Whether students are from urban, suburban, or rural communities, an understanding of the ecology that underlies forest issues will better prepare them to appreciate the competing demands placed on forests. Before they can tackle global environmental issues such as tropical deforestation or loss of biodiversity, students must first understand the basic terms and science of forest ecology. They also develop scientific methodology to explore their forest and look at relationships. Students further explore their local forest by taking scientific measurements much as a forester does. They also look at various factors that affect the health of forests.
Students learn about the process of photosynthesis and the factors necessary for plant growth.
Experiments are conducted to measure and compare plant growth under a variety of environmental conditions, such as low sunlight, poor soil fertility, and lack of water. They look at the harmful and beneficial ecological effects that occur when exotics are introduced and research possible remedies for some of the harmful effects of various exotic species. They look at both the ecological and social issues related to gypsy moths, discuss management plans, and debate the pros and cons of the different options. Students are introduced to ecological succession as they learn to identify successional stages while examining vegetation types. They also learn to recognize basic relationships between species diversity and ecosystem stability.