MSc Conservation and Forest Protection  MSc Conservation and Forest Protection Imperial College London ../webroot/files/Institutions/cover_photo/1534085924Imperial-College-London.jpg

Are you interested in Conservation and the Environment with a 'hands-on approach'? Then this is the course for you. The course is intended for graduates with the equivalent of at least a second-class Honours BSc degree in a biological or related science subject or geography and realted environmenatl subjects. Mature students with other qualifications and relevant experience are considered on their individual merit. The course is based at Silwood Park, is taught by staff from two Departments within the Faculty of Natural Sciences and has significant inputs from research organisations and from industry. The course focuses on both forest plantations and natural forests in tropical, temperate and boreal regions. The MSc in Conservation and Forest Protection will give you the opportunity to: ? develop recognition and understanding of the major biotic and abiotic problems affecting temperate and tropical trees ? understand how such problems can be managed by integrated measures with minimal adverse environmental impact ? show how ecological processes underpin sound conservation and protection issues ? develop a conservation management plan. There are increasing threats to the well-being of trees and forests throughout the world. Threats come from biotic and abiotic sources, such as pest and disease introductions from increased international trade stresses caused by climate change and the impacts of climate change itself, notably storms and droughts. The hazard these and other trends represent is brought into sharper focus by the steady transition from natural forest to plantations for sourcing wood products. Forest plantations are an expensive investment. Future wood supplies can only be assured if the future health of forests, including plantations, is also assured. In addition, the world's forests face unprecedented pressures, particularly in the tropics. Understanding the causes, and the ecological basis for management has never been more urgent. There is no other Masters level course on offer in UK universities that focuses on forest (and tree) protection and conservation as a local, national and international issue. The course will particularly appeal to students who wish to become involved in the management of sustainable forest, woodland and amenity resources rather than take a more traditional forestry course. Graduates taking the Conservation and Forest Protection MSc can be expected to find employment in forest services, forest research institutions, management companies especially where there is a strong plantation focus, overseas aid programmes, international NGOs, environmental groups, local authorities and arboricultural firms and consultants in the private sector. Sponsorship may be possible from larger Local Authorities, multinationals like Shell and BP and companies with strong positioning in forestry, such as ArjoWiggins and CDC. Departmental bursaries are available - these are awarded competitively on the basis of interviews, references and degree results. Accommodation is on campus and costs around ?64 per week including heating and electricity. The course comprises two taught terms, October-December, January-April, followed by a 19-week independent project on a tree- or forest-related subject, based at Imperial College, or at a research institutecompany in the UK or overseas, forms the final third of the course. When outside Imperial College, students are assigned a College supervisor in addition to their external supervisor. The MSc project is submitted as a dissertation (ca 20k words) at the beginning of September. Some recent examples are: ? Species richness in tropical forest reserves: jewel beetle conservation ? Analysis and the durability and environmental profile of UK grown western redcedar (Thuja plicata) timber ? Survey and analysis of grey squirrel damage to roadside tree plantings in southern England. (In collaboration with Forest research) ? Deer census analysis in Wales and impacts on woodland