Degree Course: Forestry and Environmental Sciences Syllabus for A.Y. 2019/2020  

1. Economics concepts. 1.1 Market equilibrium; 1.2 Close and linear economic model; 1.3 Gross domestic products.
2. Environment Economics. 2.1 Environmental, public and external goods. 2.2 Environmental Kuznets Curve. 2.3 Demand, supply and market equilibrium in the presence of environmental goods. 2.3 Sustainable development. 2.4 Strategies to include the environment in the economic system
3. World Forest heritage. 4.1 Heritage and distribution; 4.2 Qualification; 4.3 Degradation processes.
4. Forest natural capital and forest ecosystem services. 3.1 Natural Capital. 3.2 Forest natural capital. 3.3 Ecosystem services: source, characters, role, and classification
5. Sustainable management of forest resources. 5.1 Sustainable Forest Management and Sustainability Types. 5.2 Sustainable management of forests, wildlife, grazing and tourism.
6. Institutions and forestry policies: 6.1 Cycle of policy. 6.2 International forest policy system. 6.3 Type of fest policies. 6.4 International forest institution and policies. 6.5 Regional forest institution and policy. 6.6 European forest institution and policy.
7. Forest protection and enhancement tools: 7.1 policy tools; 7.2 legal and regulatory tools; 7.3 Financial; 7.4 market-based; 7.5 Volunteers, 7.6 Negotiators, 7.7 Consumer orientation.
8. Evaluation of forest ecosystem services: Total economic value. Methods of assessment of environmental assets: a) market approaches; (B) non-market approaches.
9. Environmental investment assessment: cost-effectiveness analysis; cost benefit analysis.
10. Environmental evaluation tools: Strategic environmental evaluation; Environmental Impact Assessment; Assessment of Environmental Incidence.

Turner R.K., Pearce D., Bateman I., 1993. Environmental Economics. The Johns Hopkins. University Press, Baltimore
Other material: scientific articles, relevant documents, power point presentations, will be produced from the theacher.

The concept of Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) and its tools.
The functions of forest.
Different level of forest planning in Italy.
Stages of a land plan and of a traditional forest plan
Target and actors of forest planning
Stage I: data collection; mandatory knoledge about environmental socio-economic factors
Forest compartments and other basic territorial units of a forest under management.
How to divide a forest ownership into compartments
The concept of evenaged normal forest.. Rotation. Criteria to choose the rotation. Yield tables.
Methods to calculate the allowable cut of evenaged normal forest. The area methods for the management of coppices.
The Austrian methods, the Paulsen-Hundeshagen principle, the Masson formula, the Patrone formula.
The management of the normal unevenaged forest. The reverse j shaped curve; the cutting cycle. How calculate the allowable cut.
Management methods which do noto refer to a normal forest model: the silvicultural method; the control method.
International framewotk of forest planning. : international framework convention on climate change; convention on biological diversity; convention to combat desertification; the Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe; EU Habitat and Birds Directives.
The main tools of land planning in Italy.
The Environmental Impact Assesment. The Strategical Environmental Assesment..
Forest planning in designated protected areas and Natura 2000 sites.

Peter Bettinger, Kevin Boston, Jacely Siry, Donald Grebner
Forest management Planning
Academic Press, 2017

-Design peak discharge and design hydrograph
-Return period: meaning, equation, and practical implication
-Rational Formula, theory and practice
-Intesity-Duration-Frequency curves, theory and practice (Excel Lab)
-Rainfall- Runoff Event-Based Approach
-Design Hyetograph
-Net Rainfall estimation, the NRCS-CN curve number method
-Rainfall-runoff transformation, the IUH approach and the WFIUH approach.
-GIS tool for watershed management
-The EBA4SUB software: introduction and project discussion (project Lab).
-Hydrological application case studies.

Applied Hydrology, Chow, Maidment, Mays,
McGraw-Hill

In addition to the textbook, papers and materials will be available on GOMP useful for the Lab exercise and the project development.

Vertebrates, origin, general characteristics and classification of the subphylum.
Pisces s.l .: general characteristics and diversity; notes on freshwater fish of the Italian fauna.
Amphibians: general characteristics, adaptations, diversity and classification; the urodeles and the anurans of the Italian fauna.
Reptiles: general characteristics, adaptations, diversity and classification; terrestrial and freshwater reptiles of fauna
Italian.
Birds: general characteristics, adaptations, diversity and classification; the Italian birdlife with particular regard
to forest and mountain environments; notes on the birds of the umde and coastal areas.
Mammals: general characteristics, adaptations, diversity and classification; terrestrial mammals of the Italian fauna
with particular regard to forest and mountain environments; notes on marine mammals.
Conservation aspects of terrestrial vertebrates of Italian fauna (extinct species, threatened species, species
allochthonous, problematic species).
Biogeography of terrestrial vertebrates of Italian fauna.

PPT of the lessons.
Generalità
Baccetti et al., Zoologia - Trattato italiano - Grasso Editoriale, pp. 953-1193.
Westheide W., Rieger R., 2011. Zoologia sistematica. Zanichelli.
Presentazioni delle lezioni
Fauna italiana
AA. VV., La Fauna in Italia. Touring Club Italiano:
Cap. Anfibi, Rettili e Mammiferi, pp. 120-149
Cap. Gli Uccelli, pp. 150-162
Cap. Pesci [no]
Cap. Uccelli degli ambienti d‘acqua dolce, pp. 198-202
Cap. Uccelli degli ambienti costieri, pp. 242-246

1. Introduction and objectives of the course. Near-to-nature silviculture and sustainable silviculture: theoretical basis and applicative principles. Effects of silviculture on the genetic characteristics of forests. Forest resources in Europe: an integrated perspective on ecosystem services, disturbances and threats. Brief outline of forest bio-based economy in Europe.
2. European forests: an ecological overview. Forest vegetation belts in Italy. European forest classifications. European Forest Types: tree species matrix. Past forests of Europe.
Silviculture of Mediterranean and temperate forests, in particular:
3. Silvics and silviculture of Mediterranean forests: Mediterranean macchia; Mediterranean pine stands, (Pinus halepensis, P. pinaster, P. pinea); evergreen oak stands (Quercus ilex, Q. suber, Q. coccifera). Wood production in Mediterranean forests. Silviculture of minor tree species of the Mediterranean environment.
4. Silvics and silviculture of plain / sub mountain forests: deciduous oak stands (Quercus robur, Q. petraea, Q. pubescens, Q. frainetto, Q. cerris, Q. trojana); chestnut stands (Castanea sativa). Brief outline on silvics and silviculture of the main broadleaf species related to the deciduous oak stands (Carpinus spp., Acer spp., Fraxinus spp.). Outline on the riparian tree vegetation in Europe. Wood production in plain / sub-mountain forests.
5. Silvics and silviculture of mountain forests: European beech stands (Fagus sylvatica); European silver fir stands (Abies alba); Mountain pine stands (P. sylvestris, P. nigra, P. laricio, P. leucodermis). Brief outline on silvics and silviculture of valuable broadleved stands (Acer spp., Tilia spp., Fraxinus excelsior, Prunus avium). Wood production in mountain forests
6. Silvics and silviculture of subalpine forests: Norway spruce stands (Picea abies); European larch, stone pine, Swiss mountain pine, dwarf pine stands (Larix decidua, Pinus cembra, Pinus uncinata, Pinus mugo). Wood production in subalpine forests. Silviculture in protection forests.
7. Outline of forest reproductive material and forest nursery techniques. Technical principles for the establishment and management of forest plantations. Outline on clonal forestry, short rotation forestry, forest restoration.

San-Miguel-Ayanz, J., de Rigo, D., Caudullo, G., Houston Durrant, T., Mauri, A. (Eds.), 2016. European Atlas of Forest Tree Species. Publication Office of the European Union, Luxembourg.
Silvics of north america: 1. Conifers 2. Hardwoods Agriculture Handbook. Silvics of North America: 1. Conifers 2. Hardwoods Agriculture Handbook 654. Burns, R. M. and B. H. Honkala (technical coordinators), U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Washington D. C., 1990. http://na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/table_ of_contents.htm.
Kelty, M. J., Larson, B. C., & Oliver, C. D. (Eds.). (2013). The ecology and silviculture of mixed-species forests: a festschrift for David M. Smith (Vol. 40). Springer Science & Business Media. (Class. Bibl. 574.52642).
Helms, J. A. (1998). The dictionary of forestry. (Class. Bibl. 634.903/DIC).
Silviculture Handbook. Wisconsin DNR, Publication Number 2431.5, Madison: Wisconsin DNR, 2010. www.dnr.state.wi.us/forestry/Publications/H andbooks/24315/

The books are available in the university library or on the web. Teaching material will be distributed during the course and/or made available on the web.

PROGRAMME TOPICS

Morphologic and functional features of the main organs of forest trees: adaptation and acclimation

Growth and development of forest trees and responses to environmental factors and stresses

Tree architecture and forest microclimate

Transpiration, water relations and stress

Photosynthesis, respiration and carbon cycle of forest ecosystems

Quantitative methods for forest ecophysiological analyses (lab)

Introduction to ecophysiological process based mathematical models

Textbooks

Thomas P. Trees: their natural history. Cambridge University Press, 2000.

Hans Lambers, F. Stuart Chapin III, Thijs L. Pons. Plant Physiological Ecology. Second Edition. Springer 2008.

1) Introduction to the Remote Sensing concept
2) The electromagnetic energy and most important equations
3) Reflectance curves
- water and snow
- soils
- vegetation
4) Effect of the vegetation characteristics on the reflectance
5) Remote sensing platforms and sensors
- characteristics of the platforms
- BRDF
- orbits
- main missions (Landsat, Spot, ...)
6) Digital images processing
- structure of the digital data (raster and vector)
- file formats and headers
- data types
7) Digital images visualization
- color visualization
- palette
8) Enhancement of RS images
- false and true color images
- stretch
- filters
- RGB-HSL and pan-sharp
9) Radiometric corrections
- Radiometric calibration
- stripping and other errors correction
10) Geometric corrections
- georeferencing
- orthorectification
- geometric distortions
11) Atmospheric corrections
- effect of the atmosphere on radiation
- path radiance
- image based methods to correct or minimize the atmosphere effect
12) Vegetation indexes and their use, fluorescence
- NDVI
- Soil line based VIs
- PRI
- fluorescence
13) Remote sensing and modeling
- RUE models
- concept of radiative transfer models
14) Model optimization and validation
- model definition and components
- strategy for model validation and optimization
- empirical and process-based models
- multiple constrain in models parameterization
15) Supervised and Unsupervised classifications
- hard and soft classification
- minimum distance and maximum likelihood
- unsupervised clustering
16) Artificial Neural Networks
- principles
- FFBP Neural Networks
- concepts of validation
- applications as soft classification
17) Practical applications
- exercises on the practical tasks
- example of multi-temporal analysis

- Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation - T.M. Lillesand, R.W. Kiefer, J.W. Chipman, Wiley Interational Edition
- Remote Sensing of the Environment: An Earth Resource Perspective - John R. Jensen, Prentice Hall
- Forest Ecosystems - R. H. Waring, S. W. Running, Academic Press
- Introductory Digital Image Processing: A Remote Sensing Perspective, John R. Jensen, Prentice Hall

Course contents
Monitoring Sustainable Forest Management (SFM): criteria and indicators
Data collection: field survey and remote sensing derived variables
Descriptive statistics
Sampling error and sample size determination
Sampling designs in forest inventories
Integrating remote sensing in forest inventory

Kershaw JA, Ducey MJ, Beers TW, Husch B (2017). Forest mensuration. John Wiley & Sons
Manly BFJ, Navarro Alberto JA (2014). Introduction to ecological sampling. Chapman and Hall/CRC
Johnson EW (2000). Forest sampling desk reference. CRC Press.
GOFC-GOLD (2017). A Sourcebook of Methods and Procedures for Monitoring Essential Biodiversity Variables in Tropical Forests with Remote Sensing. Eds: GOFC-GOLD & GEO BON. Report version UNCBD COP-13, GOFC-GOLD Land Cover Project Office, Wageningen University, The Netherlands. ISSN: 2542-6729.

Forest Tree Plantations in the World and in Europe.
Assessment of plantations for wood production and features of the planting site.
Planting systems and practices adopted for forest tree plantations.
Silvics and tree plantation management of the following species: Hardwoods: Quercus suber, Castanea sativa, Juglans spp., Prunus avium, Populus spp., Eucalyptus spp., Robinia pseudoacacia, minor species. Conifers: Pinus halepensis, Pinus pinea, Pinus pinaster, Pinus radiata, Cedrus spp, minor species.
Short Rotation Forestry - SRF.
Agroforestry.
Role of forest plantation in the preservation and improvement of the environment: biodiversity and landscape, riparian plantations, woodland buffer strips, carbon sequestration, phytoremediation.

Planted Forests: Uses, Impacts & Sustainability. 2009. FAO and CABI. pp 213.
Bibliography will be also suggested depending on the student background
The book is available in the university library or on the web. Teaching material will be distributed during the course and/or made available on the web.

I. Introduction
Soil and its different definitions
Role and position of soils in terrestrial ecosystems
Ecosystem services and soil functions
Concepts of chemical and biological fertility

II. Indicators of soil quality and health
Review of concepts of soil quality, soil health and soil security. Rationale for the use of soil indicators and specific requisites. Physical, chemical and biological indicators. Static and dynamic descriptors.
Pools and processes.
Main bioindicators: definitions and functions.
Soil health and resilience
Soil quality indexes

III. Soil organic matter (SOM)
Main features, composition, physical, chemical and biological properties.
SOM as a complex indicator of soil quality. Quantity and quality of SOM
Role of SOM to maintain soil fertility, to promote carbon storage and as the site of tight interactions with soil biota. Pools of ecological relevance.

IV. Soil microbial biomass
Definition, composition and main characteristics
Factors influencing microbial biomass development. Trophic conditions and adaptation strategies. Functions of soil microrganisms and their specific role within nutrient cycles.
How to study microbial biomass. Quantitative and qualitative approaches. FE method, SIR, multi-SIR, CLPP techniques. Concepts of genetic and functional diversity.
Microbial indexes: the microbial quotient, significance and measurement.

V. Mineralization processes (C & N mineralization)
Significance of mineralization processes to guarantee soil fertility
C mineralization. Soil respiration and its components: definition and measurement
Microbial indexes: the metabolic and the mineralization quotients: significance and measurement
N mineralization. Mineralization potential and in situ measurements

VI. Soil enzymes
Definitions and main features. Notes on enzyme kinetics: general infos. Localization and origin of soil enzymes. Classes of soil enzymes. Functions and stability of enzymes in soil. Immobilized enzymes.
Intra- and extracellular enzymes.
Determination of enzyme activities by means of different methods : colorimetric and fluorimetric techniques. Specific activities. Real and potential activity.

VII. Drivers of global soils change:
Natural and anthropogenic pressures (climate changes, land use changes, pollution)
Threats to soil functions
Soil degradation, soil loss

VIII. How to plan a monitoring activity
WWWHWWW scheme.
Experimental design, sampling schemes.
How to choose the right indicators. New sets of indicators.
Presentation of specific case studies in forest soils


Integrative seminars
To be defined

Laboratory classes
1 - Determination of soil respiration
2 - Determination of acid phosphatase activity

Working group
Reading and discussion of recent literature

Texts
1) Brady NC, Weil RR, 2016
The nature and properties of soils, XV Ed. (Chapt. 1, 11, 12, 20), XIV Ed.(Chapt. 2, 12, 13, 21) or XIII Ed. (Chapt. 1-11-12-20)(University Library)

2) FAO and ITPS., 2015.
Status of the World’s Soil Resources (SWSR) – Main Report. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils, Rome, Italy (selected chapters)

3) NERI Technical Report No. 388, 2002
Microorganisms as indicators of soil health,

4) European Commission - DG ENV, Report 2010
Soil biodiversity: functions, threats and tools for policy makers,

5) Gardi C., Jeffrey J. , 2009
Soil biodiversity, JRC Scientific and Technical Reports

6) Shukla G., Varma A., 2011,
Soil enzymology –Springer Verlag
(selected chapters)

7) Course slides

The class and lab. activities lectures will be focused on the following groups of topics/abilities.
- General introduction to plant biotechnology: history, global significance of modern plant biotechnology, biotech trees;
- Model plants for tree species: the need of a model plant for tree species;
- Vegetative propagation and tissue culture (tree cloning, micropropagation, cryopreservation, callus culture, haploid plants, protoplast isolation, production of secondary metabolites);
- General introduction to the genetically modified trees; Methods of genetic transformation of forest trees (Agrobacterium, biolistic, and electroporation)
- Applications of recombinant DNA technology for the improvement of forest trees
- General introduction to the Omics sciences (genomics, proteomics and metabolomics)
- Sequencing of tree species (history and main methodologies), Next generation sequencing
- Molecular markers history, molecular markers currently used in plant biotechnology
- Marker Assisted Selection

1. Plant Cell Culture, essential methods (2010). Edited by M.R. Davey and P. Anthony. Wiley-Blackwell.
2. Tree biotechnology (2014). Edited by K. G. Ramawat, J. M. Mérillon, M. R. Ahuja. CRC Press.
3. Plant Biotechnology and Agriculture: Prospects for the 21st Century (2012). Edited by Altman A and Hasegawa PM. Accademic Press.
4. Plants, genes, and Crop Biotechnology (2003). Edited by M.J. Chrispeels & D.E. Sadava. Jones and Bartlett publishers.
Non-attending students are encouraged to contact the teacher for information about the program, teaching materials, and how to evaluate the benefit.

1) Introduction to the Remote Sensing concept
2) The electromagnetic energy and most important equations
3) Reflectance curves
- water and snow
- soils
- vegetation
4) Effect of the vegetation characteristics on the reflectance
5) Remote sensing platforms and sensors
- characteristics of the platforms
- BRDF
- orbits
- main missions (Landsat, Spot, ...)
6) Digital images processing
- structure of the digital data (raster and vector)
- file formats and headers
- data types
7) Digital images visualization
- color visualization
- palette
8) Enhancement of RS images
- false and true color images
- stretch
- filters
- RGB-HSL and pan-sharp
9) Radiometric corrections
- Radiometric calibration
- stripping and other errors correction
10) Geometric corrections
- georeferencing
- orthorectification
- geometric distortions
11) Atmospheric corrections
- effect of the atmosphere on radiation
- path radiance
- image based methods to correct or minimize the atmosphere effect
12) Vegetation indexes and their use, fluorescence
- NDVI
- Soil line based VIs
- PRI
- fluorescence
13) Remote sensing and modeling
- RUE models
- concept of radiative transfer models
14) Model optimization and validation
- model definition and components
- strategy for model validation and optimization
- empirical and process-based models
- multiple constrain in models parameterization
15) Supervised and Unsupervised classifications
- hard and soft classification
- minimum distance and maximum likelihood
- unsupervised clustering
16) Artificial Neural Networks
- principles
- FFBP Neural Networks
- concepts of validation
- applications as soft classification
17) Practical applications
- exercises on the practical tasks
- example of multi-temporal analysis

- Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation - T.M. Lillesand, R.W. Kiefer, J.W. Chipman, Wiley Interational Edition
- Remote Sensing of the Environment: An Earth Resource Perspective - John R. Jensen, Prentice Hall
- Forest Ecosystems - R. H. Waring, S. W. Running, Academic Press
- Introductory Digital Image Processing: A Remote Sensing Perspective, John R. Jensen, Prentice Hall

COURSE PROGRAM

SECTION 1 - INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE
- About the course
- Program outlines and operative info

- Anthropic contexts
- Land uses
- Pressures in urban areas

SECTION 2 - SOIL HEALTH AND QUALITY
- Soil health, soil quality and resilience: Definitions and differences

SECTION 3 - SOIL PERTURBATIONS AND GENERAL INFO ON POLLUTION
- Pollution vs natural environments
- Sources, nature and types of soil contamination/pollution and its classification - The case of urban areas
- Classification of contaminants/pollutants (nature, toxicity, physical state, chemistry)
- Properties of contaminants/pollutants

SECTION 4 - SOIL ECOSYSTEM COMPOSITION AND FEATURES
- Soil: definitions, functions and importance
- Soil formation: factors and processes
- Soil composition and organisation
- Solid inorganic fractions and components:
- Description and properties of solid inorganic components - Minerals (silicates and non-silicates)
- Origin and formation of the inorganic fraction components - Rock cycle, weathering and genesis
- Influences from external factors and effects on soil features and processes (pollution and remediation)

SECTION 5 - SOIL-WATER RELATIONSHIPS
- Chemistry and properties of water
- Importance of water on the Earth, the hydrologic cycle, water distribution and uses
- Forces generating and controlling water dynamics in soil
- Types of water movements in soil (interception, infiltration, percolation, leakage, capillary rising and evaporation)
- Water uptake by plants, soil water balance (evapotranspiration), groundwater
- Soil water content; concepts, types and measurements; managements
- Influences from external factors and effects on soil features and processes (pollution and remediation)

SECTION 6 - SOIL-AIR RELATIONSHIPS
- Importance of air on the Earth
- Forces generating and controlling air dynamics in soil
- Influences from external factors and effects on soil features - Wetlands - and processes (pollution and remediation)
- Soil volatiles (VOCs)

SECTION 7 - Solid organic fraction (SOM) and components
- Importance of SOM on the Earth, the C cycle, SOM distribution and uses
- Description and properties of solid organic components
- Origin and formation of the organic fraction components - Fresh OM degradation, transformation and interaction with the mineral components (persistence)
- Influences from external factors, functions and effects on soil features (pollution and remediation)

SECTION 8 - SOIL BIOTA, the soil living fraction
- Organisation and distribution of living organisms on the Earth - Ecosystems, biomes and biodiversity
- Importance of soil biota on the Earth and soil as a proper ecosystem
- Description, distribution, classification and functions of soil organisms - Soil animals and microorganisms
- Soil-plant-microorganism relationships - The rhizosphere
- Influences from external factors and effects on soil features and functions (pollution and remediation)

SECTION 9 - SOIL PROPERTIES
- Physical - Colour, texture, density, porosity, permeability, structure
- Physicochemical - Charges on colloids
- Sorption: physisorption, ion chemisorption and ion physicochemical adsorption - The Double layer and the Ion exchange (Cation and Anion Exchange Capacity)
- Chemical - Acidity and alkalinity, pH, buffer capacity
- Biological and Biochemical - Enzymes
- Influences from external factors and effects on soil features and functions (nutrition, pollution and remediation)

SECTION 10 - INTERACTIONS AND FATE OF POLLUTANTS WITH SOIL
- Inorganic pollutants in soil, interactions, processes(adsorption/fixation, absorption, solubilisation, mobility, leaching) and persistence
- Organic pollutants in soil, interactions, processes (partitioning, adsorption/fixation, absorption, solubilisation, mobility, volatilisation, degradation, leaching) and persistence

SECTION 11 - Monitoring soil pollution and remediation
- Soil sampling
- Monitoring soil quality (indicators)
- Monitoring soil pollutants (metals, organics)
- Traditional approaches in soil monitoring (traditional analyses)
- Smart approaches in soil monitoring - sensors, probes and (hybrid) sensing systems

SUGGESTED TEXTBOOKS

• E.A. Paul (2015). Soil microbiology, ecology, and biochemistry (4th Edition). Academic Press.
• I.L. Pepper, C.P. Gerba, M.L. Brusseau (2006). Environmental and Pollution Science (2nd Edition). Academic Press.
• N.C. Brady, R.R. Weil (2010). Elements of the nature and properties of soils. Pearson. / Alternatively: N.C. Brady, R.R. Weil (2016). The nature and properties of soils (Global Edition). Pearson.

Course contents
Monitoring Sustainable Forest Management (SFM): criteria and indicators
Data collection: field survey and remote sensing derived variables
Descriptive statistics
Sampling error and sample size determination
Sampling designs in forest inventories
Integrating remote sensing in forest inventory

Kershaw JA, Ducey MJ, Beers TW, Husch B (2017). Forest mensuration. John Wiley & Sons
Manly BFJ, Navarro Alberto JA (2014). Introduction to ecological sampling. Chapman and Hall/CRC
Johnson EW (2000). Forest sampling desk reference. CRC Press.
GOFC-GOLD (2017). A Sourcebook of Methods and Procedures for Monitoring Essential Biodiversity Variables in Tropical Forests with Remote Sensing. Eds: GOFC-GOLD & GEO BON. Report version UNCBD COP-13, GOFC-GOLD Land Cover Project Office, Wageningen University, The Netherlands. ISSN: 2542-6729.

PROGRAMME TOPICS

• Morphologic and functional features of the main organs of plants and trees
• Plants and microclimate: basic elements
• Environmental drivers of transpiration and plant water relations
• Environmental drivers of photosynthesis and carbon allocation
• Impact of urban areas on soil and water contamination
• Application of phytotechnologies for soil remediation
• Application of phytotechnologies for storm water management
• Site assessments, project design and monitoring
• Other multipurpose green infrastructures
• Analysis of case studies

Textbooks

- Thomas P. Trees: their natural history. Cambridge University Press, 2000.
- Hirons A. D., Thomas P. Applied tree biology Wiley, 2018.
- Ansari, S.S. Gill, R. Gill, G.R. Lanza, L. Newman (Eds.) Phytoremediation: Management of Environmental Contaminants, Volume 1. Springer 2015
- Ansari, S.S. Gill, R. Gill, G.R. Lanza, L. Newman (Eds.) Phytoremediation: Management of Environmental Contaminants, Volume 2. Springer 2015

-Design peak discharge and design hydrograph;
-Return period: meaning, equation, and practical implication;
-Rational Formula, theory and practice;
-Intesity-Duration-Frequency curves, theory and practice (Excel Lab);
-Rainfall-Runoff Event-Based Approach;
-Design Hyetograph;
-Net Rainfall estimation, the NRCS-CN curve number method;
-Rainfall-runoff transformation, the IUH approach and the WFIUH approach;
-GIS tools for watershed management;
-The EBA4SUB software: introduction and project discussion (project Lab);
- Hydrological application for urban case studies.

Chow, Maidment, Mays., Applied Hydrology, Mc Graw-Hill, New York, 1988

1) Introduction to the Remote Sensing concept
2) The electromagnetic energy and most important equations
3) Reflectance curves
- water and snow
- soils
- vegetation
4) Effect of the vegetation characteristics on the reflectance
5) Remote sensing platforms and sensors
- characteristics of the platforms
- BRDF
- orbits
- main missions (Landsat, Spot, ...)
6) Digital images processing
- structure of the digital data (raster and vector)
- file formats and headers
- data types
7) Digital images visualization
- color visualization
- palette
8) Enhancement of RS images
- false and true color images
- stretch
- filters
- RGB-HSL and pan-sharp
9) Radiometric corrections
- Radiometric calibration
- stripping and other errors correction
10) Geometric corrections
- georeferencing
- orthorectification
- geometric distortions
11) Atmospheric corrections
- effect of the atmosphere on radiation
- path radiance
- image based methods to correct or minimize the atmosphere effect
12) Vegetation indexes and their use, fluorescence
- NDVI
- Soil line based VIs
- PRI
- fluorescence
13) Remote sensing and modeling
- RUE models
- concept of radiative transfer models
14) Model optimization and validation
- model definition and components
- strategy for model validation and optimization
- empirical and process-based models
- multiple constrain in models parameterization
15) Supervised and Unsupervised classifications
- hard and soft classification
- minimum distance and maximum likelihood
- unsupervised clustering
16) Artificial Neural Networks
- principles
- FFBP Neural Networks
- concepts of validation
- applications as soft classification
17) Practical applications
- exercises on the practical tasks
- example of multi-temporal analysis

- Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation - T.M. Lillesand, R.W. Kiefer, J.W. Chipman, Wiley Interational Edition
- Remote Sensing of the Environment: An Earth Resource Perspective - John R. Jensen, Prentice Hall
- Forest Ecosystems - R. H. Waring, S. W. Running, Academic Press
- Introductory Digital Image Processing: A Remote Sensing Perspective, John R. Jensen, Prentice Hall

COURSE PROGRAM

SECTION 1 - INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE
- About the course
- Program outlines and operative info

- Anthropic contexts
- Land uses
- Pressures in urban areas

SECTION 2 - SOIL HEALTH AND QUALITY
- Soil health, soil quality and resilience: Definitions and differences

SECTION 3 - SOIL PERTURBATIONS AND GENERAL INFO ON POLLUTION
- Pollution vs natural environments
- Sources, nature and types of soil contamination/pollution and its classification - The case of urban areas
- Classification of contaminants/pollutants (nature, toxicity, physical state, chemistry)
- Properties of contaminants/pollutants

SECTION 4 - SOIL ECOSYSTEM COMPOSITION AND FEATURES
- Soil: definitions, functions and importance
- Soil formation: factors and processes
- Soil composition and organisation
- Solid inorganic fractions and components:
- Description and properties of solid inorganic components - Minerals (silicates and non-silicates)
- Origin and formation of the inorganic fraction components - Rock cycle, weathering and genesis
- Influences from external factors and effects on soil features and processes (pollution and remediation)

SECTION 5 - SOIL-WATER RELATIONSHIPS
- Chemistry and properties of water
- Importance of water on the Earth, the hydrologic cycle, water distribution and uses
- Forces generating and controlling water dynamics in soil
- Types of water movements in soil (interception, infiltration, percolation, leakage, capillary rising and evaporation)
- Water uptake by plants, soil water balance (evapotranspiration), groundwater
- Soil water content; concepts, types and measurements; managements
- Influences from external factors and effects on soil features and processes (pollution and remediation)

SECTION 6 - SOIL-AIR RELATIONSHIPS
- Importance of air on the Earth
- Forces generating and controlling air dynamics in soil
- Influences from external factors and effects on soil features - Wetlands - and processes (pollution and remediation)
- Soil volatiles (VOCs)

SECTION 7 - Solid organic fraction (SOM) and components
- Importance of SOM on the Earth, the C cycle, SOM distribution and uses
- Description and properties of solid organic components
- Origin and formation of the organic fraction components - Fresh OM degradation, transformation and interaction with the mineral components (persistence)
- Influences from external factors, functions and effects on soil features (pollution and remediation)

SECTION 8 - SOIL BIOTA, the soil living fraction
- Organisation and distribution of living organisms on the Earth - Ecosystems, biomes and biodiversity
- Importance of soil biota on the Earth and soil as a proper ecosystem
- Description, distribution, classification and functions of soil organisms - Soil animals and microorganisms
- Soil-plant-microorganism relationships - The rhizosphere
- Influences from external factors and effects on soil features and functions (pollution and remediation)

SECTION 9 - SOIL PROPERTIES
- Physical - Colour, texture, density, porosity, permeability, structure
- Physicochemical - Charges on colloids
- Sorption: physisorption, ion chemisorption and ion physicochemical adsorption - The Double layer and the Ion exchange (Cation and Anion Exchange Capacity)
- Chemical - Acidity and alkalinity, pH, buffer capacity
- Biological and Biochemical - Enzymes
- Influences from external factors and effects on soil features and functions (nutrition, pollution and remediation)

SECTION 10 - INTERACTIONS AND FATE OF POLLUTANTS WITH SOIL
- Inorganic pollutants in soil, interactions, processes(adsorption/fixation, absorption, solubilisation, mobility, leaching) and persistence
- Organic pollutants in soil, interactions, processes (partitioning, adsorption/fixation, absorption, solubilisation, mobility, volatilisation, degradation, leaching) and persistence

SECTION 11 - Monitoring soil pollution and remediation
- Soil sampling
- Monitoring soil quality (indicators)
- Monitoring soil pollutants (metals, organics)
- Traditional approaches in soil monitoring (traditional analyses)
- Smart approaches in soil monitoring - sensors, probes and (hybrid) sensing systems

SUGGESTED TEXTBOOKS

• E.A. Paul (2015). Soil microbiology, ecology, and biochemistry (4th Edition). Academic Press.
• I.L. Pepper, C.P. Gerba, M.L. Brusseau (2006). Environmental and Pollution Science (2nd Edition). Academic Press.
• N.C. Brady, R.R. Weil (2010). Elements of the nature and properties of soils. Pearson. / Alternatively: N.C. Brady, R.R. Weil (2016). The nature and properties of soils (Global Edition). Pearson.

PROGRAMME TOPICS

• Morphologic and functional features of the main organs of plants and trees
• Plants and microclimate: basic elements
• Environmental drivers of transpiration and plant water relations
• Environmental drivers of photosynthesis and carbon allocation
• Impact of urban areas on soil and water contamination
• Application of phytotechnologies for soil remediation
• Application of phytotechnologies for storm water management
• Site assessments, project design and monitoring
• Other multipurpose green infrastructures
• Analysis of case studies

Textbooks

- Thomas P. Trees: their natural history. Cambridge University Press, 2000.
- Hirons A. D., Thomas P. Applied tree biology Wiley, 2018.
- Ansari, S.S. Gill, R. Gill, G.R. Lanza, L. Newman (Eds.) Phytoremediation: Management of Environmental Contaminants, Volume 1. Springer 2015
- Ansari, S.S. Gill, R. Gill, G.R. Lanza, L. Newman (Eds.) Phytoremediation: Management of Environmental Contaminants, Volume 2. Springer 2015

-Design peak discharge and design hydrograph;
-Return period: meaning, equation, and practical implication;
-Rational Formula, theory and practice;
-Intesity-Duration-Frequency curves, theory and practice (Excel Lab);
-Rainfall-Runoff Event-Based Approach;
-Design Hyetograph;
-Net Rainfall estimation, the NRCS-CN curve number method;
-Rainfall-runoff transformation, the IUH approach and the WFIUH approach;
-GIS tools for watershed management;
-The EBA4SUB software: introduction and project discussion (project Lab);
- Hydrological application for urban case studies.

Chow, Maidment, Mays., Applied Hydrology, Mc Graw-Hill, New York, 1988

The class and lab. activities lectures will be focused on the following groups of topics/abilities.
- General introduction to plant biotechnology: history, global significance of modern plant biotechnology, biotech trees;
- Model plants for tree species: the need of a model plant for tree species;
- Vegetative propagation and tissue culture (tree cloning, micropropagation, cryopreservation, callus culture, haploid plants, protoplast isolation, production of secondary metabolites);
- General introduction to the genetically modified trees; Methods of genetic transformation of forest trees (Agrobacterium, biolistic, and electroporation)
- Applications of recombinant DNA technology for the improvement of forest trees
- General introduction to the Omics sciences (genomics, proteomics and metabolomics)
- Sequencing of tree species (history and main methodologies), Next generation sequencing
- Molecular markers history, molecular markers currently used in plant biotechnology
- Marker Assisted Selection

1. Plant Cell Culture, essential methods (2010). Edited by M.R. Davey and P. Anthony. Wiley-Blackwell.
2. Tree biotechnology (2014). Edited by K. G. Ramawat, J. M. Mérillon, M. R. Ahuja. CRC Press.
3. Plant Biotechnology and Agriculture: Prospects for the 21st Century (2012). Edited by Altman A and Hasegawa PM. Accademic Press.
4. Plants, genes, and Crop Biotechnology (2003). Edited by M.J. Chrispeels & D.E. Sadava. Jones and Bartlett publishers.
Non-attending students are encouraged to contact the teacher for information about the program, teaching materials, and how to evaluate the benefit.

FOREST GENETICS

The course is organized into four major sections:
1) summary of basic genetic principles (mendelian and molecular genetics);
2) population genetics;
3) quantitative genetics;
4) basic principles of genetic improvement of forest trees.

1) SUMMARY OF BASIC GENETIC PRINCIPLES

a) Mendelian genetics
- Mendel's principles
Monohybrid crosses: the principles of dominance and segregation; dihybrid crosses: the principle of independent assortment.
- Extension of Mendel's principles: partial dominance, codominance, multiple alleles, epistasis, genetic linkage, pleiotropy.

b) Molecular genetics and cytogenetics
- Structures of DNA and RNA.
- The central dogma of molecular biology: replication, transcription and translation, the genetic code.
- Gene structure and regulation.
- The organization of DNA in chromosomes, mitosis and meiosis, chromosome theory of inheritance,
- Genomics.
- Mutations.
- Polyploidy.

- Causes and types of variability in forest stands.

2) POPULATION GENETICS
- Genetic structure of populations: genotype and allele frequencies.
- The Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium law: assumption and predictions of the law; implications of the law in natural populations.
- Mating systems and inbreeding: influence of inbreeding on genotypic frequencies, inbreeding coefficient, inbreeding depression in forest trees.
- Forces that change allele frequency (evolutionary forces): mutation, migration, selection and genetic drift.

3) QUANTITATIVE GENETICS
- Characteristics of quantitative traits.
- Study of the amount of phenotypic variation for a quantitative trait.; statistical tools: samples and populations, frequency distributions, mean, variance and standard deviation, correlation and regression analyses.
- Estimating the relative contribution of environmental and genetic effects on the observed phenotypic variability: heritability and its estimation in forest species.
- Estimating the genotypic value of parental phenotypes by the analysis of offspring: clonal and breeding values; general combining ability and specific combining ability.
- Genetic gain or genetic progress in a tree improvement program: realized gain and predicted gain on the basis of quantitative genetics theory; clonal and breeding genetic gain.
- Genetic correlations: genetic correlations between two distinct traits (traits/traits correlations); genetics correlations of the same trait expressed at different ages (juvenile/mature correlations); genetic correlations of the same trait expressed in different environments (genotype x environment interaction).

4) BASIC PRINCIPLES OF GENETIC IMPROVEMENTS OF FOREST TREES
- Genetic improvements under natural regeneration systems.
- Scope and structure of forest tree improvement programs.
- Population types and activities in the breeding cycle of tree improvement programs.
- Characteristics of different types of populations: base population, selected population, breeding population, external population.
- Propagation population: clonal seed orchards, seedling seed orchards.
- Objectives and functions of genetic tests in the breeding cycle of tree improvement programs.
- Interim options for meeting immediate seed needs for reforestation programs: seed production areas, directed seed collections.

FOREST GENETICS
Notes and slides of the lectures provided by the teacher.
Textbook: Forest Genetics (2009), Editors: White T.L., Adams W.T., Neale D.B. ISBN 9781845932855

PROGRAMME TOPICS

Morphologic and functional features of the main organs of forest trees: adaptation and acclimation

Growth and development of forest trees and responses to environmental factors and stresses

Tree architecture and forest microclimate

Transpiration, water relations and stress

Photosynthesis, respiration and carbon cycle of forest ecosystems

Quantitative methods for forest ecophysiological analyses (lab)

Introduction to ecophysiological process based mathematical models

Textbooks

Thomas P. Trees: their natural history. Cambridge University Press, 2000.

Hans Lambers, F. Stuart Chapin III, Thijs L. Pons. Plant Physiological Ecology. Second Edition. Springer 2008.

I. Introduction
Soil and its different definitions
Role and position of soils in terrestrial ecosystems
Ecosystem services and soil functions
Concepts of chemical and biological fertility

II. Indicators of soil quality and health
Review of concepts of soil quality, soil health and soil security. Rationale for the use of soil indicators and specific requisites. Physical, chemical and biological indicators. Static and dynamic descriptors.
Pools and processes.
Main bioindicators: definitions and functions.
Soil health and resilience
Soil quality indexes

III. Soil organic matter (SOM)
Main features, composition, physical, chemical and biological properties.
SOM as a complex indicator of soil quality. Quantity and quality of SOM
Role of SOM to maintain soil fertility, to promote carbon storage and as the site of tight interactions with soil biota. Pools of ecological relevance.

IV. Soil microbial biomass
Definition, composition and main characteristics
Factors influencing microbial biomass development. Trophic conditions and adaptation strategies. Functions of soil microrganisms and their specific role within nutrient cycles.
How to study microbial biomass. Quantitative and qualitative approaches. FE method, SIR, multi-SIR, CLPP techniques. Concepts of genetic and functional diversity.
Microbial indexes: the microbial quotient, significance and measurement.

V. Mineralization processes (C & N mineralization)
Significance of mineralization processes to guarantee soil fertility
C mineralization. Soil respiration and its components: definition and measurement
Microbial indexes: the metabolic and the mineralization quotients: significance and measurement
N mineralization. Mineralization potential and in situ measurements

VI. Soil enzymes
Definitions and main features. Notes on enzyme kinetics: general infos. Localization and origin of soil enzymes. Classes of soil enzymes. Functions and stability of enzymes in soil. Immobilized enzymes.
Intra- and extracellular enzymes.
Determination of enzyme activities by means of different methods : colorimetric and fluorimetric techniques. Specific activities. Real and potential activity.

VII. Drivers of global soils change:
Natural and anthropogenic pressures (climate changes, land use changes, pollution)
Threats to soil functions
Soil degradation, soil loss

VIII. How to plan a monitoring activity
WWWHWWW scheme.
Experimental design, sampling schemes.
How to choose the right indicators. New sets of indicators.
Presentation of specific case studies in forest soils

Integrative seminars
To be defined

Laboratory classes
1 - Determination of soil respiration
2 - Determination of acid phosphatase activity

Working group
Reading and discussion of recent literature

Texts
1) Brady NC, Weil RR, 2016
The nature and properties of soils, XV Ed. (Chapt. 1, 11, 12, 20), XIV Ed.(Chapt. 2, 12, 13, 21) or XIII Ed. (Chapt. 1-11-12-20)(University Library)

2) FAO and ITPS., 2015.
Status of the World’s Soil Resources (SWSR) – Main Report. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils, Rome, Italy (selected chapters)

3) NERI Technical Report No. 388, 2002
Microorganisms as indicators of soil health,

4) European Commission - DG ENV, Report 2010
Soil biodiversity: functions, threats and tools for policy makers,

5) Gardi C., Jeffrey J. , 2009
Soil biodiversity, JRC Scientific and Technical Reports

6) Shukla G., Varma A., 2011,
Soil enzymology –Springer Verlag
(selected chapters)

7) Course slides

Course contents
Monitoring Sustainable Forest Management (SFM): criteria and indicators
Data collection: field survey and remote sensing derived variables
Descriptive statistics
Sampling error and sample size determination
Sampling designs in forest inventories
Integrating remote sensing in forest inventory

Kershaw JA, Ducey MJ, Beers TW, Husch B (2017). Forest mensuration. John Wiley & Sons
Manly BFJ, Navarro Alberto JA (2014). Introduction to ecological sampling. Chapman and Hall/CRC
Johnson EW (2000). Forest sampling desk reference. CRC Press.
GOFC-GOLD (2017). A Sourcebook of Methods and Procedures for Monitoring Essential Biodiversity Variables in Tropical Forests with Remote Sensing. Eds: GOFC-GOLD & GEO BON. Report version UNCBD COP-13, GOFC-GOLD Land Cover Project Office, Wageningen University, The Netherlands. ISSN: 2542-6729.

1) Introduction to the Remote Sensing concept
2) The electromagnetic energy and most important equations
3) Reflectance curves
- water and snow
- soils
- vegetation
4) Effect of the vegetation characteristics on the reflectance
5) Remote sensing platforms and sensors
- characteristics of the platforms
- BRDF
- orbits
- main missions (Landsat, Spot, ...)
6) Digital images processing
- structure of the digital data (raster and vector)
- file formats and headers
- data types
7) Digital images visualization
- color visualization
- palette
8) Enhancement of RS images
- false and true color images
- stretch
- filters
- RGB-HSL and pan-sharp
9) Radiometric corrections
- Radiometric calibration
- stripping and other errors correction
10) Geometric corrections
- georeferencing
- orthorectification
- geometric distortions
11) Atmospheric corrections
- effect of the atmosphere on radiation
- path radiance
- image based methods to correct or minimize the atmosphere effect
12) Vegetation indexes and their use, fluorescence
- NDVI
- Soil line based VIs
- PRI
- fluorescence
13) Remote sensing and modeling
- RUE models
- concept of radiative transfer models
14) Model optimization and validation
- model definition and components
- strategy for model validation and optimization
- empirical and process-based models
- multiple constrain in models parameterization
15) Supervised and Unsupervised classifications
- hard and soft classification
- minimum distance and maximum likelihood
- unsupervised clustering
16) Artificial Neural Networks
- principles
- FFBP Neural Networks
- concepts of validation
- applications as soft classification
17) Practical applications
- exercises on the practical tasks
- example of multi-temporal analysis

- Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation - T.M. Lillesand, R.W. Kiefer, J.W. Chipman, Wiley Interational Edition
- Remote Sensing of the Environment: An Earth Resource Perspective - John R. Jensen, Prentice Hall
- Forest Ecosystems - R. H. Waring, S. W. Running, Academic Press
- Introductory Digital Image Processing: A Remote Sensing Perspective, John R. Jensen, Prentice Hall

Biological Invasions: general concepts and glossary; concept of introduction, naturalization; acclimatization and invasion; examples of biological invasions; factors associated to risk of introduction. Invasive Forest Pathogens: dimension of the problem. Introduction to pathways: living plants trade; timber trade; seed and propagation material trade; unregulated pathways: wood manufactured products; examples. Strategies of invasions: host jump; hybridization; differential evolution. Impacts: economic; on biodiversity; on carbon dioxide fixation; on cultural heritage; examples. Phytosanitary regulations: ICPP, SPS agreement, NPPO, Phytosanitary services; EPPO products, quarantine organisms lists; EPPO standards; Pest Risk Analysis. Invasive Forest Pathogens: European situation; vulnerability of EU countries to invasion. Pest Risk Analysis: concepts and examples. Constraints of the Phytosanitary regulations; possible solutions: search of centers of origin; the sentinel tree strategy. Introduction to diagnostic. Serological diagnostics: polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies; the antigen; the ELISA test; molecular methods: PCR; the concept of markers; characteristics of markers for molecular diagnostics; general and specific primer sets; practical application. Molecular diagnostic: multiplex and nested conventional PCR; quantitative PCR, TaqMan and SYBR Green technologies; examples of application; proof of the vitality of the pathogen: mRNA as a template; the dqRT-PCR approach; the HTS approach; the use of EPPO diagnostic standards. Phytosanitary forest monitoring: introduction; proximal and remote sensing activities, advantages and disadvantages. Phytosanitary monitoring in European countries (the example of France) and Italy. Phytosanitary monitoring: ICP forests monitoring in Europe: Levels 1 and 2. Plant Viruses: structure, cycle, vectors, epidemiology, symptomatology, diagnosis, and control; examples of viral diseases Introduction to Phytoplasmas and Spyroplasmas: disease cycle, vectors, symptomatology, epidemiology, detection & diagnosis; taxonomy; an example of Phytoplasmas and Spiroplasmas diseases. Introduction to Bacteria: morphology, biology, ecology, symptomatology, phytopathogenic bacteria; diagnosis and taxonomy; an example of bacterial diseases. Oomycetes: taxonomic context; morphology, biology, epidemiology; an example of Phytophthora diseases. Laboratory practical work on specimens collection; binocular observation; microscopic observation; application of identification keys; isolation from samples onto growing media. DNA extraction from fungal cultures; separation on agarose gel and observation; sample preparation for PCR reaction; PCR amplification and run of agarose gel for amplicons separation; Sequence analysis and BLAST on GeneBank.

Teacher PPT presentation; scientific papers; online software; web sites

1. Introduction and objectives of the course. Near-to-nature silviculture and sustainable silviculture: theoretical basis and applicative principles. Effects of silviculture on the genetic characteristics of forests. Forest resources in Europe: an integrated perspective on ecosystem services, disturbances and threats. Brief outline of forest bio-based economy in Europe.
2. European forests: an ecological overview. Forest vegetation belts in Italy. European forest classifications. European Forest Types: tree species matrix. Past forests of Europe.
Silviculture of Mediterranean and temperate forests, in particular:
3. Silvics and silviculture of Mediterranean forests: Mediterranean macchia; Mediterranean pine stands, (Pinus halepensis, P. pinaster, P. pinea); evergreen oak stands (Quercus ilex, Q. suber, Q. coccifera). Wood production in Mediterranean forests. Silviculture of minor tree species of the Mediterranean environment.
4. Silvics and silviculture of plain / sub mountain forests: deciduous oak stands (Quercus robur, Q. petraea, Q. pubescens, Q. frainetto, Q. cerris, Q. trojana); chestnut stands (Castanea sativa). Brief outline on silvics and silviculture of the main broadleaf species related to the deciduous oak stands (Carpinus spp., Acer spp., Fraxinus spp.). Outline on the riparian tree vegetation in Europe. Wood production in plain / sub-mountain forests.
5. Silvics and silviculture of mountain forests: European beech stands (Fagus sylvatica); European silver fir stands (Abies alba); Mountain pine stands (P. sylvestris, P. nigra, P. laricio, P. leucodermis). Brief outline on silvics and silviculture of valuable broadleved stands (Acer spp., Tilia spp., Fraxinus excelsior, Prunus avium). Wood production in mountain forests
6. Silvics and silviculture of subalpine forests: Norway spruce stands (Picea abies); European larch, stone pine, Swiss mountain pine, dwarf pine stands (Larix decidua, Pinus cembra, Pinus uncinata, Pinus mugo). Wood production in subalpine forests. Silviculture in protection forests.
7. Outline of forest reproductive material and forest nursery techniques. Technical principles for the establishment and management of forest plantations. Outline on clonal forestry, short rotation forestry, forest restoration.

San-Miguel-Ayanz, J., de Rigo, D., Caudullo, G., Houston Durrant, T., Mauri, A. (Eds.), 2016. European Atlas of Forest Tree Species. Publication Office of the European Union, Luxembourg.
Silvics of north america: 1. Conifers 2. Hardwoods Agriculture Handbook. Silvics of North America: 1. Conifers 2. Hardwoods Agriculture Handbook 654. Burns, R. M. and B. H. Honkala (technical coordinators), U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Washington D. C., 1990. http://na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/table_ of_contents.htm.
Kelty, M. J., Larson, B. C., & Oliver, C. D. (Eds.). (2013). The ecology and silviculture of mixed-species forests: a festschrift for David M. Smith (Vol. 40). Springer Science & Business Media. (Class. Bibl. 574.52642).
Helms, J. A. (1998). The dictionary of forestry. (Class. Bibl. 634.903/DIC).
Silviculture Handbook. Wisconsin DNR, Publication Number 2431.5, Madison: Wisconsin DNR, 2010. www.dnr.state.wi.us/forestry/Publications/H andbooks/24315/

The books are available in the university library or on the web. Teaching material will be distributed during the course and/or made available on the web.

Background of wood science and technology. Wood chemistry: cellulose, hemicellulose, extractives (terpens, tannins, quinones, lignans).
Wood durability. Biotic agents of degradation, hazard classes, permeability, weathering.
National bodies and European Committee for standardization (CEN): types of technical standards
Solid wood. Rules for log and load bearing structures grading. Strength classes in structural timber EN technical standards. Structures in historical buildings, classification. Classification of quality in logs: EN technical standards.
Use of wood extractives, cork, gums, other non wood products.
Wood preservants and consolidants.
Wood modification: heat treatments (thermowood, Plato-wood, Moldrup), chemical modification (acetylation, furfural alchol, isocyanates), properties of chemically modified wood.
Wood adhesion and wood adhesives. Liquified wood, welding wood, natural glues (proteins, starch, tannins…)
Laminated timber and solid wood panels: plywoods, X-LAMS, gluelams, KVH, LVL, PVL etc. EN technical standards
Particle wood biocomposites: particleboards (waferboard, flakeboards, OSB, LVL, etc.)
Fiber-wood composites (MDF, HDF, LDF), wood-plastic composites (WPC),
Cellulose nanopapers, cellulose nanocomposites, cellulose biofoams and aerogels. Plasma treatment of wood
Biorafinery, recycled wood.
Lignin nanoparticles and cellulose nanofibers.

References
Rowell. 2013. Handbook of wood chemistry and wood composites. CRC Press
Slides of the teacher (first draft).
Ansell M. Wood Composites.
AA.VV. Development of commercial wood preservants.
Tsoumis 1991. Wood Science and Technology
Suggested Review Articles by the teacher.

The concept of Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) and its tools.
The functions of forest.
Different level of forest planning in Italy.
Stages of a land plan and of a traditional forest plan
Target and actors of forest planning
Stage I: data collection; mandatory knoledge about environmental socio-economic factors
Forest compartments and other basic territorial units of a forest under management.
How to divide a forest ownership into compartments
The concept of evenaged normal forest.. Rotation. Criteria to choose the rotation. Yield tables.
Methods to calculate the allowable cut of evenaged normal forest. The area methods for the management of coppices.
The Austrian methods, the Paulsen-Hundeshagen principle, the Masson formula, the Patrone formula.
The management of the normal unevenaged forest. The reverse j shaped curve; the cutting cycle. How calculate the allowable cut.
Management methods which do noto refer to a normal forest model: the silvicultural method; the control method.
International framewotk of forest planning. : international framework convention on climate change; convention on biological diversity; convention to combat desertification; the Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe; EU Habitat and Birds Directives.
The main tools of land planning in Italy.
The Environmental Impact Assesment.. The Strategical Environmental Assesment..
Forest planning in designated protected areas and Natura 2000 sites.

Peter Bettinger, Kevin Boston, Jacely Siry, Donald Grebner
Forest management Planning
Academic Press, 2017

1. Economics concepts. 1.1 Market equilibrium; 1.2 Close and linear economic model; 1.3 Gross domestic products.
2. Environment Economics. 2.1 Environmental, public and external goods. 2.2 Environmental Kuznets Curve. 2.3 Demand, supply and market equilibrium in the presence of environmental goods. 2.3 Sustainable development. 2.4 Strategies to include the environment in the economic system
3. World Forest heritage. 4.1 Heritage and distribution; 4.2 Qualification; 4.3 Degradation processes.
4. Forest natural capital and forest ecosystem services. 3.1 Natural Capital. 3.2 Forest natural capital. 3.3 Ecosystem services: source, characters, role, and classification
5. Sustainable management of forest resources. 5.1 Sustainable Forest Management and Sustainability Types. 5.2 Sustainable management of forests, wildlife, grazing and tourism.
6. Institutions and forestry policies: 6.1 Cycle of policy. 6.2 International forest policy system. 6.3 Type of fest policies. 6.4 International forest institution and policies. 6.5 Regional forest institution and policy. 6.6 European forest institution and policy.
7. Forest protection and enhancement tools: 7.1 policy tools; 7.2 legal and regulatory tools; 7.3 Financial; 7.4 market-based; 7.5 Volunteers, 7.6 Negotiators, 7.7 Consumer orientation.
8. Evaluation of forest ecosystem services: Total economic value. Methods of assessment of environmental assets: a) market approaches; (B) non-market approaches.
9. Environmental investment assessment: cost-effectiveness analysis; cost benefit analysis.
10. Environmental evaluation tools: Strategic environmental evaluation; Environmental Impact Assessment; Assessment of Environmental Incidence.

Turner R.K., Pearce D., Bateman I., 1993. Environmental Economics. The Johns Hopkins. University Press, Baltimore
Other material: scientific articles, relevant documents, power point presentations, will be produced from the theacher.

Program
The Vertebrates, origin, general features and classification of the lineage (subphylum).
Fishes: general features and diversity; notes on the freshwater Italian fish fauna .
Amphibians: general features, adaptations, diversity and classification; salamanders and frogs of the Italian fauna.
Reptiles: general features, adaptations, diversity and classification; terrestrial and freshwater reptiles fauna of the Italian region.
Birds: general features, adaptations, diversity and classification; the Italian avifauna especially with regard to forest and montane ecosystems; notes on birds of wetlands and coastal areas.
Mammals: general features, adaptations, diversity and classification; terrestrial mammals of the Italian fauna, with particular references to forest and montane ecosystems (hints on marine Italian mammals).

Aspects of conservation of terrestrial vertebrates of the Italian fauna (extinct species, endangered species, non-native species, problematic species).
Biogeography of terrestrial vertebrates of the Italian fauna.

Textbooks
Generality
Baccetti et al., Zoologia - Trattato italiano - Grasso Editoriale, pp. 953-1193.
Westheide W., Rieger R., 2011. Zoologia sistematica. Zanichelli.


Italian fauna
AA. VV., Wildlife in Italy. Touring Club Italiano:
Cap. Amphibians, Reptiles and Mammals, pp. 120-149; Cap. Birds, pp. 150-162; Cap. Fishes [no]; Cap. Birds of freshwater habitats, pp. 198-202; Cap. Uccelli degli ambienti costieri, pp. 242-246

Class presentations and other materials (papers, pdf, internet sites, ecc.)

Generality
Baccetti et al., Zoologia - Trattato italiano - Grasso Editoriale, pp. 953-1193.
Westheide W., Rieger R., 2011. Zoologia sistematica. Zanichelli.

Italian fauna
AA. VV., Wildlife in Italy. Touring Club Italiano:
Cap. Amphibians, Reptiles and Mammals, pp. 120-149; Cap. Birds, pp. 150-162; Cap. Fishes [no]; Cap. Birds of freshwater habitats, pp. 198-202; Cap. Uccelli degli ambienti costieri, pp. 242-246

Class presentations and other materials (papers, pdf, internet sites, ecc.)

-Design peak discharge and design hydrograph
-Return period: meaning, equation, and practical implication
-Rational Formula, theory and practice
-Intesity-Duration-Frequency curves, theory and practice (Excel Lab)
-Rainfall- Runoff Event-Based Approach
-Design Hyetograph
-Net Rainfall estimation, the NRCS-CN curve number method
-Rainfall-runoff transformation, the IUH approach and the WFIUH approach.
-GIS tool for watershed management
-The EBA4SUB software: introduction and project discussion (project Lab).
-Hydrological application case studies.

Chow, Maidment, Mays., Applied Hydrology, Mc Graw-Hill, New York, 1988