1- Introduction to Silviculture
What is a forest: legal definition, ecological definition
Formation: ecological successions, natural dynamics, and old-growth forests
Human-forest interaction throughout history: evolution of forestry thought
New approaches to silviculture: multifunctional and sustainable forest management

2- Site Diagnosis
The concept of a forest stand: factors defining stand characteristics
Climate and climate indices: key climatic factors and climate diagrams
Phytoclimate: phytoclimatic classifications

3- Stand Description
- Extension
- Composition
- Spatial structure: vertical, horizontal, tree classification
- Age structure: even-aged and uneven-aged forests
- Origin
- Evolutionary stages (even-aged forests)
- Phytosanitary status

4- Forms of Management
High forest
Coppice forest

Coppice Treatments
Even-aged coppice: simple coppice, coppice with standards
Uneven-aged coppice: coppice with standards on a rotation
Compound coppice

6- High Forest Treatments
Even-aged high forest: clearcutting, clearcutting on small areas (strip, edge, gap), shelterwood cuts (uniform, small areas)
Uneven-aged high forest: selection cutting
Intermediate forms: group selection cutting

7- Intermediate Cuts
Thinnings and cleanings
Thinnings: type, intensity, starting age, frequency

8- Special Techniques
Conversions and transformations

Lecture notes, slides and handouts provided by the teacher.
Cappelli, Mario. Elementi di selvicoltura generale : governo, trattamento e cure colturali ai boschi. Bologna : Edagricole, 1982