6 EC
Semester 2, period 5
5264SBGE6Y
Nature conservation, restoration and agricultural use often generate conflicting demands between biodiversity, recreation, and other use of ecosystems. More often than not, measures and interventions start without asking the question why we actually want to intervene and what are the aims. In addition, contrasting interests between stakeholders, executive organisations and scientists with respect to management intentions may exist.
This course aims to give insights in the ecological processes that should be considered to come to science-based management of geo-ecosystems. Understanding will be gained of geo- ecological and socio-ecological processes from local to landscape scale, and the spatiotemporal dynamics of ecosystems. We will focus on three types of management challenges: a) novel ecosystems (Markerwadden, Oostvaardersplassen), b) abandoned ecosystems (Iberian peninsula, Horstermeerpolder), and c) agro-ecosystems (open field crops, fruit cultivation). The central questions that will be addressed in all ecosystems are: How to measure, manipulate and monitor geo-ecological processes to come to effective management strategies. The aim is to identify what science can contribute to effective management.
The course will focus on the three management challenges, in all of which we focus on four factors:
1) abiotic factors (soil-nutrient-water cycles)
2) succession processes (vegetation)
3) biotic foodwebs/interactions (predators-parasitoids-prey, i.e. animals (and microbes))
4) socio-economic factors
Scientific articles available on Canvas
Background information will be given through interactive sessions (WC's), guest lectures, excursions, and assignments.
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Activity |
Number of hours |
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Interactive sessions (WC) |
48 |
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|
Excursion |
8 |
|
|
Presentation |
6 |
|
|
Self study |
74 |
|
|
Total |
136 |
|
Requirements of the programme concerning attendance (OER-B):
Additional requirements for this course:
All excursions and interactive sessions (WCs) are mandatory. Maximally one hour can be missed.
| Item and weight | Details |
|
Final grade |
In groups, students will search (online) managers of their choice of any nature reserve in the world to assess to what extent these nature reserves are managed in a scienced-based way. These interviews will occur online and all students ask questions aimed to evaluate the science-based character and management of these reserves. This assignment will be graded as pass/fail and students need to pass this assignment to successfully finish this course.
Individually, students will pitch ideas for the design of their own a science-based policy plan (see assignment 4) to a panel of experts, using 1-2 slides. Students have to specify the type of plan, explain their choice and objective and identify indicators through which the objectives can be measured. This assignment will be graded as pass/fail and students need to pass this assignment to successfully finish this course.
In groups, students will write a vision on how to deal with land abandonment, either for Europe as a whole, or for a specific region. Each group will a) analyse the potential trade-offs of land abandonment and indicate how to deal with these trade-offs, b) discuss how their vision for the areas that are threatened by agricultural abandonment might affect different stakeholders, locally and elsewhere, c) provide a short overview of the measures needed to reach your vision, d) indicate what other trade-offs not included in the data provided might be relevant and how, and e) discuss to what extent their vision is dependent on other (international) developments. This assignment will be graded based on a short text that provides the group's vision, the underlying rationale and considerations giving the questions above, as well as on a 5-minute PowerPoint presentation of the group's vision. The grade is worth 20% of the final mark.
Individually, students will design a science-based nature-inclusive policy plan for an area of choice and for a professionally educated ecological manager of an agro-business. This policy plan will need to include at least 10 key words that are taught throughout the course, as well biological and abiotic aspects of the plan, what indicators and monitoring will be used and what aspects are adaptive. This assignment will be graded and is worth 40% of the final mark.
Individually, students will peer review two policy plans, following a review sheet. This way students learn from each others plans and learn how to peer review in a constructive way. This assignment will be graded and is worth 20% of the final mark.
Individually, students will make a poster of their policy plan and present this to their peers at the end of the course. This assignment will be graded and is worth 20% of the final mark.
The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl
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Week |
Course component |
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1 |
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| 2 |
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3 |
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4 |
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This elective course is for students from various Master tracks (Future Planet Ecosystem Science, Ecology and Evolution, Earth Sciences), who are keen to understand what scientific knowledge about biotic and abiotic interactions at different trophic levels is needed for the management of sustainable ecosystems, which are important to come to science-based geo-ecological management, and/or who are interested in becoming managers of ecosystems. The course is also open to national and international students with a BSc or equivalent degree in Future Planet Studies, Biology, Earth Sciences.
This course uses a Canvas-site, where you will find all the necessary additional information, such as grouping for seminars, information on the assignments, additional literature. Therefore, check out the site regularly.
This course will be in English.