If, as a professional or a passionate intending-professional forester, you have been asking if there are free online forestry courses, the answer is Yes! And we are going to highlight the best of them in this article.
Our environment is made up of so many biotic and abiotic components, that keep interacting together to create an ambiance of comfort and inhabitability. For this to continue, careful steps, observations, and mitigation steps where needed need to be taken to preserve the nature of our environment.
The industrial revolution and urbanization which saw through an increased amount of deforestation and lumbering functions, as well as excessive poaching threatened to wipe off a lot of unique flora and fauna species that existed.
Biodiversity decline became a major indicator of the effect of these ruthless anthropogenic activities with many species going extinct. To avoid this, some environmental enthusiasts decided to stand with and for nature, to stop this eco-unfriendliness.
The water bodies and forests are the major places where one can find various species in undisturbed quantity and numbers, and as such, to preserve nature, the eyes of environmental enthusiasts had to turn to these significant areas of interest and this gave birth to Forestry as a field.
Table of Contents
What is Forestry?
Forestry is the science, art, and practice of managing, conserving, and utilizing forests and their resources. It encompasses a wide range of activities related to the sustainable management of forested ecosystems, which include not only trees but also various plants, animals, and natural processes.
Forestry aims to balance the ecological, economic, and social aspects of forest management to ensure that forests can provide a variety of benefits both in the present and for future generations. Forestry as a field encompasses many elements which include;
- Forest Management
- Conservation
- Sustainable Harvesting
- Wildlife Management
- Fire management
- Ecosystem services
- Community engagement and
- Climate change mitigation
Forestry professionals, such as foresters, forest ecologists, and forest managers, work together to make informed decisions about forest management, conservation, and utilization. The goal is to achieve a balance between human needs and the preservation of forest ecosystems, fostering a sustainable relationship between people and forests.
Environmental Benefits of Studying Forestry
It is of great importance to note that the quality of care given to the environment equates to the quality of life and existence that the environment renders to us. When we take care of our environment, the environment in turn takes care of us.
Forestry is a field that pertains to the environment majorly, as it studies our forests and all the resources contained in them. As such, having people studying this field means a lot of potential forest caregivers, which is beneficial to the environment.
Studying forestry offers numerous environmental benefits, as it plays a pivotal role in the conservation and sustainable management of forests and natural ecosystems. Some of the key environmental benefits of studying forestry include;
- Wildlife habitat management
- Soil Conservation
- Biodiversity Conservation
- Water Quality Protection
- Invasive Species Management
- Forest Restoration
- Promoting Urban Green Spaces
- Sustainable Resource Use
- Improving Carbon Sequestration Capacities
By studying forestry and implementing sustainable practices, individuals can contribute to the protection and restoration of natural environments, promote biodiversity, mitigate climate change, and support the overall health of the planet’s ecosystems.
Best Free Online Forestry Courses
As it is fondly echoed everywhere around the world, the internet has taken over the whole world and its numerous sectors and the educational sector is not an exception. Nowadays, graduates and entry-career employees grow to be experienced professionals just by enrolling in an online course.
Online courses are preferred mostly based on the flexibility and convenience they offer to their participants. Moreso, proximity barriers no longer become a problem in acquiring quality knowledge from reputable institutions when all you need is just a smartphone or similar devices and a mobile network.
There are a lot of online courses in the internet space, some of which are paid while some are free but they all can equip you with so much experience. The forestry field is also covered in this surge of courses and hence, we have buttoned down some of the best of them for you to be able to enroll in. Below are the best free online forestry courses;
- Introduction to Forest Mensuration and Survey
- Online Course on Forest Management
- Beginner’s Guide to Forestry
- Introduction to Forest Management
- Advanced Diploma in Forest Management
- Climate-smart Forestry
- Forest and their Management
- Conservation and Restoration of Tropical Forest Landscapes
- Restoration of Degraded Forest Ecosystems and Forest Plantation Developments
- Forest Resource Management and Protection
1. Introduction to Forest Mensuration and Survey
This online forestry course is published by the National Program on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL), an online learning platform founded In 2003 by the coming together of seven institutes of technology and the Institute of Science.
The course covers the physical attributes of various kinds of trees as well as an introduction to different types of forest surveys and the tools for conducting these types of surveys. It also covers the tree form theories and the rules of measuring the height and diameter of trees.
The principles of Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR), applications of LIDAR, and the individual components that make up these systems will also be covered in this free online course.
It is hosted on Alison, one of the leading e-learning websites. It is fully self-paced and Certificates are issued to those who participate and complete this course.
Click here to enroll.
2. Online Course on Forest Management
This free online forestry course was also created by the National Program on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL) and focuses on teaching the best scientific approaches to managing and sustaining different kinds of forests.
It also discusses the various classes of forests and their properties, as well as the consumptive and non-consumptive value of forests and their environmental benefits. You will acquire full knowledge on:
- Ecological benefits and value of forests that serve as motivating factors to manage these natural resources
- The science of silviculture and ecological succession, which explains how forests develop
- Different nutrient cycles and their environmental importance
- The various kinds of tree forms, tree attributes, and the different techniques that can be used in their measurement
- The various silvicultural systems and practices that can be implemented in forest management.
Once you have acquired this online forestry course, you will be given an option to acquire an official diploma.
Click here to enroll.
3. Beginner’s Guide on Forestry
The Beginner’s Guide on Forestry is a free online course that is hosted on Alison and published by StudyHub. It focuses on the proper management, preservation, and conservation of forest ecosystems.
In this online free course, you will learn how to;
- Define ‘forestry’
- Classify forests based on their geographical distribution, climate, soil type, and types of trees.
- Recall the horizons or layers of soils
- Describe forest mensuration and the main objectives as well as the types of surveys for timber and the sustainable processes used in harvesting timber
- Discuss measurement and the scale of measurements
- State the function of silviculture in forestry
- Outline the types of ecological niche and their description in the forest ecological system
- Explains Urban Forestry.
Click here to enroll.
4. Introduction to Forest Management
Like the Online Course on Forest Management which we discussed in some bullet points above, this free online forestry course was designed by the National Program on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL) and is also one of the most popular forestry online courses hosted by Alison.
You will discover the most effective scientific methods for maintaining and managing various types of forests in this free course leading to a certification in forest management.
You also get to discover the ecological advantages and worth of a forest, which act as a driving force behind the management of these natural resources.
The different forest classes and their characteristics are covered in the course. You will learn about a forest’s consumptive and non-consumptive value as well as its advantages for the environment.
Click here to enroll.
5. Advanced Diploma in Forest Management
The advanced diploma in forest management is a hybrid course designed by the National Program on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL). It combines the introduction to forest management and forest mensuration and a survey to form a comprehensive diploma for those who want to acquire an online diploma.
This Forest Management training course is designed to provide an introduction to the sustainability and scientific processes associated with forest management.
Participants will gain an understanding of the various types of forests, their ecological advantages, and value, as well as the various hazards that currently affect forests.
This course is suitable for all levels of forestry and related courses. Completing this course earns the individual a certification that is well-recognized in the professional field of forestry.
Click here to enroll.
6. Climate-smart forestry
This course is all about how forests and trees can be part of climate-smart agriculture. It looks at how forests provide ecosystem services and goods, and how important they are for food security for people living in forests.
It also goes further to look into how climate change and forests can work together to help forests, people living in forests, and the world. It also looks at how climate-smart forests can be managed in a way that works best for everyone.
After this course, you’ll get a digital badge if you pass the final exam with a score of at least 75%, which is a good way to show off your newly acquired knowledge on social media platform platforms of the world.
Click here to enroll.
7. Forest and their Management
This online course is designed by the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, and NPTEL, to help you understand how forests are managed, planted, and harvested to get the most out of them.
It covers topics like how forests can be used for tourism, produce, food, and water for wildlife, as well as for people. It is also a great way to get a better understanding of forests and how to make the most of them.
It’s perfect for officers and staff in forest departments, forestry students, wildlife conservation experts, and policymakers. It’s a great way to get a better understanding of forests and how to make the most of them. It’s free and available on Swayhem – one of the best e-learning platforms out there.
Click here to enroll.
8. Conservation and Restoration of Tropical Forest Landscapes
The Conservation and Restoration of Tropical Forest Landscapes, fondly known as “Tropical Forest Landscapes 101: Conservation & Restoration” is a free online course on Coursera which was created by the Yale School of the Environment.
This online course on the conservation and restoration of tropical forest landscapes provides an opportunity to confront pressing environmental and societal issues.
Successful conservation and restoration projects promote a variety of objectives, including the functioning of ecosystems, the mitigation of climate change, and the adaptation to it.
Click here to enroll.
9. Restoration of Degraded Forest Ecosystems and Forest Plantation Developments
The Restoration of Degraded Forest Ecosystems & Forest Plantation Development course is a free online forestry course designed to help you understand the principles and practices of tree growth for restoring degraded forests and forest plantation development.
The course begins with an introduction to the carbon and nutrient cycles of forests as a fundamental basis for understanding the limits to forest productivity.
It goes on to explore how forest restoration interacts with climate with case studies from different tropical and temperature zones including restoration success indicators.
This course is intended for forest practitioners and bachelor’s degree students in 3rd or 4th year of environmental, natural resources management, or forest science degree.
Click here to enroll.
10. Forest Resource Management and Protection
If you want to learn how forest resources are managed and protected, this free online forestry course is for you!
It covers topics like tree growth, fire, man-made disturbances, and social and economic factors. You’ll learn concepts and methods for managing and protecting forest resources, how to identify threats to sustainable use, and how to use forest management principles to create integrated strategies.
It’s perfect for master’s level students who want to know the ins and outs of forest management, protection, and economics, as well as for undergraduates.
Added to its numerous suitabilities to build an awesome world of experience in forest management, it is also free just like all the other courses discussed in this blog post.
Click here to enroll.
Conclusion
The world of forestry is vast and ever-evolving, and the opportunity to expand your knowledge and skills has never been more accessible. These ten free online courses offer a valuable gateway to understanding the intricacies of forest ecosystems, sustainable management, and conservation practices.
Whether you’re an aspiring forester, an environmental enthusiast, or simply curious about our planet’s green lungs, these courses provide an enriching journey into the heart of our forests, empowering you to contribute to their protection and the well-being of our planet.
Taking online forestry courses helps to build up so much knowledge on the field, internalize complex things that you wouldn’t have learned with ease in a regular classroom teaching, and do all the learning while still focusing on other aspects of your career.
However, it cannot substitute for a degree in a professional setting. A degree is a level of qualification often used to quantify your knowledge in the field, and what can be expected from you, while online courses are peripherals to buttress your experience.
Therefore, get a degree to any level, but still take some free or paid online courses if you want to be a stand-out professional in Forestry and its related fields.
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A Passion driven Environmental Enthusiast/Activist, Geo-Environmental Technologist, Content Writer, Graphic Designer, and Techno-Business Solution Specialist, who believes it is up to us all to make our planet a better and greener place to reside.
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