Practical Course in Forests and Landscapes

Course Description:

In this practical, students get to know important field and laboratory methods of forest and landscape research as well as landscape management. They apply these methods in the context of small projects. The practical consists of three parts: Ecology (both forest and landscape), Site Classification (soil science & vegetation science), and Land Management.

The ELE group is covering the landscape ecology part of the practical course. During 5 days, students will focus on identifying and managing conflicts of interest in landscape planning. Students will gain hands-on experience with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) using R to pinpoint suitable regions for constructing power plants (wind, solar, etc.) and potential conflict zones. The course emphasizes developing sustainable solutions that balance ecological, societal, and economic considerations. Additionally, students will explore various methods of landscape character mapping to enhance their understanding of landscape dynamics.