Objectives
> To understand the principle of plant physiology, reproduction and taxonomy, and the roles of inheritance and ecology.
> To identify the various species of flora and fauna occurring in state and private plantations as well as in indigenous forests.
Course Outline
Introduction to and classification of plants (commercially important species); the collection and preparation of herbarium specimens; morphology of Spermatophyta; systematic botany; plant taxonomy; plant growth; growth reactions affecting timber. Basic plant tissues, characteristics of roots; stems and leaves; reproduction of plants; fruits. Flora and fauna
Instruction
3 lectures/week; Practical - Identification of tree species; Identification of plant cells in the laboratory
Assessment
2 tests; Practical/Assignment; Examination
Credits
10
Pre-requisite
None
Objectives
> To understand the basic concepts of chemistry.
> To write balanced equations.
> To describe chemical reactions.
> To demonstrate simple experiments in the laboratory such as separation of simple mixtures, acid-base titration, determination of boiling and melting points.
> To understand qualitative analysis of anions and cations.
> To understand the basic concepts of physics and its relevance to forestry.
Course Outline
Matter and its properties; elements, compound and mixtures; atomic weights, formula weight; volumetric analysis and calculations. Energy: forms of energy and sources; atomic structure and periodic table; chemical bonding; acids, base and salts and their applications in agriculture; the mole concepts: metals, non-metals and metalloids; properties of water; air composition and air pollution; oxidation-reduction reactions. Introduction to organic chemistry: chain formation of carbon, structure and names of unbranched-alkane; alkenes; primary alcohols. Gases, liquids and solids. Physical quantities and their measurements: mass, length, time, density, speed, acceleration. Principles of gravity and friction. Definition and principles of heat, heat, humidity. Pressure, work, power, energy and energy transfer. Electricity and elementary magnetic theory; light; basic machines.
Instruction
2 lectures/week; Practical – conduct chemistry and physics laboratory experiments.
Assessment
2 tests; Practical/Assignment; Examination; Presentation
Credits
8
Pre-requisite
None
Objectives
On completion of the instructional offering the student should be able to know or understand:
MATHEMATICAL PRELIMINARIES.
Some Mathematical Preliminaries, Arithmetic Operations, Fractions, Solving Equations, Unit Conversions, Currency Conversions, Simple Inequalities, Calculating Percentages.
THE STRAIGHT LINE AND APPLICATIONS.
The Straight Line, Mathematical Modeling, Applications: Demand, Supply, Cost, Revenue, Elasticity of Demand, Supply and Income, Budget and Cost Constraints.
SIMULTANEOUS EQUATIONS.
Solving Simultaneous Linear Equations, Equilibrium and Break-even, Consumer and Producer Surplus.
DIFFERENTIATION AND APPLICATIONS.
Slope of a Curve and Differentiation, Applications of Differentiation, Marginal Functions, Average Functions, Optimization for Functions of One Variable, Economic Applications of Maximum and Minimum Points, Elasticity and the Derivative.
INTEGRATION AND APPLICATIONS.
Integration as the Reverse of Differentiation, The Power Rule for Integration, The Definite Integral and the Area under a Curve, Consumer and Producer Surplus.
Course Outline
Measurements: basic and derived units and applications; integers, their operation and application; factors multiples and application; vulgar and decimal fractions; degree of accuracy – tolerance, significant figures, decimal places, rounding off and rough checks; means – theory practical use of averages, ratio percentages; powers; logarithms; roots; basic algebraic factors; formulae and linear
Instruction
2 lectures/week; Tutorials
Assessment
3 hour Examination, Two Tests, Two Assignments and/or practical reports.
Credits
8
Pre-requisite
None
Objectives
> To equip students with communication skills to use English language for academic purposes. This will be achieved through engaging them in listening, speaking, reading, academic writing and grammar learning activities that are relevant to real world encounters in the institute and professional workplace environments. This curriculum recognises the importance of contextualising language use into field, social practice and context, and the outcomes below will all be contextualised accordingly.
Course Outline Introduction to communication; Choosing a Topic; Seminar paper format; References and referencing styles (systems); Organization of the text; Communication process; Report Writing; Research proposal writing, Reading skills; Public speaking and Visual Aids
Instruction
2 lectures/week; Practical - Letter writing: memos, letters of enquiry, quotations, cover letters, reference letters; letter of acknowledgement;
Role plays: telephone etiquette and interviews, Reports: 1 Semester paper and presentation; Construction of graphics
Assessment
2 tests; Practical/Assignment; Examination; Presentation
Credits
8
Pre-requisite
None
Objectives
> To understand the basic economic problem of relative scarcity.
> To understand the process of production, specialization and exchange.
> To understand the principles of demand, supply and price determination.
> To distinguish the effect on demand and supply of changes in various factors.
> To understand the basics of production economics.
Course Outline
Introduction to economic concepts; Production factors; The functions of the economy; The role of prices and money in the economy; Structure of the economy (Circular flow); Forestry in the economy; Introduction to forestry production economic theory; The production function, cost functions, input and output optimization
Instruction
2 lectures/week; Practical - Assignment and exercises to determine forestry contribution to the economy; Excursions to forestry related industry to reinforce knowledge obtained in class
Assessment
2 tests; Practical/Assignment; Examination; Presentation
Credits
8
Pre-requisite
None
Objectives
> To create graphs, charts and insert images in documents using Excel.
> To import data from Excel into MS Word.
> To prepare professional documents by integrating Word and Excel features.
Course Outline
Using spreadsheet for data entry. Data analysis skills (graphs), charts and image insertion skills. Integrating spreadsheet files into a word processing document, create PowerPoint presentation.
Instruction
2 lectures/week; Practical - Seminar paper writing and presentation
Citations; Article summaries
Assessment
2 tests, Practical/Assignments; Examination
Credits
8
Pre-requisite
None
Objectives
> To understand raising and tendering of seedlings in the nursery using different propagation methods.
> To locate, prepare and administer forest nursery.
> To obtain quality seeds; manage seeds and propagate plants.
Course Outline
Introduction to and short history of nursery practice in South Africa; Siting and layout of nurseries, growing media; micorrhizal inoculation; nursery legislation; Nursery administration; Tree breeding; Sexual and vegetative plant propagation; Nursery organization; Seed collection and seed orchard; Seed germination, treatment and testing; Seed storage; direct and indirect sowing procedures; disease management in the nursery; plant quality.
Instruction
3 lectures/week; Practical - Nursery Activities (e.g. seed treatment, sowing etc.); Visits of commercial nurseries, small-scale and medium-scale (Hands-on activities); Seed collection, treatment (testing) and storage.
Assessment
2 tests, Practical/Assignments; Examination; Reports
Credits
10
Pre-requisite
FB 111
Objectives
> To differentiate between sustainable and non-sustainable land use systems.
> To analyse different land use systems, using GIS and remote sensing techniques.
> To undertake land survey and suitability assessments.
Course Outline
Introduction to land use systems; Determination of land characteristics; GIS and Remote Sensing; Geographic Information System background to forestry study; Photogrammetric and forest resource mapping; Introduction to Environmental Impact Assessment; Land suitability and Land survey.
Instruction
3 lectures/week; Practical - Full forest map reading; Basics of GIS; Use of GPS instrument (in partnership with stakeholders); Case studies on EIA; Undertake an EIA of a forest setting.
Assessment
2 tests, Practical/Assignments; Examination; Reports
Credits
10
Pre-requisite
None
Objectives
> To describe and explain origins of soil, the factors involved in soil formation and weathering, soil physical and chemical properties, and soil-water plant relations.
Course Outline
Soil formation, rocks and minerals including Alumina-silicate clay minerals; Factors involved in soil formation and weathering; Soil chemistry; Origin and significance of negative surface charges; Acid-based saturation; Soil and water suitability; Nutrients and their availability; Soil physical properties; Soil texture and structures; Bulk and particle density; Soil porosity and permeability; Soil consistency and colour; Soil water; water retention forces; soil water potential and plant-soil water relations; water movement; water management.
Instruction
2 lectures/week; Practical - Observations of different mineral; mechanical analysis; chemical analysis; determination of water-holding capacity.
Assessment
2 tests, Practical/Assignments; Examination; Reports
Credits
8
Pre-requisite
None
Objectives
> To equip students with engineering principles for problem solving in forest engineering;
> To have an understanding of machine operating principles, logging tools and accessories.
Course Outline
Elementary mechanics, forces and acceleration. Newton’s Laws of motion. Systems of forces, resolution, Resultant and equilibrium for concurrent forces. Two dimensional force systems involving moments and equilibrium. Behaviour of engineering materials. Young’s modulus yield strength, ultimate strength. Internal combustion engine principles. Logging tools and accessories for forest operations. Timber cutting operation.
Instruction
3 lectures/week; Practical - Visits nearby plantation forests to view harvesting operations; Identification of harvesting equipment and purpose; Operation of four and two stroke engines.
Assessment
2 tests, Practical/Assignments; Examination; Reports.
Credits
8
Pre-requisite
None
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