GEOGRAPHICAL FIELDWORK IN FOREST Jaromír Kolejka, Mendel University Eduard Hofmann, Masaryk University Brno, Czech Republic EXCITING GEOGRAPHY

Presentation contents  Importance of forest in Czech Republic Importance of forest in Czech Republic  Geographer´s view on the forest Geographer´s view on the forest  Integrated terrain education centre Integrated terrain education centre  Forest geographical fieldwork Forest geographical fieldwork  Future of forest fieldwork Future of forest fieldwork

Distribution of forests in CZ

Forest is an obligatory element of Czech landscape

Species Composition of Forests Norway spruce planted since 1781 Spruce is sensitive to deseases, insecta and polluted air 80 % endangered by environmental impacts

Geographer´s view on the forest Forest in the landscape: the woodland is not distributed randomly in the territory its position in any region also reflects regularities given both by the needs of the human community and also by natural conditions the forest is thus a good indicator of human and natural factors

Geographer´s view on the forest Woodland plays many important roles in the European cultural landscape Original functions: wood production personal and community protection Present forest functions:  protecting the soil against soil erosion,  climatic influences like air humidification, cooling and wind speed reduction,  hygienic functions such as dust adsorption, noise reduction  aesthetic aspects like the psychological role of green colour and diverse horizon  recreational and health features where the input of chemicals has a positive effect  ecological aspects where biodiversity protection of species and societies  water protection supporting water accumulation and filtration  educational through teaching in and about forests  scientific issues with a study of various aspects of forest ecosystems. Many of these functions are hidden not only from the broad public but also education and research specialists as well.

Role of schoolteachers to explain the importance and significance of forests to pupils in primary schools to involve pupils in the subject to encourage active pupil participation How to fulfil these tasks: application of attractive educational methods in a series of stages of forest study collection of data about forest functions (in field, literature, maps, aerial and satellite imagery) application of modern data processing systems presentation of results to other schoolmates

Role of schoolteachers The most attractive teaching approaches can best be achieved in the field and in computer-assisted classes. The establishment of an ”integrated terrain education centre” can be used successfully for both these purposes.

Integrated terrain education centre Integrated terrain education centre The integrated terrain education centre Jedovnice (ITEC - 25 km north of Brno, Moravian Karst NP) of the Faculty of Education has operated since The original purpose of the centre was to improve the level of field works and conditions of faculty student pedagogical practice normally carried out in classes only. Another purpose was to integrate various field practices carried out by individual science branches (geography, biology and chemistry). Various progressive teaching methods are being applied for education (group, project and problem education). The education is emphasised on the co-operation of all participants (teachers, students and pupils) to solve practical tasks. The inter-subject links play a very important Role what improves the importance of teachers´co-operation and the application of team education.

Field work at ITEC The field work is a complex educational form consisting of various teaching methods (e.g. experiment, centre research, short-term and long- term observations, project solving, co-operative method, experience method, etc.), and organisational forms (e.g. jaunts, field experiments, excursions, thematic school visits, expeditions, etc.). The centre of gravity of this kind of education is based on outdoor activities – outside the school area.

Forest field work Forest functionality map completing (identification of forest areas with specific functions in maps, in the field and/or in aerial imagery) Discussion about fitness of territorial distribution of forests (supervised discussion teaches children to understand the forest in functional and spatial relationships, in any case from the viewpoint forest utility for humans) (independent groups of 2-4 pupils, selected safe area, topomap and aerial image, 30 min class work, 2-3 hours work in the field, 1-2 hours class work, assistence of university students)

Forest field work Jaunt into functional forest samples (human behavior in forests with different functions) Team competition (practices in the field and/or questionaries used on key posts )

Results of forest field work Material: Hand and computer made maps

Results of forest field work Knowledge as answers on questions: Why is this forest here? What kind of function does it fulfill? (How useful is this forest?) How to respect the forest functions?

Future of forest field work Following is necessary: to develop rules and details for preparation of such kind of „forest learning“, to develop and introduce essential teaching materials, to raise qualified teaching staff and principles of organization, to involve consequent laboratory processing equipment and personal computers with GIS software

Thank you for your attention! Geography is learning our world