2010 NASP4 Participants
Lake of the Clouds in Porcupine Mountain State Park
Classroom Preparation
Prior to fieldwork, participants focus on theory
Shared Learning
Participants share their learning experiences
Resource Professionals
NASP instructors, from the School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science at Michigan Tech
Prescription Planning
Practitioners learn to formulate ecologically defensible silvicultural prescriptions.
Ecosystem Evaluations
Participants evaluate current forest ecosystem conditions.
Each course in the National Advanced Silviculture Program consists of a variety of topics taught by experts in their respective fields. The goal is to prepare silviculturists to design prescriptions that meet the Minimum National Standards for Silviculture Certification.
Modules
Ecological Systems (Module One) — May 6-17, 2013
Course objectives are to educate practitioners in forest ecosystems, providing the basis for formulating ecologically defensible silvicultural prescriptions and assessing the impact of forest management on forest ecosystems. Coursework covers:
- Forestry ecology
- Geology, landforms, and soils
- Hydrology and watersheds
- Tree physiology
- Silvics of forest trees
- Genetics
- Fire ecology and fire behavior
Topics are covered at a variety of spatial scales (site, stand, forest, landscape, etc.), and examples are demonstrated in the field throughout the course.
Local Lake States Silviculture — anticipate summer 2014
Course objectives are to provide students with the local technical information necessary to evaluate current forest ecosystem conditions and to perform analyses for silvicultural prescription development using an integrated approach. The importance of technical writing, public speaking, prescription implementation, and monitoring are also emphasized to assure that prescription objectives are explained, documented, and achieved.