CR Forestry Course Descriptions

Course Descriptions

FOR-1 Introduction to Forestry and Natural Resources
(3 units lecture/lab) Grade Only CSU and UC An introduction to the forestry and natural resource management professions. The history of forestry and natural resource management in the U.S. will be studied, as well as the current policies and issues affecting the management of our resources. Basic concepts and practices involving forest ecology and growth, measurements, wildlife, recreation, and watershed management will be covered, as well as forestry and natural resource management career possibilities. Note: Field trips are required. The College does not provide transportation.

FOR-3 Forestry and Related Resources
(3 units lecture) CR/NC option CSU An introduction to the basic issues related to forest land management and preservation decisions. The course will cover the impacts of these decisions on timber, soil, water, wildlife, recreation, range land and minerals. The course also addresses the importance of human values, ethics, political and economic influences. Past, present and future uses of forest land are examined.

FOR-5 Applied Forest Ecology
(3 units lecture/lab) Grade Only CSU An introduction to the basic theories of forest ecology and better management strategies. While generally broad based, the course will focus on topics such as disturbance, competition, and regeneration ecology more closely because of their direct relationship to management activities. Laboratory exercises will provide collaborative and experiential learning opportunities as linkages between the field and theory are examined. Recommended: FOR-1 and FOR-51

FOR-10 Timber Harvesting in California Resources
(2 units lecture) Grade Only CSU A comprehensive lecture and discussion course covering the laws and regulations that govern the practice of forestry and timber harvesting in the State of California. Students will learn how to find and interpret the various agency policies and regulations as they apply to the preparation of documents to facilitate timber harvesting. Student will learn the history of the Z’berg- Nejedly Forest Practice Act and subsequent revisions and related federal and state laws. Legal terms and definitions as well as applications will be examined. Prerequisite: FOR-1, FOR-5, FOR-51, NR-52, NR-54, and NR-58

FOR-10L Timber Harvesting in California-Field Practice
(3 units lab) Grade Only CSU A field-based experiential learning course on the regulations governing the planning and conduction of timber harvests in California. Students will be introduced to the various field interpretations of laws and techniques for acquiring the appropriate field data to satisfy document requirements. Prerequisite: FOR-1, FOR-5, FOR-10, FOR-51, NR-52, NR-54, and NR-58 Note: FOR-10 should be taken prior to, or enrolled concurrent with FOR-10L

FOR-50 Silviculture
(3 units lecture/lab) Grade Only CSU A study of the science and practice of tending and growing a forest. Basic silvicultural practices will be covered, including planting or starting a new forest to thinning and caring for the forest as it grows, to the time it is ready to be harvested. Measurement techniques will be used to determine the type of treatment needed based on the landowner’s objectives and the ecosystem’s requirements. Recommended: FOR-1 Note: Field trips are required. The College does not provide transportation.

FOR-51 Dendrology
(3 units lecture/lab) Grade Only CSU The study of forest plant identification, taxonomy, and classification. Forest habitats, ecotypes, plant associations, and forest vegetation types will be discussed, emphasizing those widespread in the Pacific Northwest. Botanical characteristics, commercial and non- commercial uses, and ranges of selected forest species are covered. Note: Field trips are required. The College does not provide transportation.

FOR-59 Forest Mensuration
(1.5 units lecture/lab) Grade Only CSU The application of natural resource inventory skills to design, lay out, and perform a timber cruise using fixed radius plot sampling, variable plot (point) sampling, and 3-P sampling. Scaling will also be covered along with cull determination and grading of logs and trees. Electronic data collectors will be used along with paper tally sheets to collect data. Results will be obtained by hand and on the computer. Prerequisite: NR-54 Note: Field trips are required. The College does not provide transportation.

FOR-60 Forest Health and Protection
(3 units lecture/lab) CR/NC option CSU An examination of the elements of forest health including forest pest management concepts. This includes learning how to identify forest pests and pest complexes in the coastal region, the impacts of pests on forest systems and the important pest management strategies. Emphasis will be on prevention strategies common in Integrated Pest Management as well as host- resistance and cultural controls and direct chemical methods. Prerequisite: FOR-1 and FOR-51 Note: Weekend field trips are required. The College does not provide transportation.

FOR-77 Wildland Fire Suppression
(3 units lecture) Grade Only CSU A lecture course for practical knowledge and skill in the development and implementation of fire suppression and control plans through the application of fire behavior factors and suppression techniques.

FOR-96 Forestry/Natural Resources Skill Seminar
(1 unit lab) Grade Only CSU The culminating course in the Forestry and Natural Resource Technology Program. Students will have an opportunity to review all the main skill and competency categories learned in all the FOR and NR courses at CR. They will then be assessed on their skill level within each competency. The list of skills assessed will be the same ones used in all previous FOR and NR courses. Students must pass each competency assessment with a score of 70% or higher to move on to the next competency assessment. They will receive a Skill Level Certificate upon successful completion of this class. They will also finalize and formalize the skill portfolio they have been developing through each of the previous FOR and NR courses. Prerequisite: All required FOR/NR courses Note: Field trips are required. The College does not provide transportation.

FOR-102 Wildland and Habitat Inventories
(1.5 units lecture/lab) CR/NC option A course covering the identification of a variety of habitats. Topics will include aquatic, mesic, forest and other wildland habitats; methods of gathering from existing databases and other record sources. Note: Field trips and surveys will be conducted. The College does not provide transportation.

FOR-151 Trail Construction and Maintenance
(2.5 units lecture/lab) CR/NC option A course in the proper and safe techniques for constructing and maintaining a trail system. Students will receive basic training in trail construction and maintenance theory.

FOR-158 Erosion Control
(3 units lecture/lab) Grade Only This course provides students with an understanding of types and processes of erosion and human causes of accelerated erosion particular to the North Coast. Emphasis is placed on hands-on experience with manual labor and biotechnical erosion control projects.