Case studies in conservation and sustainable development

Aim

Conservation biology is a scientific field that study the Earth’s biodiversity and the conservation of genetic diversity, species, habitats and ecosystems. The conservation of biodiversity and functional ecosystems are a prerequisite for human well-being and sustainable development. Conservation biology covers several disciplines from ecology and mathematics to economy and sustainable development. After the course the student should be able to:

• explain and summarize knowledge of the value of biodiversity and ethical aspects of conservation of biodiversity
• analyze how biodiversity is affected by different land uses, by using knowledge about ecological principles and processes, dynamics and functionality of ecosystems
• exemplify and analyze how political and economic aspects affects biodiversity
• summarize and seek information for a given site and ecosystem and use knowledge and methods to analyze, discuss and evaluate effects on genetic variation, species and habitats of different land uses
• exemplify and analyze how conservation can be integrated with sustainable development
• independently choose and critically analyze the content in relevant scientific literature and relate this to the given subject
• create a project plan and run a project in a group
• criticize and evaluate its own and other students work
• communicate the project orally and in text

Content

Mechanisms creating and maintaining biodiversity. Biodiversity in global and geological perspectives. Mechanisms creating and maintaining biodiversity. Biodiversity in global and geological perspectives. Genetic aspects of conservation. Human impact on populations, species and environments. Invasive species. Extinction: processes and patterns. Protection of environments and management of reserves and populations. In situ conservation of species. Value of biodiversity. Politics and economics of conservation. Integration of conservation and sustainable development.