ENVSCI 733 : Biodiversity Management and Conservation

Science

2020 Semester One (1203) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Emphasis will be on current issues associated with the ecological aspects of biodiversity management and conservation in terrestrial habitats. Topics include: biodiversity and ecosystem services, management of species and ecosystems, issues in plant conservation, precaution and adaptation in conservation, pest control in mainland islands, carbon storage and biodiversity. The course will also address national and international mechanisms for the sustainable management of natural resources.

Course Overview

The continued loss of biodiversity has implications for human-wellbeing and conserving biodiversity and ecosystems is a challenge facing land managers and policy-makers globally. New approaches to biodiversity and ecosystem management that go beyond minimising the threats (e.g., deforestation, pollution, climate change, and invasive species) are being developed. The emphasis of this course will be on current issues associated with the ecological aspects of biodiversity management and conservation. Topics include: contemporary conservation approaches; basic concepts, methods and issues involved in applying ecosystem management; issues in plant conservation; and new tools in conservation (e.g., CRISPR gene editing). Throughout the course topics are considered in the context of global environmental change and the influences of human activity. There is an emphasis on inquiry-based learning by relating relevant concepts and techniques to real-world situations through the involvement of working professionals and a field trip. Key concepts will be introduced in lectures. Class discussions are an essential component of this course.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: BIOSCI 394 or other Stage III course in Environmental Science, or equivalent

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Identify key threats to biodiversity and challenges in biodiversity management (Capability 1 and 2)
  2. Separate scientific issues related to biodiversity management from value-related issues (Capability 2 and 6)
  3. Evaluate which management options are likely to be effective for biodiversity management and conservation in different settings (Capability 3, 4 and 5)
  4. Communicate informed critique or analysis of biodiversity management practice across a range of mediums (Capability 4)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Resesarch Blog 20% Group Coursework
Reports 30% Individual Coursework
Presentation 50% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4
Resesarch Blog
Reports
Presentation

Learning Resources

n/a

Special Requirements

Field trip

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 18 hours of lectures, a 2 hour tutorial, 30 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 100 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Digital Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.

You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website at http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Feedback

During the course Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the staff responsible for the course and staff-student consultative committees.

At the end of the course students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback.

Your feedback helps to improve the course and its delivery for all students.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter (https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html).

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 11/01/2020 02:59 p.m.