GD317-15 Managing Natural Resources
Introductory description
Optional module available only to Global Sustainable Development students. This module aims to provide students with an understanding of the complexities associated with the protection and management of global natural resources, and to identify a path forward towards their sustainable use.
Module aims
This module aims to provide students with real-world experience relating to the (un)sustainable use of natural resources. The module will be taught intensively, on a field course. Students will gain experience in tropical ecosystem ecology, resource assessment and the design, implementation and management of conservation initiatives, and their impacts on local people and communities.
This module will also focus on how international, regional and local policies designed to manage natural resources impact real-world contexts. Students will investigate the impacts of global legislation such as the UN Convention on Biological Diversity on both the natural systems that they were designed to conserve, and the human populations dependent on their resources.
In 2019, The programme will begin with two days of acclimatisation in the capital city of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, where students will be exposed to the elements of the history, culture and context of the country. They will then travel to the coast, to a small fishing village, where they will spend seven days learning about the social, economic and environmental factors impacting natural resource management, and sustainable development. The field course will conclude with the completion of a research project linked to issues with environmental resource use, designed and carried out by small groups of students.
In subsequent years, we will endeavour to offer students opportunities to experience either Cambodia or another tropical country.
Outline syllabus
This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.
Pre-departure
Two one-hour seminars:
- Introduction to the field course, and provide information on travel, health and safety etc.
- Introduction to the host country: context, its history, language and culture. This session will also introduce the relevant national and international policies.
In the Field
Sessions in the field will be arranged in morning and afternoon slots. However, the exact order of sessions will depend on factors such as weather. Sessions will include the following:
- Tropical Rainforest Ecology
- Coral Reef Ecology
- Mangrove Ecology
- Use of Natural Resources
- Historic Trajectories
- Community Perceptions and Perspectives
- Species Identification and Taxonomy
- Environmental Monitoring Techniques
- Protected area design and impacts
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
- Apply key theories from natural resource management research and critique their use in real-world contexts;
- Evaluate the effectiveness of conservation strategies, identify barriers to management interventions and propose improvements to current initiatives;
- Integrate knowledge of key monitoring techniques to design and conduct a group research project relating to environmental resource issues.
- Identify key traits of species identification, taxonomy and indicator status in different habitats to detect change in environmental systems;
- Explore the realities of life in a developing community, and understand the contexts and constraints of current governance and policy structures.
- Critically reflect on lived experiences and relate these experiences to theoretical knowledge and personal experience.
Research element
This is an optional module on the Global Sustainable Development courses which aim to facilitate the acquisition by students of a range of methods of enquiry from various disciplines and equip them to deploy those skills in research. Research skills are embedded into the teaching strategy of all of the course's modules which, collaboratively, seek to develop and enhance students’ capacity to conduct independently original research into a current problem.
Interdisciplinary
This is an optional module available to students taking one of the BASc the Global Sustainable Development courses which offer a unique trans-disciplinary and international learning experience that allows students to achieve breadth and depth of knowledge.
International
This is an optional module on the Global Sustainable Development course which offers a unique trans-disciplinary and international learning experience that allows students to achieve breadth and depth of knowledge. Specifically, this module focuses on a number case studies from around the world in order to contextualise the theories and frameworks studied.
Subject specific skills
Critically interpret and apply theoretical knowledge and frameworks relating to the effective conservation and management of natural resources.
Interpret regional and global legislation and policy, and determine impacts on different stakeholder groups. Use this knowledge to propose improvements to current policies
Critically assess human-ecosystem interactions, to identify necessary areas for management initiatives.
Identify key strengths and weaknesses in different environmental management programmes across different governance levels.
Detect key barriers to effective resource management processes globally and develop suitable, well-informed management programmes to overcome these barriers.
Transferable skills
Skills of critical analysis and interpretation and understanding of governmental policies related to management of natural resources
Study time
| Type | Required | Optional |
|---|---|---|
| Lectures | 10 sessions of 1 hour (7%) | |
| Seminars | 10 sessions of 1 hour 30 minutes (10%) | |
| Fieldwork | 1 session of 4 hours (3%) | |
| External visits | (0%) | 1 session of 4 hours |
| Private study | 121 hours (81%) | |
| Total | 150 hours |
Private study description
Reading, research and self-directed learning and preparation for seminars
Costs
No further costs have been identified for this module.
You do not need to pass all assessment components to pass the module.
Assessment group A2
| Weighting | Study time | Eligible for self-certification | |
|---|---|---|---|
Assessment component |
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| Systems Analysis and Narrative | 30% | Yes (extension) | |
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Students will select a case study on a natural resource management intervention, and construct a systems map which integrates the key components of the management system. This will require them to visually represent the key drivers, stakeholders and governance principles which has both led to the management initiative being necessary and explains the current status. This map will accompany an 800 word narrative to explain the background to their case study and the relevance of the systems map. |
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Reassessment component is the same |
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Assessment component |
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| Group Presentation | 25% | Yes (extension) | |
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Students will identify two management initiatives, one success and one failure. They will then need to compare and contrast these case studies, and identify key lessons for the effective establishment of environmental management. |
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Reassessment component is the same |
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Assessment component |
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| Critical Policy Review | 45% | Yes (extension) | |
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Students will identify a piece of legislation (national, regional or global) and critically appraise it’s impact and efficacy, before proposing suitable amendments to improve the original legislation. |
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Reassessment component is the same |
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Feedback on assessment
Feedback will be communicated electronically via tabula; individual face-to-face feedback will also be offered to all students.
There is currently no information about the courses for which this module is core or optional.