Challenges in teaching silviculture in Canada: the path forward

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Abstract
In times of unprecedented global change, forest management education, especially in silviculture, must evolve to prepare future forest managers with relevant skills and a comprehensive view of adaptive silviculture. As a data-driven science, silviculture must now integrate multidisciplinary technical and professional expertise to shape the forests of tomorrow—by planning and assessing treatment impacts while also meeting socioeconomic needs. As a result, silviculture education, particularly in undergraduate programs, needs to advance to meet these future challenges to ensure students have the essential tools and analytical skills required to undertake holistic, field-based silviculture practice. To support this advancement, we propose a vision for silviculture education that emphasizes fundamental knowledge (e.g., forest ecology, mensuration, governance), while also adapting to evolving concepts driven by socioeconomic factors, new silvicultural systems, a focus on ecosystem services, and the availability of new geospatial technologies. This new vision calls for strong leadership in experiential education to foster active learning through innovative tools, work-integrated experiences, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Such a curriculum will equip students with the skills required to integrate knowledge and adapt holistically, preparing them to meet the evolving demands of modern silviculture.
Funding Information
  • Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC, ALLRP, 556265-20)

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