ESA-31306 Integrated Ecosystem Assessment in Regional Management

Course

Credits 6.00

Teaching methodContact hours
Lectures28
Practical extensively supervised6
Project learning8
Tutorial16
Course coordinator(s)dr. RS de Groot
Lecturer(s)dr. RS de Groot
prof. dr. R Leemans
MSc . Ekaningrum Damastuti
Examiner(s)dr. RS de Groot
dr. ir. CSA van Koppen

Assumed knowledge on:

ESA-22806 Environmental Systems Analysis: Methods and Applications or ESA-23306 Introduction to Global Change.

Contents:

In regional planning and management many, often conflicting interests have to be taken into account in the decision-making process. In this process the importance of natural ecosystems is often neglected. For balanced decision-making, it is necessary to analyse all effects of human interventions in a given ecosystem or region in an integrated way (including ecological, socio-cultural and economic aspects), taking due account of the interests and perceptions of the involved stakeholders.
The course starts with an introduction of integrated ecosystem assessment concepts and tools with special emphasis on ecosystem services. Students will practice with these tools in a case study situation and apply them to selected regional environmental policy issues.

Learning outcomes:

After the course, the students are expected to:
- be able to explain and critically discuss the main ecosystem assessment tools and know how to apply them in analysing regional environmental problems;
- understand the different approaches to ecosystem service valuation and know how to involve stakeholders in the assessment process;
- explain the various trade-off instruments in regional planning and be aware of the importance of uncertainties;
- understand the main environmental policy instruments and how they are used to address regional environmental problems;
- be able to work with regional ecosystem assessment tools within a multidisciplinary project team.

Activities:

Self-work from students is expected during various seminars offering the opportunity to practice with tools such as Ecosystem Service Analysis and Valuation, Stakeholder and Trade-off Analysis and Environmental Policy Assessment. Students will apply these tools in a case study for which they will make a trade off analysis of different scenarios which will be presented at the end of the course.

Examination:

Based on:
- written exam with open questions (75%);
- and case study results (25%).

Literature:

A course guide and reading material is available through MyPortal.

ProgrammePhaseSpecializationPeriod
Restricted Optional for: MESEnvironmental SciencesMSc5MO
MUEUrban Environmental ManagementMSc5MO
MCLClimate StudiesMSc5MO