Exploring the interconnected nature of political, social, and economic systems as they relate to natural resources. The course will focus on recent developments in forest governance and the issues that they raise in terms of rights to resources, sustainability, and economic performance. The numerous international initiatives to develop better forest governance models will be debated and their merits assessed. The concept of linked social-ecological systems will be examined. Students will undertake assignments on significant issues and publications and present them to the class.

Examine contemporary forestry issues, the principles of international diplomacy, and the principles of negotiating international agreements and conventions related to forests as well as international organizations addressing forestry issues.

Learn and apply basic economic principles across a wide range of forest-based good and environmental services, and learn about cutting-edge environmental finance topics.

Perceptual processes mediating behaviour in humans, with special attention given to the emotional processing of visual stimuli.

An introduction to the history and evolution of social, community and Indigenous forestry and their influence on and engagements with mainstream institutions, including industrial forestry. Students will learn about and analyze Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities’ (IPLC) relationships with customary, ancestral, and/or local territories and the cultural and spiritual values that have persisted and evolved over the centuries.