Course objectives: acquire knowledge in advances and controversies in ecology of tropical treed communities as a base for the evaluation of environmental policies and projects.

Course contents: (1) Soils and tropical landscapes; (2) Flora and vegetation diversity (spatial scales in ecology, flora evolution and diversity, quantification of diversity of plant communities); (3) Time scale and phenology (phenological patterns from individual to community, organisation of ecological niches in time and space); (4) Silvogenetic processes and spatio-temporal dynamics (spatial distribution of silvogenetic units, vertical and lateral perturbations of tree populations); (5) Fragmentation and consequences for plant-animal relationships; (6) Tropical deforestation: quantification; post-deforestation ecosystems; (7) Converting “natural” forest to simplified mixed forest in the humid tropics: agroforests (8) Reviewing-based thematic synthesis.

Teaching and learning methods: Lectures (app. 30 hours); semi-collective practical work on analysis of data from French Guiana (6 hours); Reviewing-based thematic synthesis (semi-collective work leading to written review and oral defence) (time consumed: approx. 12 hours).

Examination: Evaluation of thematic synthesis (oral and written) and a written exam involving both acquired knowledge and critical thinking.

Competences acquired: Students get scientific background needed for a critical assessment of local and international actions regarding management of tropical forests and some other natural resources.

Course homepage: http://www.agroparistech.fr/en/Training/Emetf/Emetf.htm