AD2FWE: Farmland and Woodland: Ecology and Management

Module code: AD2FWE

Module provider: School of Agriculture, Policy and Development

Credits: 20

Level: Level 2 (Intermediate)

When you鈥檒l be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Professor Martin Lukac, email: m.lukac@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Professor Simon Mortimer, email: s.r.mortimer@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 20 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

The module focuses on the ecology and management of land used for agriculture and forestry, including woodland, grassland, heathland and other semi-natural habitats.聽 It considers the history of the development of land use by humans and historic and contemporary drivers that have affected the productivity and biodiversity of such systems.聽 It covers the underlying ecological mechanisms impacting on the productivity and biodiversity of such systems including succession and the interaction of competition and disturbance, along with the impacts of habitat fragmentation and other landscape-scale factors.聽 The module will introduce the concepts of management planning for particular sites, including the complex decision making necessary for managing sites for multiple objectives (e.g. economic production, biodiversity conservation, carbon storage, recreation, etc.)

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the historic and contemporary use by humans of land for agriculture and forestry and the interaction between economic, environmental and social factors
2. Explain the ecological mechanisms that influence the productivity, structure, composition and biodiversity of semi-natural habitats at both within-site and landscape scales
3. Identify the socio-economic drivers (markets, policy, societal demands, etc.) affecting management of semi-natural habitats and explain how they influence management decisions
4. Evaluate a specific site and design a management plan that reconciles management for multiple and potentially conflicting objectives (e.g. economic production, biodiversiry conservation, recreational access)

Module content

• The semi-natural habitats associated with agriculture and forestry, their historic development and contemporary factors influencing productivity and environmental value and the relationship between land use and factors such as topography, soil type and climate.
• The ecological mechanisms underpinning the productivity and the composition, structure and biological diversity of semi-natural habitats.
• The impacts of the intensification agricultural management and contemporary moves towards nature-friendly and regenerative farming systems.
• Silvicultural practice, including the creation of new woodlands and forests, species selection and options, planting materials and protection.
• The influences of socio-economic factors (markets, fiscal support, legislation, societal attitudes, environmental issues, etc.) on management decisions.
• The process of management planning for sites with multiple (and potentially competing) objectives, including evaluation, priority setting, management activities and monitoring.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module will include lectures, guest speakers, an exercise on setting conservation priorities, a project on developing a management plan for a specific site, and a field visit to a habitat restoration project.

Study hours

At least 44 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and le