Principles of Ecosystem Management

Postgraduate course

ECTS credits: 5
Teaching semesters
Course code: BIO367
Teaching language: English
Resources: Schedule

Select course description for semester

Objectives and Content

To provide students with an understanding of the core concepts of ecosystem management and their ecological foundations, with a focus on terrestrial ecosystems. Via lectures and seminars, the course will introduce a wide range of topics in ecosystem management including: selection of protected areas, habitat management for biodiversity, conservation outside of protected areas, ecosystem restoration, managing multiple ecosystem services including carbon sequestration, and the material and non-material values of ecosystems. The course will inform students of both the main ecological principles underlying these ideas, such as metacommunity theory and successional dynamics and the philosophies underpinning management concepts.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of the course students should:

Understand how and why ecological science informs ecosystem management
Possess knowledge of a wide range of management principles
Be able to describe key ecological theories underpinning ecosystem management in writing
Understand key debates surrounding ecosystem management
Be able to apply core management principles to a range of ‘real-world’ management situations

ECTS Credits

5 ECTS

Level of Study

Master

Semester of Instruction

Spring (block taught early in the semester).

This course has a limited capacity, enrolment is based on application. The application deadline is Wednesday in week 2 for the spring semester. Please see this page for more information.:

https://www.uib.no/en/nt/53431/admission-courses-limited-capacity. You will receive confirmation of whether you received a seat in Studentweb no later than Monday the week after the deadline.

It is compulsory to attend the first lecture/orientation meeting, or you risk losing your seat. If you are

unable to attend the first lecture, you must contact the Study Section (studie.bio@uib.no). The time of the first lecture/orientation meeting can be found in the schedule on the course website or on Mitt UiB.

Required Previous Knowledge

30 ECTS in ecology modules at bachelor level or above

Access to the Course

The course is primarily open to students enrolled in the master's programme in biology.

Forms of Assessment

Written exam, in which students will be asked to apply principles from the course to real world

management scenarios. Mid way through the course students will perform trial runs of the management scenario exam questions and assess each other’s work on this.

Grading Scale

A-F

Assessment Semester

Spring

Reading List

The readinglist will be published 1st of december

Course Evaluation

The students will evaluate the course in accordance with UiB and the department's quality assurance

system. Previous evaluations of the course can be found in the Study Quality Database.

Programme Committee

The program board in biology has the academic responsibility for the course.

Course Coordinator

Contact information for the course coordinator is available at MittUiB, alternatively contact the student

advisor.

Course Administrator

The Department of Biological Sciences are administratively responsible for the course.