3 ECTS credits
75 h study time
Offer 1 with catalog number 4003890ENR for all students in the 1st semester of even academic years (e.g. 2012-2013) at a (E) Master - advanced level.
The course 'Nature management' is divided into three chapters :
A first part outlines the historical background of nature management and its social support (with an emphasis on Western Europe / EU as compared to the USA). Besides different values (evolution of views on nature, historical or actual conflicts of priority, opposition to nature management) and different objectives (conservation of a species, site, community, succession series, of uniqueness or diversity), a number of case studies are analysed.
In a second part applied aspects are discussed (nature restoration, in situ/ex situ conservation, EIA) with examples from practice (with collaborators of the research unit APNA, Ecology & Biodiversity).
A third and last part is devoted to institutions and NGOs involved in nature management, important treaties and conventions, policy of the EU, the situation in federal Belgium, again with several case studies.
Debate is stimulated during the lectures in order to reflect societal discussions. During the lecturing period students get acquainted with internet resources and data bases through small assignments. Through interactive teaching a problem relating to conservation and management of nature values, whether species-specific or related to space/area or to policy, is analysed (taken apart), societal factors are identified and solutions generated on the basis of the specific expertise of the biologist (bio-engineer, geographer). It is, in other words, the delineation of the role of natural sciences in societal issues relating to nature conservation.
The course is not a toolkit for practical and direct terrain management.
Previous knowledge
Knowledge from the programmes biology, bio-engineering sciences and geography are sufficient, courses in general like 'biogeography' and 'ecology/systematics' give an additional support, but are not a strict requirement.
Study Material
Because of the wide scope of topics covered in a short time, students are required to read articles, both from general newspapers and from the press and from scientific journals. Websites of several bodies will be consulted. A number of these articles are discussed in the group.
This course explicitly contributes to the following competences of the Biology curriculum:
General
- Evaluate the societal relevance (I)
- Evaluate the scientific relevance (II)
- Report in various ways (III)
Field specific
- Problem solving as a thinking process (IV)
- Extrapolation between different scientific fields (VI)
- Recognize and work out bio-ethical implications (VII)
Nature management is not a science, but for graduates biology (and for students from other scientific disciplines such as bio-engineering sciences and geography) it must be developed on a strong scientific basis.
The course helps a student to find pitfalls and constraints for a rational nature management and to look for a solution on basis of his or her scientific expertise.
The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Written Exam determines 50% of the final mark.
LEC Report determines 50% of the final mark.
Within the Written Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:
Within the LEC Report category, the following assignments need to be completed:
Every student prepares a report on an issue of environmental (nature) interest of his / her choice, for which an expert opinion is developed on available data.
Example of an (oral) examination :
The student receives a press article and is requested to :
- outline the nature management problem, identify stakeholders;
- indicate the possible scientific and social conflict;
- analyse views on nature and nature management explicitly or implicitly expressed in the article;
- propose on basis of one's expertise an approach to solve these problems in order to see factual results, referring to available information (legislation, institutions, documentation etc.).
The student must explain the meaning of a particular international convention.
This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master of Bioengineering Sciences: Cell and Gene Biotechnology: Medical Biotechnology (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Bioengineering Sciences: Cell and Gene Biotechnology: Molecular Biotechnology (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Bioengineering Sciences: Cell and Gene Biotechnology: Agrobiotechnology (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Bioengineering Sciences: Chemistry and Bioprocess Technology: Food Biotechnology (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Bioengineering Sciences: Chemistry and Bioprocess Technology: Chemical Biotechnology (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Bioengineering Sciences: Chemistry and Bioprocess Technology: Biochemical Biotechnology (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Biology: Human Ecology
Master of Biology: Ecology and Biodiversity
Master of Teaching in Science and Technology: biologie (120 ECTS, Etterbeek) (only offered in Dutch)