Course objectives: Provide knowledge on silviculture, objectives and constraints influencing management, in tropical rain forests, based on last research results; Tropical timber wood logging modalities are exposed.

Course contents: (1) Silviculture of natural forests: general concepts. Results of experimental plan in French Guiana. Natural forest dynamic modelling. Role of thinning and logging. Reduce impact logging. Basis for a sustainable management. Sustainable logging. (2) Tropical plantations: bio-physical sustainability (water, mineral nutriments, organic matter, soil biology, biodiversity...). Stakes and limits of genetic improvement. Silviculture in plantations. Seedling production in nursery. Symbiosis (inc. tour at the IRD/CIRAD Laboratory for Tropical and Mediterranean Symbiosis).

Teaching and learning methods: Lectures. Visit of laboratory.

Examination: Individual written examination.

Competences acquired: Knowledge of the principal systems of tropical silviculture and management, and understanding of the factors influencing them.

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