From Concept to Curriculum and Competencies: Results of a Survey on Teaching of Integrative Forest Management at Higher Education Institutions Across Europe

Abstract

Abstract Purpose of study Forests, their management and associated biodiversity are challenged by unprecedented environmental changes, as well as shifts in societal settings and demands. Successful adaptation of forests and related management practices under global change requires well-trained forestry professionals, which changes the demands on their education. Integrative Forest Management (IFM) is increasingly used as an umbrella term for paradigms that integrate biodiversity conservation and global change adaptation into forestry for the sustainable provision of ecosystem services. This study investigated how well higher-education curricula align with IFM principles and what expectations and obstacles the academic community identified for IFM teaching. Recent findings An online survey of teaching staff in forest sciences from 31 European countries revealed that IFM teaching should focus on practices that employ partial harvesting (i.e. selective tree removal) and promote natural and site-adapted tree regeneration , structural heterogeneity and the retention of habitat trees and deadwood . Experts identified competencies in ecology , resilience thinking , synthesis (i.e. combining knowledge , competencies and attitudes) , and communication with society as essential for IFM teaching. Our study recognised a shortage of collaborative problem-solving competencies in current curricula and pinpointed opportunities for international exchange. Summary Higher education programmes in forestry are beginning to incorporate IFM concepts, but key competency gaps remain. Strengthening ecological and resilience training and fostering collaboration and creativity in problem-solving is crucial for wider IFM adoption in higher-education curricula. This overview can help advance forestry education by identifying the knowledge and competencies that enable future professionals to make informed management decisions in times of uncertainty.