UBC Forestry Summer Institute

Urban Forestry

Tentative Schedule: 2 weeks (July 22 – August 02, 2024)
Course Duration:  60 hours
Leading Instructors: Dr. Sara Barron & Dr. Andrew Almas

This is an introductory course to Urban Forestry, exploring the roles played by urban forestry and greenspace systems in a rapidly changing world. Topics include the impacts of urbanization on urban nature and urban ecology, history and evolution of urban forestry, urban forest conservation, urban forest management, climate change, society and human well-being, design and planning, urban/rural interface issues, and urban forest governance and policy.

Course Objectives

This course introduces concepts and skills through lectures, field trips, and assignments. Students are introduced to key aspects of the theory and practice of urban forestry and to essential practical skills such as plant and tree identification, arboriculture, basic planning and design, resource planning, and community involvement. Communication skills are a fundamental component of this course and students will develop their communication skills through the use of various tools including writing, visual aids and group work. Collaborative decision-making and social engagement techniques will be introduced.

The student will be able to:

• Read with intent as a method to efficiently synthesize and summarize information
• Articulate questions necessary to understand complex urban environments and relationships between urban greenery, urban trees and people, at various scales
• Gather and use information during site visits and field trips for use in projects and assignments
• Demonstrate an understanding of the various players involved in urban forest governance, planning and management
• Assess potential short and long-term impacts of risk mitigation and maintenance / monitoring strategies
• Evaluate the merits and disadvantages of a site-specific urban forest management plan, design/build project, tree planting program or ecological restoration initiative.
• Demonstrate basic communication of urban forestry topics and ideas

Learning Activities and Assessment

• Classroom participation and discussion quality
• Homework and group projects
• Field tour and practice
• Field trips
• Cultural and academic sharing with UBC students
• Final presentation  

How to Apply

Please read the instructions on the UBC Forestry Summer Institute page to submit your application.

Tentative Program Schedule

	Sunday, July 21	Monday, July 22	Tuesday, July 23	Wednesday, July 24	Thursday, July 25	Friday, July 26	Saturday, July 27
9-12 AM	Arrive and settle in at UBC	Welcome remarks, UBC and forestry introduction, course orientation	Lecture	Lecture	Lecture	Lecture	Victoria day trip (optional)
1:30-4:30 PM		UBC campus tour	UBC campus tour: Museum visit	Lecture	Lecture	Pacific Spirit Park activity
	Sunday, July 28	Monday, July 29	Tuesday, July 30	Wednesday, July 31	Thursday, August 01	Friday, August 02	Saturday, August 03
9-12 AM	Vancouver day trip (optional)	Lecture/Guest lecture	Field trip	Lecture/Guest lecture	Lecture/Guest lecture	Presentation of group projects	Back to China
1:30-4:30 PM		Lecture/Guest lecture		Lecture/Guest lecture	Cultural sharing by UBC students /Discussion & Preparation for group projects	Presentation of group projects and Graduation Ceremony