Forests are the most biodiverse of all terrestrial ecosystems and contain the vast majority of the world’s species. This degree provides an understanding of this biodiversity, the ways in which it is influenced by people, and the role that forests can play in reducing the impacts of human activities, including climate change. You will focus on the principles of biological conservation, forest ecology and forest ecosystem function, and the management of forests to meet conservation objectives. There are opportunities to study abroad in the second year.. Located in beautiful North Wales, you will enjoy learning through a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops and practicals, as well as site visits to a diverse range of woodlands, forests and other habitats.

This degree is accredited by the Institute of Chartered Foresters and gives partial fulfilment of Professional Membership Entry. We will also pay for your first year’s student membership to the Institute of Chartered Foresters. We run week long field courses in every year of this degree, enabling you to spend time outside honing your site observation and data collection skills from the very start of the degree.

Our extensive local, national and international networks and our active research programmes allow us to deliver high quality teaching which addresses cutting-edge issues, . We work closely with, and introduce students to, organisations such as Natural Resources Wales, Forestry Commission, Woodland Trust, Forest Research, the Institute of Chartered Foresters, Woodland Heritage, National Trust and many others.

Our students and academic staff are active collaborators with international organisation such as the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center, Costa Rica (CATIE), the Center for International Forestry Research, Indonesia (CIFOR), the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) and the International Forestry Students’ Association (IFSA).

We own 82 hectares of woodland, many semi natural, which are used for teaching, student projects and research. The University farm is also host to a range of forestry and land-use research experiments that provide excellent teaching and learning resources.

Why choose Bangor University for this course?

• We are in an ideal location for study, close to ancient seminatural woodlands and other sites of conservation importance.
• We own 82 ha of woodland, many seminatural, which are used for teaching.
• Years 1 and 2 - week-long field courses.
• We have local, national and international links with a variety of governmental agencies and NGOs who are actively working on conservation projects and issues.
• Free first year of student membership of the Institute of Chartered Foresters.

On this degree you will study through a range of lectures, tutorials, seminars and fieldwork. Our courses are modular and optional modules in the 2nd and final year allow you to expand your studies into new areas or develop specialisms that interest you.

What will you study on this course?

Years 1 and 2

The first year will provide you with an introduction to the ecological, economic and environmental principles on which conservation and forestry is based. In the second year you will develop your understanding of these principles and apply them to conservation and forestry practices. Subjects studied during the first two years include tree identification, site assessment, conservation practice, principles of conservation, environmental management, tree measurement, silviculture and inventory, forest and woodland management, data analysis and geographical information systems. By the end of the second year you will have acquired the knowledge and understanding needed for a sandwich placement year, should you wish to do one.

Year 3

In the third year, you will study unique modules in Wildlife Conservation and Forest Ecology, as well as undertake an independent research project (Honours Project) on a topic that interests you, under the supervision of an academic member of staff.

You can choose to write a conservation management plan that integrates the knowledge that you have acquired in the first two years for a landscape featuring significant areas of woodland, forest and other habitats. There are optional modules in environmental issues, environmental policy, renewable energy, advanced GIS and remote sensing, human aspects of conservation. You can also choose to go on a week-long field course in Tenerife, or a Tropical Conservation field course.

Studying this programme at Bangor, you will become part of a fantastic community of students and staff from across the world, as illustrated by this report from an international exchange student from Canada.

Modules for the current academic year

Module listings are for guide purposes only and are subject to change. Find out what our students are currently studying on the Conservation with Forestry Modules page.

Course content is for guidance purposes only and may be subject to change.

Employers are always looking for graduates who are self-motivated and enjoy working with people. A high proportion of our graduates find a conservation and/or forestry-related job within six months of graduation, and are employed by public, private and non-governmental organisations both in the UK and overseas. Our unique history, reputation and teaching excellence in the subject areas of Conservation and Forestry makes Bangor graduates highly employable.

Bangor is a great location for studying and researching environmental issues as we are minutes away from a huge diversity of landscapes and environments. You will benefit from first-hand interaction with staff that are at the forefront of their field.