REG-31306 Trends in Forest and Nature Conservation

Course

Credits 6.00

Language of instruction:

English

Contents:

TRENDS in Forest and Nature Conservation is a truly interdisciplinary course developed by four chair-groups (REG, NCP, FNP and FEM). It is organized in five thematic blocks that develop key ecological concepts and address the current challenges for conservation and ecosystem management. The topics of the thematic blocks represent actual issues in forest and nature conservation, such as Climate change and conservation; Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning; Forest mosaics and transitions; Social and economic aspects of resource management. In the blocks research activities of the four chair groups in the context of the topics are presented and discussed in the light of TRENDS in Forest and Nature Conservation. During the course students learn and practice how to critically evaluate a scientific manuscript by writing an editorial review. Also students learn how to write an essay that discusses a conservation/management problem by integrating ecological and social aspects.
The main target student group are first year students from Master Forest & Nature Conservation complemented with students from other programs.

Learning outcomes:

After successful completion of this course students are expected to be able to:
- analyse actual problems in forest and nature conservation and management making use of recent theoretical advances in ecology and social sciences;
- assess different theoretical approaches towards analysing newly emerging trends and critical statements in nature conservation and management;
- judge the importance of integrating social and ecological sciences to address actual issues in forest and nature conservation;
- evaluate a scientific paper by preparing an editorial review that critically discusses how a scientific paper communicates research questions, methods and results and discusses them in the context with actual trends in the respective field of science;
- write a scientific essay that analyses and appraises a conservation and management problem by integrating ecological and social aspects.

Activities:

The course uses a combination of working forms:
- classical lectures;
- plenary discussions;
- practical writing sessions;
- and individual writing projects (editorial review of a scientific paper and scientific essay).
Learning to critically read and write are central targets.

Examination:

- final essay (40%);
- editorial review of a manuscript (30%);
- final exam (30%)
All assignments are individual. Minimum grade to pass each component of the course is 6.

Literature:

Course outline and reader are provided online.