skills/professionality.
• Additional courses can be arranged on request. Contact ifmc for further details.

SFM-Course 1: Forest Resource Assessment

Objectives

• to introduce course participants into the concepts and methods of forest resource assessments
• to provide an overview to course participants over the establishment and analysis of data and information required for forest management planning

Course Elements

• 1. Concepts, methods and levels of forest resource assessments
• 2. Selection of site adapted resource sampling systems
• 3. Planning and preparation of field activities
• 4. Implementation, supervision and monitoring of field activities
• 5. Processing and analysis of inventory data and information
• 6. Software tools
• 7. Presentation and evaluation of results

Course duration: 3-4 days.

SFM-Course 2: Forest Growth and Yield - Annual Allowable Cut (AAC)

Objectives

• to introduce course participants into the principles of forest growth dynamics in relation to sustainability
• to provide an overview to course participants over the methods of AAC calculation and determination

Course Elements

• 1. Principles, methods and definitions
• 2. Growth dynamics of forest ecosystems
• 3. Key factors influencing forest growth
• 4. Growth models
• 5. Input requirements for database development
• 6. Data recording and processing
• 7. Software tools
• 8. AAC calculation and determination, including exemplary calculations
• 9. AAC Monitoring and periodic up-dating

Course duration: 3-4 days.

SFM-Course 3: Forest Management Planning

Objectives

• to introduce course participants into the various steps and procedures of multi-functional forest management planning for SFM
• to provide an overview to course participants over the contents and degree of detail required for the development of Forest Management Plans

Course Elements

• 1. Objectives and levels of forest management planning
• 2. Structure, contents and validity of Forest Management Plans (FMP)
• 3. Description of compulsory and optional FMP elements
• 4. Organisational, operational and technical details
• 5. Monitoring of FMP implementation and plan review
• 6. Economic and financial aspects
• 7. Examples of FMP

 Course duration: 3-5 days..

SFM-Course 4: Forest Growth Monitoring

Objectives

• to introduce course participants into principles and concepts of growth monitoring
• to provide an overview to course participants over sampling systems and analytical methods

Course Elements

• 1. Principles, methods and definitions
• 2. Key factors influencing forest growth
• 3. Sampling systems and methods
• 4. Establishment of permanent sample plots
• 5. Data recording and processing, data analysis
• 6. Software tools
• 7. Monitoring of permanent sample plots

Course duration: 2-3 days.

SFM-Course 5: Reduced and Low Impact Logging

Objectives

• to introduce course participants into the rationale, concept and guidelines of Reduced and Low Impact Logging
• to provide an overview to course participants over the planning steps and technical aspects of RIL implementation

Course Elements

• 1. Principles, methods and definitions of RIL / LIL
• 2. Planning approach
• 3. Harvesting systems and technologies
• 4. Tree mapping and marking
• 5. Infrastructure planning and road/skid-trail preparation
• 6. Tree felling and log extraction
• 7. Activities following completion of timber harvest
• 8. Compliance assessment - monitoring of impacts
• 9. Software tools
• 10. Training and supervision of logging crews

Course duration: 4-5 days.

SFM-Course 6: Road Engineering

Objectives

• to introduce course participants into the concept and guidelines of environmentally friendly road construction
• to provide an overview to course participants over aspects of planning and technical implementation of forest road construction

Course Elements

• 1. Principles, methods and definitions of road construction
• 2. Planning approach, road classes, calculation of optimum road density
• 3. Road standards: technical profiles of road, culvert and bridge construction
• 4. Road construction: clearing, forming, grading, compacting, drainage
• 5. Slope stabilisation
• 6. Equipment and technologies
• 7. Road maintenance works
• 8. Economic aspects of road construction
• 9. Compliance assessment - monitoring of impacts
• 10. Training and supervision of road construction crews

Course duration: 4-5 days .

SFM-Course 7: Annual Operation Plan

Objectives

• to introduce course participants into the rationale and concept of AOP formulation within the context of forest management planning
• to provide an overview to course participants over the AOP elements and contents

Course Elements

• 1. Principles, methods and definitions of AOP formulation for the forest compartment level
• 2. Structure and contents of AOP's
• 3. Organisational and technical elements (activities and their location)
• 4. Human resource requirements
• 5. Budget development
• 6. Monitoring AOP implementation and responsibilities
• 7. Examples

Course duration: 3-4 days

SFM-Course 8: Identification and Management of High Conservation Value Forest (HCVF)

Objectives

• to introduce course participants into the background and conceptional approach of HCVF identification and management
• to provide an overview to course participants over the various steps and activities to be carried out

Course Elements

• 1. Principles, methods and definitions of HCVF identification
• 2. International identification criteria and their local interpretation/application
• 3. Data and information requirements and field collection
• 4. Data processing and analysis
• 5. Organisational and human resource requirements
• 6. Protection management and monitoring
• 7. Examples

Course duration: 2-3 days.

SFM-Course 9: Forest Management Information Systems

Objectives

• to introduce course participants into the rationale, objectives and benefits of FMIS
• to provide an overview to course participants over the different FMIS modules and their application range

Course Elements

• 1. Application range, structure and modules of FMIS
• 2. Contents of individual modules (e.g. timber stock data, planning, forest operations, GIS, machinery and equipment, costs, sales, wages, accounting, controlling, query and report, etc.)
• 3. Using FMIS modules as decision support tools to increase work productivity and operational efficiency for economic success
• 4. Organisational and human resource requirements for system implementation
• 5. Costs and benefits of FMIS
• 6. Examples

Course duration: 1-2 days.

SFM-Course 10: Forest Site Classification

Objectives

• to introduce course participants into the rationale and objectives of site classification in context with forest management planning
• to provide an overview to course participants over the elements of site classification and implications on forest management

Course Elements

• 1. Background and rationale for site classification in forestry
• 2. Site and soil characteristics in relation to potential management restrictions
• 3. Soil classification and key attributes
• 4. Description of site classification parameters, such as site location, vegetation cover, parent materials, geomorphology, surface characteristics and processes, organic material, soil morphology, site hydrology
• 5. Recording and processing of field data
• 6. Interpretation of results for practical consequences in forest management
• 7. Software tools
• 8. Organisational and human resource requirements for system implementation
• 9. Examples

Course duration: 4-5 days.

SFM-Course 11: Silvicultural Management of Natural Forests

Objectives

• to introduce course participants into the rationale and objectives of silviculture
• to provide an overview to course participants over typical resource conditions and suitable silvicultural methods to achieve optimum performance

Course Elements

• 1. Rationale and principles of silviculture, silvicultural management systems
• 2. Regeneration methods (natural regeneration, enrichment planting, reforestation, mixed forms,)
• 3. Soil classification and key attributes
• 4. Silvicultural treatment methods following stand establishment (production objectives, treatment options, technologies, timing, resources)
• 5. Monitoring stand performance (methods, timing, tools)
• 6. Prediction of stand maturity for harvesting (methods, tools)
• 7. Costs and benefits

Course duration: 4-5 days.

SFM-Course 12: Establishment and Silvicultural Management of Forest Plantations

Objectives

• to introduce course participants into the rationale and objectives of plantation establishment and silviculture
• to provide an overview to course participants over suitable establishment and management methods to achieve optimum performance

Course Elements

• 1. Rationale and objectives of plantation silviculture
• 2. Site classification methods
• 3. Site preparation methods
• 4. Choice of site-adapted species, risk assessment
• 5. Stand establishment (planting methods, fertilising and weeding, resources)
• 6. Silvicultural treatment following stand establishment (thinnings, pruning, timing and intervals, technologies, resources)
• 7. Monitoring of stand performance (methods, timing, tools)
• 8. Prediction of stand maturity for harvesting (methods, tools)
• 9. Costs and benefits

Course duration: 4-5 days.

SFM-Course 13: Benchmarking for Quality Forest Management

Objectives

• to introduce course participants into the rationale, objectives and benefits of benchmark systems
• to provide an overview to course participants over the methods of benchmark development for operational key areas in forest management

Course Elements

• 1. Principles and definitions of benchmarking in forest management
• 2. Criteria for benchmarks (productivity, quality, costs)
• 3. Development of benchmarks in practice for key activities: timber harvesting, infrastructure development (roads, skid-trails, etc), machinery costs, silvicultural treatment, environmental impacts, community development, staff professionality.
• 4. Comparison of benchmarks with actual performance, corrective action, benchmark adjustment
• 5. Use of benchmark systems to optimise staff motivation and increase overall economic performance

Course duration: 3-4 days.

SFM-Course 14: Timber Harvesting in Forest Plantations

Objectives

• to introduce course participants into the economic objectives, technologies and environmental restrictions of timber harvesting in forest plantations
• to provide an overview to course participants over the systems, machineries and tools used for timber harvesting under differing market conditions and environmental situations

Course Elements

• 1. Economic and ecological objectives of timber harvesting
• 2. Market demand profiles for wood raw material
• 3. Environmental restrictions under different site conditions
• 4. Typical harvesting systems (machineries and tools used for tree felling and log extraction from felling site to forest road, productivity, human resource requirements)
• 5. Economic assessment of harvesting systems

Course duration: 3-4 days .

SFM-Course 15: Forest Fire Management

Objectives

• to introduce course participants into the objectives, as well as organisational and technical requirements of forest fire prevention
• to provide an overview to course participants over preventive measures, fire fighting systems and technologies

Course Elements

• 1. Background and importance of forest fire management for sustainable forest development
• 2. Economic, ecological and social impacts of forest fires
• 3. Integration of planning procedures, infrastructure development and monitoring systems for forest fire prevention
• 4. Forest fire danger rating systems
• 5. Organisational requirements, local and regional coordination
• 6. Interventions and activities according to danger levels
• 7. Failure of fire prevention: forest fire fighting - principles
• 8. Systems, technologies and equipment used for fire fighting
• 9. Documentation and analysis of fire events and lessons learnt

Course duration: 2-3 days.

SFM-Course 16: Collaborative Forest Management with Rural Communities

Objectives

• to introduce course participants into the rationale and objectives of Collaborative Forest Management (CFM)
• to provide an overview to course participants over the different options and approaches in CFM, enabling them to design and implement CFM in their local community environment

Course Elements

• 1. Rationale and objectives, principles and definitions of CFM
• 2. Assessment, review and analysis of existing situation, interactions and sources of conflict between forest managers and rural communities
• 3. Identification of perceptions, interests and needs of main stakeholders over access and management of forest resources
• 4. Clarification of responsibilities and rights to use forest resources
• 5. Identification of common interests and critical issues / overlapping and conflicting interests
• 6. Formulation of options for collaboration (joint activities, projects and programmes in resource management), agreement on "best option"
• 7. Development of participatory organisational structures and human capacities for CFM, identification of financial resources, implementation and monitoring of activities

Course duration: 2-3 days.

SFM-Course 17: Stakeholder Consultation and Management for SFM

Objectives

• to introduce course participants into the rationale and objectives of stakeholder consultation and management
• to provide an overview to course participants over suitable approaches and methods, enabling them to adapt these to their specific local situation

Course Elements +

• 1. Rationale and objectives, principles and definitions of stakeholder consultation in forest resource management
• 2. Typical stakeholders and their specific interests
• 3. Differing views and perceptions of stakeholders, originating from differences in ethnic, traditional, cultural, educational, hierarchical and social factors.
• 4. Identification of common interests in resource use and management, trust building measures
• 5. Management of conflicts between stakeholders (leadership, guidance, support, rules and sanctions in consultation processes)
• 6. Management of stakeholder meetings and round table discussions
• 7. Decision making: dealing with minorities, achieving consensus
• 8. Documentation of achievements, securing stakeholder commitment

Course duration: 2-3 days.

SFM-Course 18: Statistical Data Analysis for Resource Managers

Objectives

• to introduce course participants into the principles and objectives of statistical data analysis
• to provide an overview to course participants over the most common statistical test and parameters

Course Elements

• 1. Principles, objectives, and definitions in statistical data analysis
• 2. Introduction and interpretation of important descriptive analytical methods (e.g., normal distribution, mean, standard deviation)
• 3. Comparison of groups (t-test, ANOVA)
• 4. Analysis of frequencies and correlation (Fisher's exact test, 2 test, coefficient of correlation)
• 5. Techniques of regression analysis (r2, selection of models, interpretation of results, limitations)
• 6. Limitations of statistical data analysis, common errors in statistics

Course duration: 3-4 days.

Note: This course builds the knowledge base for participation in SFM Courses No. 19 and 20.

SFM-Course 19: Forest Mensuration

Objectives

• to introduce course participants into the principles and objectives of forest mensuration
• to provide an overview to course participants over methods and techniques of tree and stand measurement

Course Elements

• 1. Principles, objectives and definitions of forest mensuration
• 2. Single tree measurement (diameter, height, crown, bark, volume, stem form, form factor, stem profile)
• 3. Stand measurement (even-aged/uneven-aged/all age stands, stand and stock tables, stand age, stem number, mean diameter, mean height, dominant height, basal area, volume, volume tables and functions, stand description, tree classification systems, height and diameter growth, basal area and volume growth, increment calculation, growth performance in relation to site, yield table calculation, yield prediction
• 4. Forest Resource Assessment -an overview (application, types and methods of forest inventories). For details, refer to SFM Course 01

Course duration: 4-6 days.

SFM-Course 20: Design and Analysis of Applied Research Trials

Objectives

• to introduce course participants into the rationale and objectives of applied research for forest management
• to provide an overview to course participants over design, establishment and analysis of trial plots

Course Elements

• 1. Rationale and objectives of applied research in forestry
• 2. Introduction and interpretation of important statistical methods and tests
• 3. Formulation of hypotheses and general design of experiments
• 4. Establishment of trial plots (principles, layout, treatments, replications)
• 5. Data processing and analysis of sample data (parameters and tests), including sample data
• 6. Software tools

Course duration: 4-6 days.

SFM-Course 21: Forest Certification

Objectives

• to introduce course participants into the background, rationale and objectives of organisations and schemes involved in forest certification
• to provide an insight to course participants into the principles, criteria, indicators and performance standards
• to provide an overview over procedures and measures to be implemented before, during, and after successful certification

Course Elements

• 1. Background, rationale and objectives of forest certification in global perspective
• 2. Political processes initiating forest certification at international and national level
• 3. Characteristics of credible certification systems
• 4. Regulatory bodies and institutions accrediting, monitoring and implementing forest certification
• 5. Introduction to certification schemes: examples of principles, criteria, indicators, performance standards
• 6. Preparation of forest resource managers for certification. Interpretation of standards at forest level
• 7. Forest auditing: scoping visit / pre-assessment, main audit, assessment report, decision system, corrective action, criteria of pass and fail
• 8. Use of the certification logo, marketing and product labelling
• 9. Tracking certified forest products - the Chain of Custody (COC)
• 10. Phasic approaches in achieving certification
• 11. Costs and benefits of forest certification
• 12. Markets, trends and global outlook for certified forest products

Course duration: min. 3 days.