ESA-31306 Integrated Ecosystem Assessment in Regional Management

Course

Credits 6.00

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 management issues.

Learning outcomes:

After successful completion of this 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 that can be used in regional planning and management and describe the importance of uncertainties;
- describe the main institutional and financing instruments for ecosystem services and how they can be used to improve regional environmental management;
- apply integrated ecosystem assessment tools within a multidisciplinary project team.

Activities:

Self-work from students is expected during various tutorials offering the opportunity to practice with tools such as Ecosystem Service Analysis and Valuation, Participatory Mapping, and stakeholder involvement in trade-off Analysis 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.