Program Structure
The Foundations of Advanced Silviculture micro-certificate is designed to provide participants with a rigorous, university-level education in the essential principles of silviculture. This 60-hour program is delivered over eight weeks and consists of four 2-week courses, each focusing on key aspects of forest management:
- Foundations of Silviculture
- October 6 – 17, 2025
- Forest Ecology and Indigenous Perspectives
- October 20 – 31, 2025
- Current Practices and Stand Development
- November 3 – 14, 2025
- Monitoring Systems and Continuous Improvement
- November 17 – 28, 2025
This micro-certificate ensures that participants acquire the essential knowledge and practical competencies required to address the complex challenges of modern forest management, equipping them for leadership roles in the forestry sector.
The program is delivered entirely online, with weekly instructor-led sessions to support discussions and connect with guest speakers from the field. The format allows participants to engage with course content asynchronously, making it accessible to working professionals across different time zones. Learners can complete the micro-certificate in one session or spread the courses over a two-year period, depending on their schedules and commitments.
Upon completion, participants will receive a certificate of completion for each course and a final micro-certificate after successfully finishing all four courses.
Completion Requirements
To successfully complete the program, students are required to:
- Complete all assignments and learning activities for each course and the overall program.
- Achieve a minimum score of 50% or higher on each assignment within a course.
Failure to meet these requirements will result in non-qualification for course and program completion.
Timeline to Completion
Participants have the flexibility to set their own timeline to completion, within a maximum of two years.
IMPORTANT: Students who receive StrongerBC future skills grant funding must complete the program within a single offering.
Course Descriptions
Course 1: Foundations of Silviculture
This course covers the fundamental aspects of silviculture, including regeneration principles, the regeneration triangle, and how to modify seed supply and environmental conditions for optimal regeneration. Additionally, participants will explore phenological physiology, ecosystem classification, and the application of climate science to silvicultural practices. This foundation sets the stage for understanding forest dynamics and regeneration strategies.
Course 2: Forest Ecology and Indigenous Perspectives
In this course, participants will explore applied forest ecology, incorporating both Indigenous knowledge and Western scientific perspectives. This approach emphasizes the integration of First Nations’ cultural management of forest lands, addressing the ecological, social, and cultural aspects of forest stewardship. Understanding these perspectives is critical to creating inclusive, sustainable forest management strategies.
Course 3: Current Practices and Stand Development
This course focuses on current silvicultural practices and regulations in British Columbia, evaluating how land management planning intersects with silviculture. Participants will gain insights into managing forests at different scales—from individual trees to stands, forests, and landscapes—and how these decisions impact forest structure, health, and resilience. Key topics include stand development pathways from current conditions to Desired Future Conditions, and the strategic application of silvicultural systems to retain forest values and achieve long-term management goals.
Course 4: Monitoring Systems and Continuous Improvement
Participants will learn to design and implement monitoring systems to ensure the continuous improvement of forest management practices. This course emphasizes adaptive management, tracking the effectiveness of interventions, and adjusting practices based on monitoring outcomes. The course also delves into the scale of decision-making, from tree-level interventions to landscape-level strategies.