Special Features of Using Northern Nature (5cr)

Objective

Pedagogical arrangements:
Lectures and 5 day excursion to Finnish Lapland introducing northern sources of livelihood and special features of northern forest management.
Guidelines to organize elk hunting safely; regulations and practical arrangements implemented with Finnish students in organized hunting event

Objectives:
The student will be introduced to the challenges and conflict management in the usage of northern nature between different stakeholders. He/she will get oriented with the ecological and socioeconomic features of forest management and silviculture in northern Finland and especially in the northernmost part of the area.
The theme will be focused on both high areas as well as on protected forests and forest border questions. He/she knows the main principles of silviculture and usage of protected areas and wilderness forests.
The student will get orientated with safe elk hunting arrangements according to the law and safety regulations concerned.

Content

Student is familiar with the challenges of natural use in Northern Finland and the ways of managing conflicts between different uses, as well as the ecological and socio-economic characteristics of forest use and forest management in Northern Finland and especially in Upper Lapland; the specific features of northern forests and their use, particularly regarding high areas, protected forests and forest frontier issues. He knows the basic features of management and use of various protected areas and wilderness forests.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Satisfactory (1-2)
Is familiar with challenges and contradictions of the natural use of Northern Finland and is able to describe the management methods between different uses. Knows basic methods for sustainable use of areas and natural resources. Can explain the special features and operating models of forestry in Northern Finland and especially in Upper Lapland. Knows the main features of Barents co-operation, natural use and forestry. Understands the social and economic importance of reindeer in Lapland, is able to describe the interactions between reindeer husbandry and forestry and how reindeer husbandry is taken into account in forestry practice. Can introduce Finnish forestry skills in English. Knows the importance of experience gained abroad in the field of developing one's own skills and is able to produce various documentaries in English.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

Good (3-4)
Understands the challenges of northern Finland's natural use, knows key ways of managing conflicts and basic methods applied for sustainable use of natural resources. Understands the peculiarities of forestry in Northern Finland and especially in Upper Lapland and knows the main operating models applicable there. Can describe and illustrate, with examples, Barents cooperation, nature management and forestry. Understands the legitimacy and responsibilities of the reindeer industry and knows interactions between reindeer herding and forestry, as well as key operating models for reconciling overlapping livelihoods. Have a basic understanding of the world's forest resources, key species and forest policy and our role in it. Can communicate through Finnish vocabulary on Finnish forestry activities. Positive attitude to industry experience acquired abroad, knowing the opportunities available and being able to produce model documents in English.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Excellent (5)
Is able to identify challenges of natural use in Northern Finland and to evaluate their background factors and to evaluate the suitability of means of managing conflicts in different cases. Is able to evaluate different operating models from the point of view of responsible environmental management and successful application of basic methods of sustainable use of natural resources. Can reasonably choose the appropriate operating model to reconcile reindeer herding and forestry. Is able to present a wide range of international forestry and forestry policy and Finnish activities in these. Knows versatile and clear communication in English about Finnish forest operations and actively seeks to increase his international expertise.