Description

Cities are home for more tan have of the world population and that trend is only expected to keep on growing in the coming years. Climate change, atmospheric pollution or heat island effect are only some of the environmental and health challenges that urban dwellers and governments will have to face. Urban forestry has been proved to be an essential tool to achieve liveable, sustainable and resilient cities. A well managed urban forest can regulate urban temperatures, reduce atmospheric pollutants and help control storm water.

Objectives

The main objective of this course first edition is to provide a general knowledge framework about urban forestry. Students will learn what constitutes an urban forest, how to write a tree strategy, what is Green infrastructure and latest design solutions, Street tree and park management and maintenance operations and how to perform an inventory. We will get into the process of setting up a small private company or green start-up and the differences with public management. Finally, we will explain different communication and capacity building tools, participatory processes and citizen science initiatives.

Who is this course for?

-       Last year students and recent graduates from forestry, agronomy, architecture and landscape architecture fields

-       Urban forestry managers both from public and private sectors

Essential information

Duration: 3 weeks

Language: Spanish with some sessions in English.

Dates and Schedule:

                  17-21 September 2018: classes from 16 to 20h.

                  24-28 September 2018: group project and tutoring hours.

                  1-5 October 2018: classes from 16 to 20h.

Venue: Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería de Montes, Forestal y del Medio Natural. Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (Ciudad Universitaria). Jose Antonio Novais Street 10, 28040 Madrid.

Price: 250€, with special discounts for “colegiados” (150€) and students (50€)

Methodology

Face to face classes will include theoretical lessons, practical exercises and case study analysis, invited speaker talks and field work.

Field trips inside Madrid city centre are programmed for the days 19th of September and 3rd of October that will include practical exercises. 

All lessons will be taught in Spanish except for one of the invited speaker talk. 

During the intermediate week, students will be working of their group projects. There will have face-to-face and on-line tutorial hours available and the possibility of on-line voluntary seminars.

Students that successfully complete the program will receive a course certificate (for 70 hours).