Lec: M W F  8:00 - 9:20 WFS 201
Lab: F 12:30 -3:20 BLD 261 (except during all-day Friday field tours, departing mostly at 8:00AM)

This course covers how trees grow, reproduce, and respond to their environment; silviculture techniques including site classification, species selection, regeneration methods, nursery practices; silvicultural systems such as single-tree selection, group selection, shelterwood, seed tree, and single cohort systems; site preparation, intermediate thinning and stand tending, and the regional silviculture of western forest complexes. Several labs will analyze various forms of silviculture and timber management data and several multiple-use field trips will expose students to applications.

Though there are no formal prerequisites, students should be familiar with the concepts and information in "Forest Ecology in Washington" by Hanley and Baumgartner (2002, click here to view/download).  This forest ecology primer highlights the basics from a forest ecology class and/or a basic biology / ecology class that are relevant for ESRM 323. A few of the field exercises in this class will require basic knowledge of natural resources measurements, as well, such as that found in ESRM 304, or ESRM 368, or their equivalent.

Exams: 1 midterm and 1 final exam worth 30%;
Assignments (homeworks & labs): together worth 35% (attend all labs)
Field Trips: worth 25% (attend at least 4 field trips)
Effort/Participation/Discretion: worth 10%

Everyone should have a UW computer account to receive periodic email messages regarding lab sessions, assignments, and other logistical issues surrounding the course. Familiarity with software such as Excel and Word and with computers in general is also helpful, as we will be learning the use of the Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS) to analyze and interpret silvicultural and other forest inventory data sets.

Academic Integrity

Plagiarism, cheating, and other misconduct are serious violations of your contract as a student. We expect that you will know and follow the University's policies on cheating and plagiarism. Any suspected cases of academic misconduct will be handled according to University regulations. More information, including definitions and examples, can be found at:  http://depts.washington.edu/grading/issue1/honesty.htm