Open thesis topics

Bern University of Applied Sciences
School of Agricultural, Forest and Food
Sciences HAFL
List of Master’s Thesis Proposals
International Management of Forest Industries (IMF)
Topic and Further Information
Geography
Contact
Forestry, Switzerland
The Significance of Non-Timber Products in Swiss Forests Through the
Ages
This work would be done in tandem with an MSc student from a tropical
country who would use a similar methodology to assess the significance of
NTFPs and the change in their importance for nutrition, human health, and
other uses.
Switzerland
(and Togo or
Ghana)
Jürgen Blaser
Pre-alpine Region Tree Research Related to Climate Change Adaptation
Increasing storm resistance of future forest areas. Find out whether Larix
decidua (Lärche/larch) has the potential to adapt to climate change conditions in the pre-alpine and alpine regions of Switzerland, particularly in
valleys with regular storm events (Föhntäler), a tendency towards future
warmer climate, and exposure to stronger south winds with an increasing
potential for damage.
Switzerland
(Bern Oberland)
Hans Schaltenbrand
Wood Ants and Ticks - Do They Interact?
Wood ants (Formica) are red listed, mound-building forest insects. Ticks, on
the other hand, are unpopular, blood-feeding parasites and vectors of severe diseases for humans. While wood ant abundance seems to decrease,
tick abundance seems to increase. It is however an open question, if those
two species interact. According to some field observations and experts,
wood ants are potential predators of ticks. Therefore, we want to test if ant
and tick density are related. The study aims to A) analyse habitat requirements of wood ants and B) test if there is an interrelation between wood ant
and tick abundance.
Switzerland
Urs
Mühlethaler
Which Forests for Kindergartens?
Forest kindergartens are very popular in urban areas. The city of Zurich
continuously receives requests for new sites for forest sofas. The study
aims to determine forest characteristics that meet the needs of forest kindergartens and localise forests with such characteristics in the municipality
of Zurich.
Switzerland
Urs
Mühlethaler
How Satisfied are City Communities with Their Urban Forests
Urban green areas and forest are extremely important for urban living. The
project Swiss Urban NeighbourWoods analyses the need of city communities and initiates participation processes. The case studies are for example:
biking vs nature conservation in the city of Baden, riding in urban forest,
and equal opportunities in urban forests. A further topic within the project
is, well-being in Urban Forests
Alternatives to Pesticides in the Forest
According to Swiss forest law, pesticide use in forested areas is forbidden.
However, the law foresees various exceptions. The use of insecticides
against wood-boring bark beetles on stored logs is possible even in certified forests. The thesis aims to research on different alternatives and their
potentials for being put into practice in different Swiss settings.
Various Cities
in Switzerland
Bianca
Baerlocher
Switzerland
Urs
Mühlethaler
Zürcher Waldweiher – Analyse und Empfehlung zu verschiedenen Typen, ihrer Vernetzung und den Idealstandorten
Im Rahmen der Master Thesis werden aussagekräftige Karten zu Waldweihertypen und Zielarten durch Kartierung mittels Orthobildern und einer
Literaturstudie erstellt. Anhand der gesammelten Informationen werden die
Habitats- und Vernetzungsfaktoren statistisch ausgewertet, interpretiert
und beurteilt. Daraus sollen Empfehlungen zur Waldweiher-Dichte und den
Idealstandorten für eine optimale Vernetzung gegeben werden.
Almond Trees as an Alternative to Sweet Cherry Trees
Switzerland
Julia Menk
Switzerland
Jan Grenz
The number of cherry trees that belong to old varieties and that form a
traditional element of landscapes in northwestern Switzerland is constantly
decreasing. Harvesting these cherries is expensive, and quality loss due to
bad weather is a big problem. Furthermore, cherry production increasingly
suffers from insect damage. Almond trees, on the other hand, can be
grown further north now due to global warming; there are even some sites
in Belgium where they thrive. The biggest risk to almond and cherry production alike is a late frost coinciding with flowering and impeding fruit set.
Research question: clarify whether and to what extent almond trees can be
an alternative to traditional cherry trees on sites with a low frost risk. Which
varieties would be most suitable, how are consumer and farmer acceptance,
how would harvest and processing have to be organized etc. If possible,
some first trees (late-blooming varieties) should be planted on selected
sites in the Basel Region.
Basel Region
Switzerland and the Trade of Commodities: What Role in the Timber
Sector?
Switzerland
Astrid Zabel
Entwicklung eines Models zur Bestimmung der Baumbiomasse auf Basis terrestrischer Laserscanner-Daten
Switzerland
Oliver Gardi
Coppice Forestry: a Valid Alternative Forest Management Option for the
Future in Switzerland?
Considering economic situations and challenges posed by climate change.
Literature studies, interviews, and some comparative analysis with field
observations.
Switzerland
Jürgen Blaser
Drought Stress of Trees in the Urban Area of Bern
Drought stress tolerance of different tree species under the aspect of climate change.
Switzerland
Jürgen Blaser
Potential of Invasive Tree Species Under the Aspect of Climate Change
Risk assessment of the potential invasive behavior of new tree species in
the city of Bern under the aspect of climate change.
Switzerland
Jürgen Blaser
Forestry, International
Comparative Analysis of the REDD+ Strategies of Member Countries of Desk Work (2-3
the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility
Case Countries
TBD)
More than 20 countries have embarked in major analysis of deforestation
and forest degradation and proposed REDD+ strategies for this purpose.
What are these strategies and what can be learnt from the initial implementation of these?
Forest Concession Management Under REDD+: A Land-use Form with
Congo or
Future?
Gabon
Based on a thorough analysis of existing forest concession schemes with a
focus on Africa, assessing social and economic feasibility of integrating
forest concessions in national REDD+ schemes (case example).
Silvicultural Analysis of 20 years of Forest Plantations in Liberia
Liberia
Based on existing data sets and some new assessments in the field, the
existing planted stock will be assessed from a silvicultural and economic
viewpoint.
Coppice Siliviculture and its Importance in Climate Change Adaptation
Macedonia
Oak and Beech coppice forest management systems will be analysed in view
of alternative forest management systems to respond to climate change
challenges.
Macedonia
Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainability of Private Forests in Upper
Bregalnica, Macedonia
Small private forests plots in state forest dominated mountainous regions
of Eastern Macedonia.
Interaction between Sheep Grazing and Forest Landscape Conservation
in Eastern Macedonia
Socio-cultural and biodiversity study to better understand and value of the
interaction between sheep breading and forest management.
Analysis of the Wood flow (from Forests to End Use) in Eastern Macedonia
Ecosystem Services in the Upper Watershed of Bregalnica – Their Potential and Economic Valuation
Jürgen Blaser
Jürgen Blaser
Jürgen Blaser
Jürgen Blaser
Jürgen Blaser
Macedonia
Jürgen Blaser
Macedonia
Jürgen Blaser
Macedonia
Jürgen Blaser
2
Dynamics of Cloud Forests in Northern Andean Forests under Consideration of Climate Change
Based on an initial study in the framework of a B.Sc. Thesis, in-depth silvicultural analysis of forest dynamics of natural mountain forests.
Regeneration of Okoumé (Aucoumea klaineana) after Certified Logging
Operations
Silvicultural analysis with considerable field work.
Waldinvestitionen: Ansätze zur monetären Bewertung von Waldflächen
Venezuela
Jürgen Blaser
Gabon
Jürgen Blaser
Global
Oliver Gardi
Gezielte Stammholzproduktion einheimischer Bäume in Tanzania
Erarbeitung eines Konzeptes für eine gezielte Stammholzproduktion einheimischer Bäume in Tanzania vorbereiten. Inhalt der Master Thesis ist die
Bestandesaufnahme vor Ort, sowie die notwendige Literaturarbeit zur Ausarbeitung des Konzeptes.
Schnellwachsende Bäume zur Holzkohleproduktion in Tanzania
Im Rahmen der Master Thesis soll eine Bestandesaufnahme schnellwachsender Bäume, welche zur Holzkohleproduktion als Zwischen- oder Unternutzung in Nutzholzbeständen in Tanzania wachsen gemacht werden.
Gleichzeitig wird auch eine Literaturrecherche durchgeführt.
Advances in Wood-fuel Technology and Potential for Technology Transfer to Developing Countries
Potential of Geographical Indications for Forest Products
Tanzania
Oliver Gardi
Tanzania
Oliver Gardi
Not Defined
Oliver Gardi
Not Defined
Astrid Zabel
Not Defined
Astrid Zabel
Not Defined
Astrid Zabel
Wood Production in Times of Energy Transition
Exit from nuclear and fossil fuel energy toward a post carbon society is a
major topic in sustainability fields. An analysis of the situation in Switzerland is of great interest. A case study could analyse the meaning of wood
as energy source in cities. The contact to the city department will be provided.
Urban Areas
Switzerland
Bianca Baerlocher
Resiliency as Indicator for Sustainability
How can we measure the resilience of a forest and use it as an indicator for
sustainability. How is the resilience of natural resources combined with
other systems such as the human system? Case study in a defined area and
contact to experts will be provided.
Last Updated: 26.03.2015(RJL)
Switzerland
Bianca Baerlocher
Comparison of Forest Encroachment Rates with Different Land and
Tree Tenure Systems
Effects of WTO Regulations on the Forest Sector
Cross-Cutting Questions and Others, Switzerland
3

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