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Forests are vital for nature recovery, climate mitigation, and sustainable resource production. Maintaining healthy forests for the future requires a skilled workforce, however relevant academic training provision is currently limited. Hence, ����VR��Ƶ and the Centre for Forest Protection, a Defra-funded collaboration, led by and , are  working together to tackle the UK and global forest health crises through a specialised academic offering: the ENS-4311 Forest Protection Module.

This postgraduate level module is designed to equip the current and next generation of forestry specialists with the knowledge and skills necessary to combat escalating threats to UK and global forest ecosystems. It is a critical addition to the postgraduate curriculum, targeting students enrolled in MSc Forestry, Tropical Forestry, and Environmental Forestry programmes. The module content focuses on the crucial discipline of forest protection, which is essential given the mounting challenges posed by climate change, pests, diseases, and invasive species facing forests across the UK and further afield.  

Students will get the chance to learn from world leading experts at the Centre for Forest Protection, and benefit from strong connections with key UK forestry agencies, including the Forestry Commission, Forestry England, and Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru / Natural Resources Wales (NRW). They will also study at the UK’s top‑ranked university for Agriculture and Forestry subjects. The programme is underpinned by extensive practical experience, including a specialist field trip delivered by experts from Forest Research and NRW and training in the use of relevant software and. Together, these opportunities provide students with the knowledge, skills, and sector insight needed to meet the future challenges of forest protection and management.

An innovative approach to participation has been taken, with the ability for students to study this module as a stand-alone course, on a part-time, distance learning basis or as part of a full-time residential MSc degree. This flexibility enables both full-time forestry professionals and aspiring future foresters and researchers, to study alongside their ongoing professional commitments.

Developed jointly by experts from the University's School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, and the Centre for Forest Protection, the module delivers in-depth learning on:

• Local and Global Context of Forest Protection: Examining the social, economic, and ecological impacts of forest damage across various ecosystems.
• Essentials of Forest Protection: key insect pests and pathogens and their impacts on trees and forests; new and emerging pests and diseases, climate change and other abiotic drivers of disease; health of urban trees, wildlife impacts, societal aspects of forest protection.
• Integrated Pest and Disease Management: Strategies for monitoring, diagnosis, and sustainable control of organisms threatening forest health.
• Biosecurity and Risk Assessment: Understanding pathways of introduction and spread of invasive threats and developing preventative measures.

"This partnership builds on the unique strengths of ����VR��Ƶ as a leading centre for forestry education, and the Defra funded Centre for Forest Protection, with its mission to enhance the resilience of the UK’s forests, woodlands and trees, " said John Healey, Professor of Forest Sciences. "This module represents our joint commitment to providing cutting-edge education that addresses real-world environmental crises. By training specialists in forest protection, we are directly investing in the future health and resilience of the world’s forests and providing essential skills and knowledge for future forestry leaders and researchers."

“This is an exciting partnership that brings together expertise and passion for tree health. Following the strong results and positive feedback from our pilot year, the Centre for Forest Protection is delighted to share its knowledge and experience through this innovative master’s module,” said Dr Suzanne Sancisi-Frey, Centre for Forest Protection Education and Training Officer. “Combining lectures, practical laboratory sessions, and a field trip, the module is delivered by enthusiastic and inspirational scientists, researchers, and professionals working across forest science and tree health. Their breadth of skills and insight makes this a truly unique offering within the forestry higher education landscape.”

Following delivery of the module in its pilot year (2024-25), students were asked to feed back on their experience.  For the module as a whole, one student commented: “The variety of topics, the specialists from each field coming in to talk about their field was wonderful. The collaboration between different organisations involved in putting this module together was very evident and it was very well run”.

Focusing on the field trip, another student wrote: “I thought the field trip was excellent and well-run. It was an invaluable opportunity to meet and question experts in their field in a beautiful location.  I thought it would be worth making the effort to go despite my distance from the site, and I was not disappointed.  Would go again!”

Following a successful pilot year, the module is now running for a second time, providing a brand-new cohort of students with the skills and experience to become future forestry leaders. Applications for postgraduate study in forestry at ����VR��Ƶ for the 2026/27 academic year are currently open, with a deadline of 31st July.  The module will run again in the spring of 2027 and can be studied either as part of a degree programme, or as an individual course. Please see Apply for Postgraduate Courses | ����VR��Ƶ for more details.

You can view a video detailing the module's introduction here: