Evaluating the Certificate Course in Ecosystem Silviculture: Applying ECS Information to Forest Management Activities
Event Website
http://www.nafew2009.org/
Start Date
6-22-2009 4:20 PM
End Date
6-22-2009 4:40 PM
Description
Forest researchers and managers in the United States have been aware of ecological classification systems (ECS) for over 30 years but in Minnesota ECS’s are not yet used regularly statewide in forest management decisions and activities. As interest in an understanding of the value of ecological information to forest management increases, how can we determine if ECS information is actually being used in resource management activities and planning? This study assessed effectiveness and impact on trainees of the Certificate Course in Ecosystem Silviculture. We looked at the following hypotheses: a) Competency in knowledge and field skills facilitates incorporating ECS information into everyday forest management activities and b) ECS information used in forest management activities should be visible in timber sale documents. The 80 resource managers from tribal, county, state, federal, private and NGO organizations participated in this intensive short course coordinated by the University of Minnesota Sustainable Forests Education Cooperative between July 2005 and June 2009. Managers provided plans written before and after the short course so that we could establish a baseline of use and then determine if and to what extent course learnings were being incorporated into standard operating procedures. In addition, these managers were evaluated at specific times during the short course to assess their understanding of key forestry concepts and principles, and to identify potential challenges to knowledge and skill acquisition. This presentation will outline the findings of this study, and discuss future directions for training in and use of ecological classification systems in forest management.
Evaluating the Certificate Course in Ecosystem Silviculture: Applying ECS Information to Forest Management Activities
Forest researchers and managers in the United States have been aware of ecological classification systems (ECS) for over 30 years but in Minnesota ECS’s are not yet used regularly statewide in forest management decisions and activities. As interest in an understanding of the value of ecological information to forest management increases, how can we determine if ECS information is actually being used in resource management activities and planning? This study assessed effectiveness and impact on trainees of the Certificate Course in Ecosystem Silviculture. We looked at the following hypotheses: a) Competency in knowledge and field skills facilitates incorporating ECS information into everyday forest management activities and b) ECS information used in forest management activities should be visible in timber sale documents. The 80 resource managers from tribal, county, state, federal, private and NGO organizations participated in this intensive short course coordinated by the University of Minnesota Sustainable Forests Education Cooperative between July 2005 and June 2009. Managers provided plans written before and after the short course so that we could establish a baseline of use and then determine if and to what extent course learnings were being incorporated into standard operating procedures. In addition, these managers were evaluated at specific times during the short course to assess their understanding of key forestry concepts and principles, and to identify potential challenges to knowledge and skill acquisition. This presentation will outline the findings of this study, and discuss future directions for training in and use of ecological classification systems in forest management.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/nafecology/sessions/classification/1