Postgraduate taught 

Applied Conservation Science MSc

Conservation in Practice BIOL5431

  • Academic Session: 2024-25
  • School: School of Biodiversity One Health Vet Med
  • Credits: 20
  • Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
  • Typically Offered: Semester 2
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No

Short Description

This course explores key issues in the management of biodiversity conservation in today's changing world. Topics include practical considerations around protected area design, policy and management at local, regional and international scales, including exploration of resource protection, ecological monitoring, rewilding, tourism management, protected area infrastructure and conservation financing. The merits of these management activities will be considered alongside the human dimensions of conservation, where students will explore topics relating to human development, sustainable use, wildlife trade, hunting, human-wildlife conflict and wildlife interventions. These subjects will be considered from diverse ethical, ecological, socio-economic and political perspectives, with many examples from sub-Saharan Africa and low to middle income settings.

Timetable

10 hours of lectures and 10 hours of supervised practical work will be delivered over a four week block in a series of 10 4-hour sessions. This will include lectures, guest lectures, class discussions and problem-based topics. Additional self-study hours will take place during the week of the course and subsequent weeks of the semester.

Excluded Courses

None

Assessment

The assessment will comprise two exercises that relate to conservation and management: (1) an oral presentation (50%) of a general management plan for a real location that manages biodiversity and that currently has no evident plan. Students will be assessed on their ability to present and synthesize evidence about their proposed activities, how they integrate and reflect upon material from the lectures into their proposed activities and how they engage with others in discussing different approaches. (2) Students will choose a contemporary conservation issue and develop a scripted podcast that examines the issue from various perspectives. (50%)

Course Aims

The aim of this course is twofold. First, the course introduces students to key issues in the management of protected areas, including the tenets of adaptive management, ecosystem versus landscape management, as well as challenges around resource protection, ecological monitoring, tourism management and development, infrastructure management and community conservation. The course will draw on examples from savannah, forest, wetland and marine ecosystems and special emphasis will be placed on introducing students to practical aspects of protected area planning. Secondly, the course explores human dimensions of conservation, including topics relating to biodiversity conservation and human development, sustainable use, wildlife trade, hunting, human-wildlife conflict and wildlife interventions. These subjects will be considered from diverse ethical, ecological, socio-economic and political perspectives.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. Critically discuss with reference to the evidence base and primary literature:

a) The key issues and activities involved in the management of terrestrial and marine ecosystems, including practical aspects of protected area planning.

a) Approaches used in setting conservation priorities and the appropriate scales for conservation planning.

a) Different approaches to natural resource management and their implications for biodiversity conservation and human development.

a) Interacting ecological, ethical, social and economic issues affecting conservation and the management of wildlife.

a) Challenges surrounding the sustainable utilisation of wildlife, including tourism, sport hunting and wildlife trade.

a) Dilemmas arising from human-wildlife conflict and different approaches to conflict mitigation.

a) Attitudes and approaches towards different types of wildlife interventions for conservation.

2. Critical understanding of a contemporary conservation dilemma.

3. Make a rational argument for/against a particular conservation action/approach.

4. Critically compare and contrast the type of economic instruments available to support conservation and sustain the management of protected areas.

5. Critically discuss contemporary controversies in relation to protected area management and different conservation paradigms.

6. Apply concepts to design a comprehensive management plan for a protected area.

7. Conduct a conservation priority-setting exercise.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.