Module

Voraussetzungen

Inhalte

Lecture The lectures will provide fundamental knowledge consisting of theoretical concepts and case studies, considering the following aspects: • Justification of nature conservation: scientific, ethical and aesthetic argumentation • Overview of resource use, habitat destruction and pollution • Threats to biodiversity, with a focus on terrestrial organisms • Different types of protected areas, the SLOSS debate, restoration ecology and process conservation. • Instruments and measures for species monitoring and protection. Seminar During the seminar, students will gather information on current conflicts between humans and nature, their consequences and potential solutions, from primary research articles and reports. Following initial presentations outlining the facts, students will lead a discussion on how to address these conflicts, based on the available scientific evidence. The following aspects can be addressed: Overpopulation; land-use conflicts; land abandonment; habitat fragmentation; pollution; exploitation; invasive species; rewilding; energy transformation; ecological intensification; restoration ecology; habitat analoga, etc.

Lernziele

Rationale By the end of the module, students will have acquired a theoretical and applied understanding of the key principles of conservation biology. During the lecture, they will gain an overview of the anthropogenic impact on nature and the solutions to mitigate and reverse such detrimental impacts. The seminar will strengthen students' ability to gather information from primary research articles and use it to advocate evidence-based solutions in a nature conservation context.

Prüfungsleistung

Lecture: Written examination, 60 min. (50%) Seminar: Presentation (30 min.) followed by discussion (30 min.) (50%)