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Woodland in spring with bluebells out.

MSc Forestry and Agroforestry

Course Information for 2026/27

  • Agroforestry & Food Security MSc
  • Environmental Forestry MSc
  • Forestry MSc

Apply now 

Forestry is undergoing unprecedented changes in the 21st Century. Rapid population growth, urbanisation, globalisation and climate change place increasing pressures on the world鈥檚 forest resources and make forest management ever more challenging. At the same time, forests are increasingly valued for the diverse and essential ecosystem services they provide. Therefore, developing sustainable forest management systems that can deliver multiple ecological, socio-cultural and economic benefits is essential.

Our programmes provide a first-class forestry education to students who wish to develop their existing skills and knowledge in agroforestry, environmental forestry, or forestry, and/or are looking for a career change. The modules cover a broad range of contemporary topics and will enable you to gain a broad and comprehensive understanding of the complex nature of forest ecosystems and their interrelationships with human systems at various scales. The programme is designed to allow students to complete the course full time or part time to enable students to undertake a MSc degree whilst working full time and/or managing other commitments. Postgraduate Certificate and Postgraduate Diploma qualifications are also available for individuals who have interests in specific topics but do not wish to undertake the full MSc.

Laboratory assistant takes a water analysis in a puddle

Research Excellence

We pride ourselves in excellence in teaching, learning and research and we have a high profile and strong reputation in agroforestry, environmental forestry, forestry and tropical forestry in the UK and internationally. If you choose to study at Bangor, you will be studying at a university which is very highly rated for its teaching quality and student experience, being ranked 1st in the UK for Agriculture and Forestry according to The .

Our School also has a world-class reputation for research; more than 95% of our research was rated as world-leading or internationally excellent in Environmental Sciences in the most recent 2021 Research Excellence Framework assessment of research quality in UK universities.  Of particular relevance to forestry is the applied impact of our research in Environmental Sciences which was ranked in 1st place in the UK in this assessment, with more than 90% of the impact being world-leading. 

Highlights of our research can be found on pages 12-14 of our 2026 newsletter.

Forestry@Bangor

We have been teaching forestry at Bangor for over a century, since 1904. MSc Forestry and related degrees have been taught since 1978, during which time students from more than 100 countries have studied with us. In 2001, we started running MSc level part-time distance learning forestry degrees and these are now widely recognised as the most successful forestry postgraduate taught degrees in the UK. In 2020 we added our Agroforestry and Food Security programme to our Forestry@Bangor distance learning provision.

Forestry is a long-term business, its history is scattered with examples of forest policy, management and species choices that have not produced the outcomes expected of previous generations of foresters who made those choices, nor the requirements of current or future generations. The nature of forestry and related land management means we have an obligation to serve future generations as best we can. On these programmes, you can expect robust debate and engaging discussion about the future of forestry and agroforestry! 

Members of staff may share contrasting views with you, and you will be encouraged to debate and discuss such issues with fellow students, both online and in person.

News and developments relating to our programmes have been published in various media and you can read the dozens of positive testimonials from current students and alumni.

Bangor forestry alumni are part of the forestry heritage, capacity and expertise of a huge array of countries and organisations. If you study with us, you will soon find that there are Bangor forestry alumni working in a wide range of roles in this diverse profession. We maintain links with many of them in order to enrich our teaching and research. If you become a Bangor 'forester' you have the unique opportunity to become part of this well respected and widely recognised tradition.

The School of Environmental and Natural Sciences recently hosted a gathering of many wonderful forestry alumni, former staff, current staff and students at the University to celebrate 120 years of forestry. 

The forestry@bangor newsletters provide applicants with some insights about what it is like to be a part of the forestry@bangor community.

 

Study Modes

Our programmes are available 'on campus' for those who wish to study full or part time in Bangor. Students can take our programmes as 1 year full time or part time over 2/3 years. The 'on campus' programmes share the same modules as the part-time / distance programmes, reflecting the forestry@Bangor 鈥榖lended learning鈥� approach.

Students on the 1 year programme study two modules in every block - equivalent to full time study for 12 months.  Students on the 2 year programme study either one or two modules in each block, depending on their module choices.  This is equivalent to full time study in some blocks, and part-time study in other blocks, over 24 months. Students on the 3 year programme study one module at a time, which is part-time.  

Study modes available are:
 
Agroforestry and Food Security MSc 
ModeDurationProgramme CodeUCAS Code
Full Time on campus1-yearMSC/AGFSD4BA
Part-time on campus2 yearsMSC/AGFS2D4BE
Part-time on campus3 yearsMSC/AGFS3D4BF
Environmental Forestry MSc  
ModeDurationProgramme CodeUCAS Code
Full Time on campus1-yearMSC/EFORD3AB
Part-time on campus2 yearsMSC/EFOR2D3BA
Part-time on campus3 yearsMSC/EFOR3D3BB
Forestry MSc  
ModeDurationProgramme CodeUCAS Code
Full Time on campus1-yearMSC/FORD3AZ
Part-time on campus2 yearsMSC/FOR2D3BE
Part-time on campus3 yearsMSC/FOR3D3BF

 

Students can take our programmes as 1 year full time or part time over 2 or 3 years. Students on the 1 year programme study two modules in every block - equivalent to full time study for 12 months.  Students on the 2 year programme study either one or two modules in each block, depending on their module choices.  This is equivalent to full time study in some blocks, and part-time study in other blocks, over 24 months. Students on the 3 year programme study one module at a time, which is part-time.  

Distance learners are not required or expected to join any timetabled events 鈥榣ive鈥� but can do so if their circumstances allow / if they would like to. The exception to this is the compulsory residential element of the study tour module.

The distance learning programmes share the same modules as the on-campus programmes, reflecting the forestry@Bangor 鈥榖lended learning鈥� approach.

As one of the most well-established distance learning programmes of its kind, our students and graduates have an increasingly high profile as the reputation of our programmes strengthen. We have been incredibly successful in helping our students either enter forestry and related professions, or gain promotion with their existing employers and / or deepen their areas of expertise. This is evidenced by the success many of our distance learning students and graduates have had in gaining exciting and challenging positions in forestry-related positions worldwide.

Study modes available are:
 
Agroforestry and Food Security MSc 
ModeDurationProgramme CodeUCAS Code
Distance Learning Full Time1-yearMSC/AGFSDL1D4BG
Distance Learning Part-time2 yearsMSC/AGFSDL2D4BC
Distance Learning Part-time3 yearsMSC/AGFSDLD4BB
Environmental Forestry MSc
ModeDurationProgramme CodeUCAS Code
Distance Learning Full Time1-yearMSC/EFORDLD3AY
Distance Learning Part-time2 yearsMSC/EFORDL2D3BC
Distance Learning Part-time3 yearsMSC/EFORDL3D3BD
Forestry MSc 
ModeDurationProgramme CodeUCAS Code
Distance Learning Full Time1-yearMSC/FORDL1D3BG
Distance Learning Part-time2 yearsMSC/FORDL2D3BH
Distance Learning Part-time3 yearsMSC/FORDLD3AQ

 

Administration Staff

Cherelle Jarvis, Teaching Administrator for distance learning forestry courses

The Teaching Administrator is Cherelle Jarvis.

Please get in touch with Cherelle if you have any questions about the application process, course content and course start dates.  

Telephone: (+44) (0)1248 382351 
E-mail: distance@bangor.ac.uk / c.jarvis@bangor.ac.uk

Teaching Team

Many other staff in the School of Environmental and Natural Sciences also contribute to the programmes, for example, with the supervision of dissertations or the provision of specific expertise. 

School of ENVIRONMENTAL AND Natural Sciences Staff
 

Programme Aims and Modules

Programme Aims

In 2020, MSc Agroforestry & Food Security became the latest programme to join our distance learning provision. Although we have been running an Agroforestry MSc programme for full-time students for over 25 years, we are now in a position to offer this programme to students anywhere in the world.

Our agroforestry approach to food security aims to help meet human food needs from farming systems by taking an integrated view of the ecological, economic and social complexities of these systems. This course will help you gain the specialised education and interdisciplinary training required for a deep and practical understanding of agroforestry systems and their role in local and global food security.

Over the last 25 years, the course has attracted students from more than 30 countries and through our alumni and partners we have strong links with a wide variety of international, regional and national organisations in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas. Now with our distance learning provision, we hope to further build our international network and we look forward to you joining our graduates and helping us in our mission of improving natural resource management and food security throughout the world.

As with all our programmes, we hope that students will be able to join one of our study tours. For the MSc Agroforestry & Food Security programme most people will join either our Temperate Study Tour, or our Tropical (agro)Forestry Study Tour, depending on the nature of their funding and access to travel. The tours provide an opportunity to build on the friendships with fellow students and staff, to learn about new cultures, and to see the contribution of agroforestry systems and practices to people鈥檚 livelihoods and food security.

The MSc Agroforestry & Food Security programme is designed to provide students with an understanding of the sciences that underpin sustainable food production through agroforestry.

The programme is designed to be of specific interest to:

  • Individuals seeking further academically based higher education in agroforestry and food security sciences
  • Individuals seeking a career in scientific research related to sustainable food production systems, agroforestry, and food security, including those interested in pursuing doctoral research
  • Individuals seeking a career in teaching, training, advising or consultancy role into sustainable food production systems and value chains
  • Individuals seeking a career in sustainable food production.

Programme Modules

A list of individual modules, including overall aims, learning outcomes, assessments and the name of the module organiser can be found here.

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions about these various options. You will discuss and confirm your modules with the administrator before the course starts.

This programme has been running for more than 40 years and is designed to provide students with an understanding of the natural sciences that underpin sustainable forest management and conservation.

The programme is designed to be of specific interest to:

  • Individuals seeking academically based education in forest sciences
  • Individuals seeking a career in the conservation of trees, woodland and forests
  • Individuals seeking a career in scientific research related to trees, woodlands and forests, including those who wish to pursue doctoral study
  • Individuals working in a forest-related sector who wish to further their knowledge and expertise in order to develop their career

The overall aim of the programme is to provide an integrated education in environmental forest science, combining ecological, silvicultural and social dimensions of forest research, focussed on application to real world systems. Specific objectives are:

  • To develop students' competence in the integration of knowledge and methods from the disciplines of ecology, soil science, forest assessment, silviculture and pathology to understand real world systems of sustainable forest management
  • To develop students鈥� awareness of world forest resources, the ecosystem services that they deliver, how they are changing and related aspects of forest policy
  • To equip students for a career in environmental forestry, research and related professions that require an ability to synthesise concepts and ideas and to take a holistic, system-based, view
  • To develop students' intellectual, practical, numeracy, IT, interpersonal/teamwork, self management and professional development skills, in the context of forestry. 

Programme Modules

A list of individual modules, including overall aims, learning outcomes, assessments and the name of the module organiser can be found here.

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions about these various options. You will discuss and confirm your modules with the administrator before the course starts.

Programme Aims

This degree programme is designed to provide students with training in the management of forest resources, understanding of the scientific, academic and practical principles that underpin forest management and forest ecosystem function, and interrelationships between different stakeholders (users/beneficiaries of forested land) and associated land uses.

The overall aim of the programme is to provide an integrated education in forestry, combining ecological, economic and social dimensions of forest sciences, focussed on application to real world systems. Specific objectives are:

  • To develop students' understanding of the biology, domestication and management of trees and the role of human interventions in forestry
  • To develop students' competence in the integration of knowledge and methods from the disciplines of ecology, silviculture, mensuration and resource management to understand real world systems of sustainable forest management
  • To provide flexible learning opportunities for those who have not previously had the chance to undertake higher education in forestry
  • To develop students' intellectual skills, study skills and professional development skills, in a forestry-specific context
  • To provide opportunities for career development for those already working in the forestry profession, and to increase career opportunities for those not in the profession

The programme is designed to be of specific interest to people who are seeking:

  • an academically based education in forestry
  • a career in the management of trees, woodlands and forest resources
  • a career change, perhaps after working in a different sector such as law, medicine, technology, agriculture, etc.
  • to further their knowledge and expertise in order to develop their career, having already gained work experience in forestry or a related profession.

Students benefit from being part of a diverse, inquisitive and motivated cohort and form new friendships as well as professional relationships. We have students who are professionals already employed in forestry related professions (public agencies, private forest management companies, third sector organisations and self-employed consultants), as well as career changers from a wide range of backgrounds (including finance, law, technical sales, graphic design, architecture, healthcare, etc). We also have some students who have retired and wish to study forestry simply out of curiosity and/or their need for a rigorous academic challenge.

Programme Modules

A list of individual modules, including overall aims, learning outcomes, assessments and the name of the module organiser can be found here.

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions about these various options. You will discuss and confirm your modules with the administrator before the course starts.

Programme Structure

In common with all taught postgraduate degrees in the United Kingdom, our Forestry@Bangor MSc degree programmes comprise two distinct parts, which make up a total of 180 credits. 

Taught component (120 credits) comprises of modules that are each accompanied by a module handbook and complemented by a range of teaching and learning resources. Modules are 15 credits and may include both coursework and/or examination(s). Modules run in a blended format whereby the lectures that are taught on campus are live streamed for distance learners. 

Dissertation component (60 credits) comprises a dissertation 鈥� an independent research project which is led by the student who works closely with an academic supervisor to submit their own high-quality postgraduate level research. 

Core modules must be passed with at least 50%.

When the programme starts, students receive individual timetables for their registered modules which can be accessed online. Students studying via distance learning are not required or expected to join any timetabled events 鈥榣ive鈥� but can do so if they would like to/where circumstances allow. The exception to this is the compulsory residential element of the study tour module which all students must attend, regardless of study mode.

Taught modules run in 8-week blocks. Block A&B are in Semester one and Block C&D are in Semester two. We estimate that approximately 10 hours of student effort are required per module credit, thus a 15-credit module will require around 150 hours.  

Students on the 1 year programme study two modules in every block - equivalent to full time study for 12 months.  Students on the 2 year programme study either one or two modules in each block, depending on their module choices.  This is equivalent to full time study in some blocks, and part-time study in other blocks, over 24 months. Students on the 3 year programme study one module at a time, which is part-time.  

Applicants not wishing to study for the full MSc can take exit awards of either Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits) or Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits).  

CFP Logo

We offer a module in Forest Protection which is run in partnership with the (a Defra-funded collaboration, led by  and ). Students will get the chance to learn from world leading experts at the Centre for Forest Protection, and, throughout their programmes, will benefit from strong connections with key UK forestry agencies, including the Forestry Commission, Forestry England, and Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru / Natural Resources Wales (NRW).

Programme Module Schedules

Semester 1 

Semester 2 

Block A  

Block B 

Block C 

Block D 

Core  

 

ENS-4301 Global Food Security (15cr) 

& 

ENS-4305 Agroforestry systems and Practices (15cr) 

 

 

Compulsory  

 

ENS-4302 Fundamentals of Soil and Water (15cr) 

ENS-4309 Natural Resource Management (15cr) 

 

ENS-4316 AFFS study tour (15cr) 

 

 

Optional 

(Choose three modules: one from each block) 

ENS-4300 Urban Forestry (15cr) 

or 

ENS-4307 Ecological Restoration (15cr) 

or 

ENS-4308 Timber & Wood-Based Products (15 cr)  

or 

ENS-4211 Agriculture & Environment1 (15cr) 

ENS-4203 Business Planning for Green Economies (15cr) 

or 

ENS-4313 GIS for forestry land management (15cr) 

or  

ENS-4311 Forest protection (15 cr) 

 

ENS-4317 Forest ecosystems (15cr) 

or 

ENS-4318 Social issues in forest management (15cr) 

 

Core for MSc ENS-4321 MSc Dissertation (60cr) 

*ENS-4211 is currently only offered on-campus in Bangor and it runs over the whole of semester 1.

Year 1: 90 credits  

 

Semester 1 

Semester 2 

 

Block A  

Block B 

Block C 

Block D 

Core  

ENS-4305 Agroforestry Systems and Practices (15cr)

 

 

 

 

Compulsory  

 

ENS-4302 Fundamentals of Soil and Water (15cr)

ENS-4309 Natural Resource Management (15cr)

ENS-4316 AFFS Study Tour (15cr)

Optional 

(Choose two modules from different blocks) 

 

ENS-4300 Urban Forestry (15cr)

OR

ENS-4307 Ecological Restoration (15cr)

OR

ENS-4308 Timber & Wood-based Products (15cr)

OR

*ENS-4211 Agriculture & Environment (15cr)

ENS-4203 Business Planning for Green Economies (15cr)

OR

ENS-4313 GIS for Forestry Land Management  (15cr)

OR

ENS-4311 Forest Protection (15cr)

ENS-4317 Forest Ecosystems (15cr)

OR

ENS-4318 Social Issues in Forest Management (15cr)

*ENS-4211 is currently only offered on-campus in Bangor and it runs over the whole of semester 1.

Year 2: 90 credits  

(modules already taken in year 1 cannot be taken again in year 2. Core and compulsory modules are the default for year 1). 

 

Semester 1 

Semester 2 

 

Block A  

Block B 

Block C 

Block D 

CoreENS-4301 Global Food Security (15cr)   

Optional

(Choose one module) 

 

ENS-4300 Urban Forestry (15cr)

OR

ENS-4307 Ecological Restoration (15cr)

OR

ENS-4308 Timber & Wood-based Products (15cr)

OR

*ENS-4211 Agriculture & Environment (15cr)

ENS-4203 Business Planning for Green Economies (15cr)

OR 

ENS-4313 GIS for Forestry Land Management (15cr)

OR

ENS-4311 Forest Protection (15cr)

ENS-4317 Forest Ecosystems (15cr)

OR

ENS-4318 Social Issues in Forest Management (15cr)

Core for MSc 

ENS-4321 MSc Dissertation (60cr)

*ENS-4211 is currently only offered on-campus in Bangor and it runs over the whole of semester 1.

Year 1: 60 credits 

 

Semester 1 

Semester 2 

 

Block A  

Block B 

Block C 

Block D 

Core  

ENS-4305 Agroforestry Systems and Practices (15cr) 

 

 

 

 

Compulsory  

 

ENS-4302 Fundamentals of Soil and Water (15cr) 

ENS-4309 Natural Resource Management (15cr)

ENS-4316 AFFS Study Tour (15cr) 

 Year 2: 60 credits

 

Semester 1 

Semester 2 

 

Block A  

Block B 

Block C 

Block D 

Core

ENS-4301 Global Food Security (15cr) 

 

 

 

 

Optional 

(Choose three modules: one from each block) 

 

ENS-4300 Urban Forestry (15cr)

OR

ENS-4307 Ecological Restoration (15cr)

OR

ENS-4308 Timber & Wood-based Products (15cr)

OR

*ENS-4211 Agriculture & Environment (15cr)

ENS-4203 Business Planning for Green Economies (15cr) 

OR

ENS-4313 GIS for Forestry Land Management (15cr)

OR

ENS-4311 Forest Protection (15cr)

ENS-4317 Forest Ecosystems (15cr)

OR

ENS-4318 Social Issues in Forest Management (15cr)

*ENS-4211 is currently only offered on-campus in Bangor and it runs over the whole of semester 1.

 Year 3: 60 credits

 

Semester 1 

Semester 2 

Core for MSc 

ENS-4321 MSc Dissertation (60cr)

 

Semester 1 

Semester 2 

 

Block A 

Block B 

Block C 

Block D 

Core 

ENS-4303 Forest Ecology (15cr) 

 

 

 

Compulsory 

 

ENS-4302 Fundamentals of Soil and Water (15cr) 

ENS-4310 Inventory, Assessment and Monitoring (15cr) 

ENS-4315 Forestry Study Tour (15cr)

Optional 

(Choose 4 modules: one from each block)  

ENS-4306 Silviculture (15cr)  

OR

ENS-4305 Agroforestry Systems & Practices (15cr)

ENS-4300 Urban Forestry (15cr) 

OR

ENS-4307  Ecological Restoration (15cr) 

OR 

ENS-4308 Timber & Wood-based Products (15cr)

ENS-4311 Forest Protection (15cr) 

OR 

ENS-4313 GIS for Forestry Land Management (15cr)

OR

ENS-4309 Natural Resource Management (15cr)

ENS-4317 Forest Ecosystems (15cr) 

OR 

ENS-4318 Social Issues in Forest Management(15cr)

OR

*ENS-4314 Forest Management Planning (15cr)

Core for MSc 

ENS-4321 MSc Dissertation (60cr) 

*ENS-4313 (block C) is a pre-requisite for ENS-4314 (block D).

NB: Students should take 30 credits (2 modules) per block plus the dissertation, which is completed over the summer.  

Year 1: 90 credits

 

Semester 1 

Semester 2 

 

Block A 

Block B 

Block C 

Block D 

Core 

ENS-4303 Forest Ecology (15cr)

 

 

 

Compulsory 

 

ENS-4302 Fundamentals of Soil and Water (15cr) 

ENS-4310 Inventory, Assessment and Monitoring (15cr) 

ENS-4315 Forestry Study Tour (15cr) 

Optional 

(Choose two modules from different blocks) 

 

ENS-4300 Urban Forestry (15cr) 

OR

ENS-4307 Ecological Restoration (15cr) 

OR 

ENS-4308 Timber & Wood-based Products (15cr)

ENS-4311 Forest Protection (15cr) 

OR 

ENS-4313 GIS for Forestry Land Management (15cr)

OR

ENS-4309 Natural Resource Management (15cr)

ENS-4317 Forest Ecosystems (15cr) 

OR 

ENS-4318 Social Issues in Forest Management(15cr)

OR

*ENS-4314 Forest Management Planning (15cr)

*ENS-4313 (block C) is a pre-requisite for ENS-4314 (block D).

Year 2: 90 credits  

Modules taken in year 1 cannot be taken again in year 2. Core and compulsory modules are the default for year 1. 

 

Semester 1 

Semester 2 

 

Block A 

Block B 

Block C 

Block D 

Optional 

(Choose two modules from different blocks) 

ENS-4306 Silviculture (15cr) 

OR

ENS-4305 Agroforestry Systems & Practices (15cr) 

ENS-4300 Urban Forestry (15cr) 

OR

ENS-4307 Ecological Restoration (15cr)

OR 

ENS-4308 Timber & Wood-based Products (15cr) 

ENS-4311 Forest Protection (15cr)

OR 

ENS-4313 GIS for Forestry Land Management (15cr)

OR

ENS-4309 Natural Resource Management (15cr) 

ENS-4317 Forest Ecosystems (15cr) 

OR 

ENS-4318 Social Issues in Forest Management(15cr)

OR

*ENS-4314 Forest Management Planning (15cr)

Core for MSc 

ENS-4321 MSc Dissertation (60cr) 

*ENS-4313 (block C) is a pre-requisite for ENS-4314 (block D).

Year 1: 60 credits 

 

Semester 1 

Semester 2 

 

Block A 

Block B 

Block C 

Block D 

Core 

ENS-4303 Forest Ecology (15cr) 

 

 

 

Compulsory 

 

ENS-4302 Fundamentals of Soil and Water (15cr) 

ENS-4310 Inventory, Assessment and Monitoring (15cr) 

ENS-4315 Forestry Study Tour (15cr)

Year 2: 60 credits  

 

Semester 1 

Semester 2 

 

Block A 

Block B 

Block C 

Block D 

Optional

(choose 4 modules: one from each block)

ENS-4306 Silviculture (15cr) 

OR

ENS-4305 Agroforestry Systems & Practices (15cr) 

ENS-4300 Urban Forestry (15cr) 

OR

ENS-4307 Ecological Restoration (15cr) 

OR 

ENS-4308 Timber & Wood-based Products (15cr) 

ENS-4311 Forest Protection (15cr)

OR 

ENS-4313 GIS for Forestry Land Management (15cr)

OR

ENS-4309 Natural Resource Management (15cr) 

ENS-4317 Forest Ecosystems (15cr) 

OR 

ENS-4318 Social Issues in Forest Management(15cr)

OR

*ENS-4314 Forest Management Planning (15cr)

*ENS-4313 (block C) is a pre-requisite for ENS-4314 (block D).

Year 3: 60 credits  

 

Semester 1 

Semester 2 

Core for MSc 

ENS-4321 MSc Dissertation (60cr) 

 

Semester 1 

Semester 2 

 

Block A  

Block B 

Block C 

Block D 

Core 

ENS-4306 Silviculture (15cr)

 

 

 

 

Compulsory 

 

ENS-4300 Urban Forestry (15cr) 

 

 

ENS-4315 Forestry Study Tour (15cr)

Optional 

(Choose 5 modules: 2 from block C, and one each from blocks A, B & D)

ENS-4303 Forest Ecology (15cr)

OR

ENS-4305 Agroforestry Systems & Practices (15cr)

ENS-4307 Ecological Restoration (15cr) 

OR

ENS-4308 Timber & Wood-Based Products (15cr) 

OR 

ENS-4302 Fundamentals of Soil & Water (15cr)

 

ENS-4310 Inventory, Assessment and Monitoring (15cr) 

OR

ENS-4311 Forest Protection (15cr) 

OR

ENS-4203 Business Planning for Green Economies (15cr) 

OR

ENS-4313 GIS for Forestry Land Management (15cr) 

OR

ENS-4309 Natural Resource Management (15cr)

*ENS-4314 Forest Management Planning (15cr) 

OR

ENS-4318 Social Issues in Forest Management (15cr) 

OR 

**ENS-4317 Forest Ecosystems (15cr)

 

Core for MSc 

ENS-4321 MSc Dissertation (60cr)

*ENS-4313 (block C) is a pre-requisite for ENS-4314 (block D). 

**ENS-4302 (block B) must be taken if you wish to study ENS-4317 block D)

Year 1: 90 credits 

 

Semester 1 

Semester 2 

 

Block A  

Block B 

Block C 

Block D 

Core 

ENS-4306 Silviculture (15cr) 

 

 

 

 

Compulsory  

 

ENS-4300 Urban Forestry (15cr)

 

 

ENS-4315 Forestry Study Tour (15cr)

Optional 

(Choose 3 modules, with at least one of them from block C)

These optional modules will also be available to you in the second year.

 

ENS-4307 Ecological Restoration (15cr) 

OR

ENS-4308 Timber & Wood-Based Products (15cr) 

OR 

ENS-4302 Fundamentals of Soil & Water (15cr)

ENS-4310 Inventory, Assessment & Monitoring (15cr) 

OR

ENS-4311 Forest Protection (15cr) 

OR

ENS-4203 Business Planning for Green Economies (15cr) 

OR

ENS-4313 GIS for Forestry Land Management (15cr)

OR

ENS-4309 Natural Resource Management (15cr)

*ENS-4314 Forest Management Planning (15cr) 

OR

ENS-4318 Social Issues in Forest Management (15cr) 

OR 

**ENS-4317 Forest Ecosystems (15cr)

 

*ENS-4313 (block C) is a pre-requisite for ENS-4314 (block D). 

**ENS-4302 (block B) must be taken if you wish to study ENS-4317 block D)

 Year 2: 90 credits  

(modules taken in year 1 cannot be taken again in year 2)

 

Semester 1 

Semester 2 

 

Block A  

Block B 

Block C 

Block D 

Optional 

(Choose 2 modules from different blocks)

 

ENS-4303 Forest Ecology (15cr)

OR

ENS-4305 Agroforestry Systems & Practices (15cr)

ENS-4307 Ecological Restoration (15cr) 

OR 

ENS-4308 Timber & Wood-Based Products (15cr) 

OR 

ENS-4302 Fundamentals of Soil & Water (15cr)

ENS-4310 Inventory, Assessment and Monitoring (15cr) 

OR 

ENS-4311 Forest Protection (15cr) 

OR

ENS-4203 Business Planning for Green Economies (15cr)

OR 

ENS-4313 GIS for Forestry Land Management (15cr)

OR

ENS-4309 Natural Resource Management (15cr)

*ENS-4314 Forest Management Planning (15cr) 

OR 

ENS-4318 Social Issues in Forest Management (15cr) 

OR 

**ENS-4317 Forest Ecosystems (15cr)

Core for MSc 

ENS-4321 MSc Dissertation (60cr) 

*ENS-4313 (block C) is a pre-requisite for ENS-4314 (block D). 

**ENS-4302 (block B) must be taken if you wish to study ENS-4317 block D)

Year 1: 60 credits 

 

Semester 1 

Semester 2 

 

Block A  

Block B 

Block C 

Block D 

Core

ENS-4306 Silviculture (15cr)

 

 

 

 

Compulsory  

 

ENS-4300 Urban Forestry (15cr)

 

 

ENS-4315 Forestry Study Tour (15cr) 

Optional 

(Choose one module)

Block C optional modules will also be available in year 2.

 

 

ENS-4310 Inventory, Assessment and Monitoring (15cr) 

OR

ENS-4311 Forest Protection (15cr) 

OR

ENS-4203 Business Planning for Green Economies (15cr)

OR 

ENS-4309 Natural Resource Management (15cr) 

OR 

ENS-4313 GIS for Forestry Land Management (15cr)

 

 Year 2: 60 credits  

 

Semester 1 

Semester 2 

 

Block A  

Block B 

Block C 

Block D 

Optional

(choose 4 modules: one from each block)

ENS-4303 Forest Ecology (15cr)

OR

ENS-4305 Agroforestry Systems & Practices (15cr)

ENS-4307 Ecological Restoration (15cr) 

OR

ENS-4308 Timber & Wood-Based Products (15cr)

OR 

ENS-4302 Fundamentals of Soil & Water (15cr)

ENS-4310 Inventory, Assessment & Monitoring (15cr) 

OR

ENS-4311 Forest Protection (15cr) 

OR

ENS-4203 Business Planning for Green Economies (15cr) 

OR

ENS-4313 GIS for Forestry Land Management (15cr)

OR 

ENS-4309 Natural Resource Management (15cr)

*ENS-4314 Forest Management Planning (15cr) 

OR

ENS-4318 Social Issues in Forest Management (15cr)

OR

**ENS-4317 Forest Ecosystems (15cr)

*ENS-4313 (block C) is a pre-requisite for ENS-4314 (block D). 

**ENS-4302 (block B) must be taken if you wish to study ENS-4317 block D)

Year 3: 60 credits  

Semester 1 

Semester 2 

Core: ENS-4321 MSc Dissertation (60cr) 

Wild mushroom growing in a forest

Dissertation

Undoubtedly one of the most challenging parts of any Masters programme, the 鈥榙issertation鈥� is also the most exciting and rewarding aspect for the vast majority of students. For this component of the MSc degree programme, students undertake a piece of work culminating in the production of a dissertation formatted as a scientific journal article. The results of this study must be judged to constitute a critical evaluation and analysis of knowledge or information obtained, or to be an original contribution to knowledge.

A student may choose an area of research which is of particular interest to them, with the approval of the project supervisor, and/or which is associated with their employer鈥檚 activities.

In common with all UK Master of Science degree programmes, the final dissertation submission is evaluated by two independent internal markers with relevant expertise, as well as an external examiner from another University. The fee for this examination is included in the tuition fee. However, travel and subsistence expenses incurred during the project, as well as the costs of printing and binding the thesis (not compulsory), are additional costs that must be borne by the student.

There are a variety of charitable and professional organisations that may be willing to support student dissertations. These depend very much on the topic, are generally country-specific, and it is the responsibility of the student to follow up such opportunities, with advice from staff where appropriate.

Studying with Us

A 2(i) undergraduate Honours degree in a relevant science or technology subject is required, such as biology, horticulture, agriculture, law, economics, engineering, geography, environmental science.

Applications from mature students who do not have higher education qualifications but have relevant work experience which is deemed to be equivalent to a relevant undergraduate degree and who have worked for a minimum of 2 years in a position of responsibility and relevance to the degree will also be considered. 

We judge each and every application on its individual merits and if we have any concerns or questions regarding your suitability for the programme, you may be invited to interview (usually via MS Teams) before an offer decision is made.

International students who do not have English as their first language should check the English Language requirements on this website.

The programmes commence in September each year.  We recommend you apply by 31st July of the same year that you wish to enter the programme. If you apply after this deadline, we cannot guarantee you will be registered in time for the course start date. It can take several weeks from your application submission to receipt of a formal offer.

These programmes are an academic, postgraduate level programme of study and expectations and standards of the programme reflect this. During the course you will be expected to demonstrate intellectual understanding and critical, original interpretation, extensive engagement with, and synthesis of, relevant literature, data and other resources, and the ability to write and communicate to a high academic standard. 

We estimate that approximately 10 hours of student effort are required per module credit, thus a 15-credit module will require around 150 hours. We would therefore recommend 20 hours a week of focused study time if you are taking the programme part time over 3 years. 

Students on the 1 year programme study two modules in every block - equivalent to full time study for 12 months.  Students on the 2 year programme study either one or two modules in each block, depending on their module choices.  This is equivalent to full time study in some blocks, and part-time study in other blocks, over 24 months. Students on the 3 year programme study one module at a time, which is part-time.  

Studying part-time whilst having other responsibilities (e.g. full-time work / family / other interests) means that you should be realistic about what you can expect of yourself. Some points you may wish to consider before applying for this programme are: 

  • How much study time is realistic for me, given my current commitments?  

  • Is there somewhere I can study and concentrate, with peace and quiet? (for distance learners)

  • Can I ensure I will have sufficiently reliable internet connectivity? (for distance learners)

  • What days of the week / times of the day will I study? 

Regular and effective use of Blackboard 鈥� a widely used virtual learning environment (VLE) 鈥� is fundamental to the forestry related degree programmes.  Developments in learning technologies mean that distance learning students can study modules alongside on-campus students and we make extensive use of MS Teams to enable this. This can help improve the learning experience because distance learning students from across the world can view and participate in live lectures and seminars delivered in Bangor (as well as view them afterwards); contribute to student-led seminars; ask questions and receive immediate feedback. At the same time, part-time students can study at a realistic pace and benefit from a wealth of resources, including module handbooks, study guides, e-books, discussion forums, self-assessment tools, as well as view and listen to any 鈥榣ive鈥� events that they have missed. 

**We do not provide hard-copies of materials, everything is available electronically** 

Most modules are divided into units, helping students break down large topics into more manageable components. A module handbook sets out week-by-week learning activities and other key information about assessments and examinations to help you plan your work. Some modules feature on-line self-assessments which you can use to gauge your progress whilst others feature facilitated discussion forums based on module topics. 

Your academic performance is assessed using a wide variety of approaches, including open-book exams, reports, essays, presentations, management plans, mapping exercises, critical reviews and group activities. By exploring the module descriptions you can find out how each module is assessed. 

The staff organising the forestry-related MSc degree programmes believe that an important part of our programmes is the provision of support for students. We pride ourselves not only on our teaching and research excellence but also for our friendly and approachable manner. 

Various activities are organised within modules, such as 鈥榙rop-in鈥� sessions, seminars, discussion forums and more.  Assessments are set at intervals during each module. Such assessments may or may not form part of the summative assessment for the overall degree, but regardless, the idea is to encourage regular engagement, participation and structure to the learning experience. 

There are support systems in place at 乐播传媒 to help you, for example with your academic research and writing skills (for example see this webpage). Engagement with such services is strongly encouraged as and when it is required.

As well as the Teaching and Learning Support team where you can get support with all aspects of your studies, 乐播传媒 is recognised as a leading centre for students with learning differences, such as dyslexia.  You can contact the  SpLD team prior to applying to 乐播传媒. In any case, the SpLD team will be notified of any specific requirements you may have as a result of any relevant information you divulge on your application form. 

Various organisations exist to support both part-time and full-time forestry students alike. Becoming a forestry student at Bangor will present you with a whole range of new opportunities, from additional scholarships and bursaries, UK and overseas study tours / conferences / seminars, student membership rates for a range of organisations, information about forestry and related job opportunities, and many other benefits. Details of some of the opportunities that recent students have taken advantage of can be found here. 

 

Please visit this webpage for more details.

 (for postgraduate students from Wales studying a Masters or PhD degree)

 (can be applied for once a student has registered for one of our 'forestry' MSc programmes and joined Confor as a student member)

 (bursaries available for agricultural postgraduate programmes - MSc Agroforestry and Food Security would be considered as agricultural)

(for full time students on MSc Agroforestry & Food Security and MSc Environmental Forestry). To apply please contact Dr Eefke Mollee for the application form in December 2026 and the application deadline is 1st March 2027.

Institute of Chartered Foresters logo
Credit:Institute of Chartered Foresters

Professional Accreditation

All four of our forestry MSc programmes are accredited by the (ICF) and worth 5 or 6 points, important if your ambition is to become a Chartered Forester.  All our students are strongly encouraged to join as student members (there is a significant reduction for registered students). For further information about ICF membership and working towards Chartered Forester status, please visit the relevant page on the . Please note that in order to meet the requirements of the forestry profession and of academic audits, and to ensure that the programme remains effective and up-to-date, our programmes are subject to constant refinement. Strict adherence to the listed module contents cannot therefore be guaranteed. 

Career Opportunities

Employability and changing career 

Our forestry programmes have helped many people fulfil their ambitions. Some of our students are already in forestry or closely related professions and use our programmes to develop their career further, whilst others use it to change career and/or simply find out more about the fascinating subject of forestry. The twin climate and biodiversity crises have made understanding and managing trees, landscape and people key skills for now and the future.  The forestry sector as a whole is experiencing a significant shortage of skills and labour meaning that well-qualified forestry@Bangor graduates are in high demand. Approximately 85% of our students succeed in finding high-quality employment or further study opportunities, whilst the remainder take their new found knowledge to pursue their own interests. Thanks to the part-time options of the programme, some achieve this well before they have graduated.  

There are an enormous range of opportunities to enhance your employability during your studies.  Some examples of what our students get up to during their studies with us can be found here on our Publication and News webpage. 

Profiles of some of our graduates can be found here. 

  • Marcus registered as a 鈥榗areer changer鈥� from the IT profession.  He made a few calls to relevant organisations shortly after he registered with us and got some forest inventory work (voluntary) with a local forestry company (unpaid). This led to work as a forest surveyor working on the (NFI) (paid) through a sub-contractor.  Subsequently, this led on to an assistant forest manager position with a private forestry company just two years after registering with us. 
  • Nick registered as a 鈥榗areer changer鈥� from the Building Services profession.  Within a few months he had a voluntary position with a wildlife trust working on a range of woodland management projects, then secured two days a week (paid) working as an assistant with a private forest management company.  He then secured a paid position with the same wildlife trust.  This led on to another role, and he was employed before the end of his programme as a Countryside Ranger by the National Trust and after graduation he moved a more senior role with the same organisation. 
  • Joanna registered as a 鈥榗areer changer鈥� from the charity / development sector.  She had already been doing various voluntary work relating to forestry. Within six months she had secured a job as a contractor on the , and then got a job with a forest certification organisation. She successfully secured external funding to enable her to travel to Uganda to conduct her dissertation field work for which she won the 鈥榖est poster鈥� prize at the World Agroforestry Congress. 
  • David registered as an assistant forest surveyor.  He worked with a leading forest nursery on his dissertation, setting up and managing a complex trial with over 7,000 seedlings.  His dissertation also included a financial evaluation.  He secured a position as a with a leading forestry business before he graduated.   
  • Kwadwo (from West Africa) registered as a CSC scholar. He has recently secured his first academic position as a in one of the top 100 universities in Africa. 
  • Daniel (from Central Africa) registered as a CSC scholar. He secured various research assistant roles during his registration, partly through links made through 乐播传媒. He commenced a PhD shortly after his graduation. 
  • Jim (from England) registered whilst working in hospitality, with no previous experience of forestry.  During his first year on the programme, he successfully applied for a 12 month student placement with , which has since developed into a permanent Forest Manager position. 

Stephen Mwangi (Forestry, 2018)

My journey to 乐播传媒 began while I was working at Gatsby Africa in Kenya. One of my colleagues was studying for an MSc Tropical Forestry degree at 乐播传媒, and I was impressed by both the quality of the programme and the opportunity it offered professionals to continue working while advancing their education. Inspired by his experience, I applied for a Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship. I was delighted to be awarded the scholarship and began my studies in 2018.

Studying for the MSc Tropical Forestry degree was one of the most rewarding experiences of my professional life. Although distance learning came with challenges, particularly balancing work, study and personal commitments, it also offered the flexibility needed to pursue a world-class education while remaining professionally active. Throughout the programme, I developed skills in forestry, natural resource management, research and critical analysis that continue to shape my career today.

During my time at Bangor, I was honoured to be elected Course Representative for our cohort and the wider MSc Forestry programme. In this role, I advocated for students' needs and worked closely with academic staff to improve communication and engagement. One initiative I championed was the creation of a dedicated space on the Blackboard platform where   students could interact more easily with one another and communicate more effectively with lecturers. It was rewarding to contribute to improving the student learning experience for both current and future cohorts.

One of the highlights of my Bangor experience was a two-week study tour in Ghana. For the first time, I met my fellow students in person鈥攁n incredibly diverse cohort representing more than 30 nationalities from around the world. It was also a wonderful opportunity to meet our lecturers face-to-face, including Dr James Walmsley, Dr Lars Markesteijn, Dr Mark Rayment and Dr Eefke Mollee, whose support and guidance enriched our learning experience throughout the programme.

Beyond the excitement of finally meeting classmates and lecturers, the Ghana study visit provided valuable practical experience. We undertook a collaborative research project in Bobiri Forest, located in Ghana's Ashanti Region, where we worked together to collect and analyse field data. The experience demonstrated the power of international collaboration and applied research. I am particularly proud that this work has continued beyond graduation and has recently resulted in a publication co-authored with Dr Ernest E. Foli of the Forest Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG) and Israel Ole Manina of the Forest Industries Training Institute (FITI), Tanzania. Seeing a field exercise evolve into a published piece of research is a testament to the quality and lasting impact of the Bangor learning experience.

乐播传媒 opened new doors for me professionally. The knowledge, skills and confidence I gained enabled me to compete successfully for international roles. Shortly after graduating in 2022, I joined the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) as a Researcher.

Today, my work focuses on supporting locally controlled forest businesses, smallholder farmers and producer organisations across Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia. One programme I support is the Forest and Farm Facility (FFF), which in its second phase (2018鈥�2025) disbursed more than 70% of a US$68 million grant to smallholder organisations in 13 countries. I am proud to contribute to work that positively impacts both people and nature.

Since joining IIED, I have also published numerous blogs, peer-reviewed journal articles and research reports that have contributed to international debates on forestry, climate resilience, rural livelihoods and sustainable development.

Looking back, 乐播传媒 provided far more than a degree. It equipped me with the knowledge, networks, confidence and international perspective needed to make a meaningful contribution to sustainable development. The friendships, professional connections and experiences I gained continue to influence my work today. I remain immensely proud to be a 乐播传媒 alumnus and grateful for the opportunities that my education there has created.

I am proud of my 乐播传媒 journey and look forward to remaining an active member of the Bangor Forestry Alumni community for many years to come.

 

Thomas Davreux (Forestry, 2013)

鈥淢y name is Thomas Davreux. I'm Managing Director of InduFed, the platform for the Belgian glass, paper & paperboard industries. Previously, I've worked in other industrial sectors: in metal recycling and, most pertinently, I was the Director of PEFC Belgium, the organisation for certifying sustainable forests. This career trajectory was made possible thanks to my Master's Degree in Forestry from 乐播传媒.

Originally an economist, graduating in 2001 with an economics degree from Namur University in Belgium, I started my professional work in banking.  Then, seeking a change of career, I started doing my Master鈥檚 degree in Forestry by distance learning with 乐播传媒 in 2009, graduating in 2013. These studies were in addition to my normal, full-time work, but I was able to fit them into my working and personal life.

As regards what attracted me to study with Bangor: I wanted to do something that had to do with environment. I did consider lots of courses, right across Europe and eventually decided on forestry but there weren't that many courses and, of the few courses there were, they were either not as interesting as the ones offered by Bangor or not distance learning.  乐播传媒 was offering the most attractive and the most convenient course for me. So, it was a fairly straightforward choice between Bangor and maybe one or two other strong candidates. And of course at that time, Britain was still part of the EU!

Having got my Master's degree, I was then able to change my career path and go into the forestry world. Coincidentally, the job opening for Director of PEFC, Belgium opened: I applied and I got it almost straight away. I was very lucky because this job opening appeared just as I graduated. So, my transition was extremely quick from the financial world to the world of forests. What really helped was that I found so much of the Master鈥檚 course content useful, directly applicable in understanding my new working environment and my ability to function in the new post. The course had definitely given me the background and the confidence to be immediately operational in the forestry world.

I then worked for PEFC for five years, a significant stint. At the end of that time, I felt I'd been able to make a difference, making good use of the Bangor training that I'd had through the distance-learning MSc. Having since moved on to my current job, representing the paper industry amongst others in Belgium, my understanding of forestry still enables me to be of help to some of my members today. This is because I understand what their supply-chain issues are, for example those linked to climate change, sustainability, etc. In fact, I remain the operational in-house forestry specialist. I鈥檓 not only able to understand and advise my paper clients on their direct, market-based issues, but also their upstream, supply-chain issues, which affect their main raw material, wood.

Now, looking ahead and outwards from my current experience, the words of wisdom I would give to someone considering a forestry career, either at undergraduate or at graduate level, would have to include the following:

I love Bangor because it was such a diverse and a very broad education in forestry, very well thought through. We got a bit of everything, all the way from the economics perspective to the very detailed biological aspects, and everything in between.

I also thought the social aspect of the course was extremely well designed. This means that you're ready to tackle all sorts of issues and aspects of forests, whether they're commercial, e.g. setting up your own tree nursery, or more linked to sustainability, or whatever. The Master鈥檚 was well done and could be applied in all sorts of different ways to working life in and around forestry. That's the beauty of it and why I enjoyed my Bangor studies.鈥�

 

Dr. Konnathu (KC) Chacko (MSc. Environmental Forestry, 1991)

鈥淟ooking back, it was a lovely experience living in Bangor and doing MSc Environmental Forestry in 1990-91. I specialised in Agroforestry under Dr. John B. Hall who never compromised quality and time frame. The important takeaway from Bangor was upgradation of my scientific writing skills and learning computer skills from scratch; computers were in the early stages at that time.

Seeing Dr. John Hall I learned that an editor/examiner should waste no time in critically reviewing scientific manuscripts at his/her disposal; I try to follow this with peer review papers and students' thesis. Professional interactions with my classmates from UK and other countries was yet another highlight; nearly all of them had sound field experience in different ecosystems. The field trips to places of forestry and cultural importance were useful and enjoyable. I remember how friendly and helpful Dr. Lawrence Roche (the Head of the School), Dr. Graham J. Mayhead (Course Director), Dr. JC Hetherington, Dr. Colin Price, Dr. Tom Jenkins, Dr. Fergus Sinclair, Prof. John Healy and Dr. Geoff Bright all were.

After my return to my parent institution in India, the Kerala Forest Research Institute, I did a PhD in Forestry in FRI, and subsequently retired as a scientist of the highest grade. I kept myself professionally active during my post-retirement period of 17 years. I continue working as a forestry consultant for a teak planting company in Tanzania (since 2017), with two to three site visits in a year. I also serve as examiner for MSc and PhD students in Forestry, and as Expert in Court cases related to forestry, which demand current knowledge.

The social environment of Bangor was much welcoming for any student especially those from other countries; I enjoyed interactions with many in the town, sometimes even as guest for tea or dinner!鈥�

 

Dr Mary Hobley (Forestry, 1983)

鈥淚 knew from the age of 12 that I wanted to study forestry, and more specifically to work on forest issues in the Global South. I chose Bangor because the Head of Department, Professor Larry Roche, was a distinguished tropical forester.

My journey began with an interview. What stayed with me most was being asked how I would cope, as a woman, in a man鈥檚 world. I remember being surprised - I could not see why this would be a problem. Yet that question stayed with me and has shaped much of my work over the past 40 years, including my PhD at the Australian National University. Based on research in Nepal, it examined how caste, class, and gender influence access to forest resources.

At Bangor, this interest in the social and political dimensions of forestry was strongly nurtured, particularly through the challenging and inspiring lectures of economist Colin Price, who encouraged me to question established thinking.

I have been fortunate to have a varied and rewarding career. I began by living in villages in Nepal, seeking to understand local social dynamics and power relations. I later moved to London to work at the Overseas Development Institute, where, together with Gill Shepherd, I helped establish the Social Forestry Network. This initiative connected practitioners worldwide and contributed to reshaping forestry - from a largely technical discipline into one that recognises its deep connections with communities and Indigenous Peoples. We helped shift the focus toward rights, equity, and accountability, encouraging forest departments to rethink how they operate.

As an independent consultant, I have continued this work across South and Southeast Asia, as well as parts of Africa. Throughout my career, I have remained committed to understanding how to improve people鈥檚 lives, amplify their voices, and challenge and transform unequal power structures.

Now, as I approach the end of my career, I am focused on giving back. I serve on several boards, including The Tenure Facility, RECOFTC, and the Commonwealth Forestry Association. Looking back, I feel a deep sense of pride - particularly when I think of Nepal, where 22,000 communities now manage their own forests, hillsides have regenerated, and people can exercise their rights without fear.

I am also proud that issues once considered outside the scope of forestry - such as gender and class - are now widely recognised as central. There is a growing understanding that forests and people are inseparable, and that Indigenous Peoples and local communities should retain the rights to govern and manage the forests they have sustained for generations.

My journey began at Bangor, and I remain deeply grateful to the then Forest and Wood Science Department for helping me expand my perspective鈥攆rom seeing forests as trees alone to understanding them as living systems shaped by the people who depend on them, as I explored my desire to expand forest boundaries beyond just seeing the trees to seeing local people as part of the reasons forests can be sustained.鈥�

 

Malcolm (Mac) Jones (Forestry, 1959)

鈥淢y 4 years in Bangor (1955-59) were incredibly rewarding. After Bangor I was a Forest Officer in (now) Tanzania, then taught Biology, including 4 years at Memorial University, Newfoundland. There I researched the Birch Leaf miner (Fenusa pusilla) and gained an MSc before returning to UK .

Most of my class attended the Forestry Reunion in 2000. We kept in close touch over the years. Most have now passed on to the great forest in the sky, but the comradeship of those four years in Bangor was lasting. Many became key figures in Forestry around the world: Maharaj Muthoo was Director General, FAO, Rome, Tony Fearnside was prominent in Australia and Derek Earl was a Lecturer in Forest Economics at Oxford. Keats Hall was top man in Jamaican Forestry and John Dolwin, after also working in Tanzania, ran his own Private Forestry Business (Dolwin &Gray) in Sussex.鈥�

 

Peter Sturmheit (Environmental Forestry MSc, 1989)

Peter Sturmheit is a Senior Team Leader, Project Manager and Transaction Advisor, holder of a 6-year University Degree in Civil Engineering (specialization in Water, Energy and Transport Engineering; Germany) and a MSc. in Environmental Forestry (specialization in Economics Analysis of Development Projects; UK).

Mr. Sturmheit has 40 years of professional experience, 36 of which linked to international projects in lusophone, anglophone and francophone Africa. He has a 20-year experience as Team Leader and Project Manager of infrastructure-related projects, covering transport (roads, rail), energy (focus on renewable energy: solar PV; wind; hydropower), water distribution, agroforestry, soil erosion control and sanitation sectors. A few examples of his relevant experience include Mr. Sturmheit鈥檚 work as staff with the African Development Bank (AfDB) for over 13 years, 9 of which as Principal/Chief Country Programme Officer and Team Leader in Nigeria (2008-2013) and South Africa (2013-2017): in Nigeria, Mr. Sturmheit managed the Country鈥檚 Portfolio of Infrastructure - Water Supply and Sanitation, Energy and Transport - Agriculture, Social and Private Sector projects (about 35 projects); in South Africa, he managed the Country鈥檚 Portfolio of water supply and sanitation Infrastructure projects, including the Bank鈥檚 project pipeline for 13 of the SADC member countries (about 185 projects in South Africa, Zambia, Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho, Zimbabwe). Previously, he was AfDB鈥檚 Senior Civil Engineer resident in Tunisia (2004-2008), where he was responsible for the water and sanitation sector projects鈥� identification, preparation, appraisal, for the preparation of ToR and for the supervision and the management of contracts (under FIDIC Conditions of Contract) in Tunisia, Angola, Gambia, Liberia, Ghana, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. In addition to the AfDB, he is experienced with several other international donor institutions. Mr Sturmheit is also the author of 鈥淎bout Lions 鈥� Among Lions鈥�.

What attracted you to Bangor and why it remains important to you:

The option to combine agroforestry and soil erosion control and the course focus on international environmental forestry, and the opportunity to use my experience from a soil erosion control project in Zambia for my thesis focusing on Faidherbia albida and alley cropping.

 

Rob Peterson (Applied Zoology / Forestry, 1986)

Career

  • 1987 - 1988 - West Glamorgan County Council, as Woodland surveyor
  • 1988 - 1990 : Forestry Commission Dolgellau
  • 1990 - 1995: Coopers and Lybrand, Accountants - Tax Accountant
  • 1995 - 1998: Julian Hodge Bank, Cardiff - Software Engineer
  • 1999 - 2000: Lucent Technologies, Boston - Software Engineer
  • 2000 - 2005: eBay, Software Management, San Jose
  • 2005 -2015 : Google, Mountain View, Director of Engineering and Beekeeper
  • 2017 - 2019: Apple - Software Development
  • 2020 - on Independent consultant various software development consultancies and related projects in Silicon Valley

 

My experience of earning my forestry degree and working in forestry helped me considerably - both in terms of being able to work independently and solve some complex real world problems and management issues. In addition, the far-sighted Colin Price taught us software development practices which, as you can see, were put to good use. My first software task at Boston was to calculate the volume of a tree and the usable portions to optimize when sawmilling. The Applied Zoology also became useful as it first gave me an appreciation for the social insects (in Bangor, leat cutting ants) but later developed into my interest in beekeeping.

A beam of sunlight penetrates oaks standing on a hillside.
Oaks standing on a hillside.
Credit:Dan Struther

School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, 乐播传媒, Bangor LL57 2DG

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School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, 乐播传媒, Bangor LL57 2DG