The Bachelor of Science (Hons) degree programme in Forest Resources and Wildlife Management that is designed to provide education for undergraduate students in the fields of forestry and wildlife resources management. Such fields cover issues related to resource use, protection and enhancement of environmental quality.

We expect that our students have a love of the bush, are fascinated by plants and animals, are interested in conservation, and are concerned about our environment in Zimbabwe and Africa, and the whole world. It is further hoped that the graduates from this programme will develop their abilities to think and analyse issues pertaining to their fields without being limited by the conventional constraints of academic boundaries.

 Given such a background, some of the departmental and programme objectives are to produce graduates who are able to:

• Provide professional advice on matters relating to environmental law and policy;
• Participate and provide leadership in the formulation of appropriate strategies in forestry and wildlife resource utilization;
• Participate in raising awareness in the field of forestry and wildlife resources management; and

Pursue postgraduate studies in forestry and wildlife management areas.

ENTRY QUALIFICATIONS
‘A’ level Biology and any other ‘A’ level science subject including Agriculture, and Geography.

 AIM & OBJECTIVES
The new programme has been designed to provide education for undergraduate students in the fields of forestry and wildlife resources management. Such fields cover issues related to resource use, protection and enhancement of environmental quality. We expect that our students have a love of the bush, are fascinated by plants and animals, are interested in conservation, and are concerned about our environment in Zimbabwe and Africa, and the whole world. It is further hoped that the graduates from this programme will develop their abilities to think and analyse issues pertaining to their fields without being limited by the conventional constraints of academic boundaries. Given such a background, some of the departmental and programme objectives are to produce graduates who are able to:

• Provide professional advice on matters relating to environmental law and policy;
• Participate and provide leadership in the formulation of appropriate strategies in forestry and wildlife resource utilization;
• Participate in raising awareness in the field of forestry and wildlife resources management; and
• Pursue postgraduate studies in forestry and wildlife management areas.

 DURATION OF STUDY
The Bachelor of Science degree programme in Forest Resources and Wildlife Management is a four year-year full-time programme. Students are expected to be on the NUST campus during their first, second and fourth years of study while the third year is for industrial attachment to a stake holder company for up to seven months.

JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Students who graduate with a Bachelor of Science (Hons) degree in Forest Resources and Wildlife Management may be absorbed as officers in some of the following organisations:

• Zimbabwe Forestry Commission
• National herbarium and Botanic Garden
• Parks and Wildlife Authority
• Rural District Council’s CAMPFIRE project
• Department of Natural Resources
• Ministry of Environment and Tourism
• Forestry and wildlife consulting firms
• Natural History Museum
• Global NGOs e.g. IUCN, FAO, WWF, CIFOR, ICRAF
• Regional NGOs e.g. SAFIRE, SARDC
• National NGOs e.g. Biodiversity Foundation of Africa, Birdlife Zimbabwe, Chipangali, Environment Africa, Dambari Zimbabwe Trust, SIRDC, Wildlife and Environment Zimbabwe
• Border Timbers
• Forestry Company of Zimbabwe
• Hippo Valley Estates
• Triangle Limited
• Wattle Company
• Ranches and conservancies
• Universities – further research in Forestry and Wildlife
• Schools – biology teacher in secondary schools
• Start their own consulting firms  

 

MODULES

PART I

FIRST SEMESTER
EFW 1101       Humans and the Environment
SCH 1116       Organic Chemistry
SCS 1101        Introduction to Computer Science
SMA 1112        Preparatory Mathematics
ESH 1101        Introduction to the Physical Environment
SBB 1103        Cell Biology
SCH 1103       Professional Studies
PLC 1101        Peace Leadership and Transformation

SECOND SEMESTER
SBB 1207        General Microbiology
ESH 1203        Introductory Ecology
ESH 1205        General Biology
EFW 1201       Introduction to Forestry
SBB 1204        Genetics
EFW 1202       Humans and Wildlife
PLC 1201        Peace Leadership and Transformation

 

PART II

FIRST SEMESTER
EFW 2101       Plant Morphology and Development
EFW 2102       Mammalogy
EFW 2103       Plant Physiology
EFW 2104       Social Forestry & Extension
EFW 2105       Wildlife Nutrition
ESH 2108        Environmental Economics

SECOND SEMESTER
EFW 2201       Ornithology
EFW 2202       Agroforestry
EFW 2203       Plant Systematics and Field Identification
EFW 2104       Research Methods
EFW 2105       Vertebrate Population Dynamics
SMA 2215        Introduction to Applied Statistics

 

PART III

EFW 3001       Industrial Attachment

PART FOUR
The core courses, comprising 12 units, are compulsory for all students.  Students will be guided in the selection of 2 optional courses to make up the 14 required courses for the year. The number of relevant options offered each year for that degree programme will however be subject to availability of staff.

FIRST SEMESTER
EFW 4010       Research Project (2)
EFW 4101       Forest Mensuration    
EFW 4102       Forest & Wildlife Policy & Law
EFW 4107       Wildlife Management
EFW 4108       Silviculture
EFW 4109       Forest Management

OPTIONAL COURSES      
EFW 4103       Animal Ecology*
EFW 4104       Rangeland Ecology & Management*

SECOND SEMESTER
EFW 4010       Research Project (2)
EFW4201        Forest Surveying & Remote Sensing            
EFW4202        Biodiversity & Conservation             
EFW4203        Forest Harvesting &Utilisation
EFW 4204       Soil Chemistry & Fertility
ESH 4201        Environmental Impact Assessment                         

OPTIONAL COURSES      
EFW4208        Entomology for Forest & Wildlife*
EFW4110        Wetland Ecology*

*important options