Minister launches new Forest Ecosystem degree
Media Release, Thursday 20 September 2007
Victorian Minister for Agriculture Mr Joe Helper launched the University of Melbourne’s new Master of Forest Ecosystem Science degree at the Creswick Campus on Friday 14 September 2007.
The University’s School of Forest and Ecosystem Science used its third ‘Birthday‘ celebration to launch the new degree, one of the first graduate professional programs developed as part of the University’s new Melbourne Model.
The two-year Master of Forest Ecosystem Science coursework program has been developed in consultation with industry and government. It will give graduates a specialist understanding in forest ecosystems, management, products and services to enable professional entry to forest and land management agencies and forest industries.
The Master of Forest Ecosystem Science and similar cooperative models in Europe are the basis of a new National Forestry Masters program, to be offered also at the Universities of Melbourne, Queensland and Tasmania, ANU and Southern Cross University. This innovative program will provide joint subjects for students across all participating universities and ‘mobility’ funds for students to take subjects at other universities, thereby providing greater subject choice.
School of Forest and Ecosystem Science, Professor Rod Keenan, says these new programs are designed to ensure that Australia will continue to have the professional capacity to manage forest resources effectively.
“Today’s foresters might be considered ‘environmental accountants’. They have scientific understanding of forest ecosystem services, the technical skills to measure carbon, wood, water and wildlife and other forest values and the capacity to predict future changes in these values under different forms of management.”
For further information: Dr Chris Weston on 0409 406 058
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