Master in Forestry System Transformation (FST)

Forestry System Transformation (FST) is a Master's programme at Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development focused on forest ecosystem management and the sustainable use or conservation of forest resources. The programme examines socio-ecological interdependencies across scales of action, from local management decisions such as selecting cultivation alternatives to global matters such as international environment and forestry policy. The programme runs over four semesters. The first semester teaches foundational methods for assessing the status quo of forest ecosystems, social developments, governance systems, and institutional conditions. The second semester focuses on sustainability-based transformation strategies in forest ecosystem management, their implementation, and evaluation. The third semester is devoted to an independent research project at Eberswalde or a selected institution in Germany or abroad, supported by a research colloquium. The fourth semester involves writing and defending the Master's thesis, along with participation in a thesis colloquium. The programme is particularly suited to applicants with a background in forest or other ecosystems, sustainable natural resource management, or socio-ecological systems research. It is taught at Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development in Eberswalde, Germany.