| Course ID: | POS-SE>NATCONSERV |
| Course title: | NATURE CONSERVATION |
| Semester: | 6 / Spring |
| ECTS: | 3 |
| Lectures/Classes: | 30 / 15 hours |
| Field of study: | Environmental Protection |
| Study cycle: | 1st cycle |
| Type of course: | optional |
| Prerequisites: | |
| Contact person: | dr hab. inż. Ludwik Żołnierz, prof. nadzw. tel. 71 320 1610, e-mail: ludwik.zolnierz@upwr.edu.pl |
| Short description: | The course familiarizes students with the threats of biodiversity and the basics of modern methods of nature conservation. Students learn the biological basics of threats, as well as how to protect nature at various levels of the organization of life: from the level of population, through the ecosystem up to the ecological landscape. The main attention is focused on the specifics of the threats and how to actively protect the main types of European habitats, especially in landscapes significantly transformed by human activities. |
| Full description: | During the lectures, students learn: • legal regulations and organizational system of the nature conservation in Poland and European Union. • The natural history of the development of ecosystems of Central Europe in the Holocene. • ecological issues related to the threats of biological diversity at the levels of population, ecosystems and the landscape; • current and future problems of the threats and the conservation of biodiversity on a global scale; • methods of active protection of species and habitats. In the course of the classes: • students learn the issues concerning the specifics of the main types of Central European ecosystems in lowland and mountain areas, their threats and techniques of active protection; • students present the issues regarding various aspects of threats and conservation, and discuss them; • students prepare action plan of nature conservation for a particular area of the cultural landscape using materials provided by the instructor. |
| Bibliography: | Compulsory: Groom M.J., Meffe G.K., Ronald Caroll C. and Contributors. 2006. Principles of Conservation Biology. Third Edition. Sinauer Associates, Inc., Publishers. Primack R.B. 2006. Essentials of Conservation Biology. Fourth Edition. Sinauer Associates, Inc., Publishers. Pullin A.S. 2012. Conservation Biology. Cambridge University Press. IUCN Standards and Petitions Subcommittee. 2010. Guidelines for Using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. Version 8.1. Complementary/optional: Krebs C.J. 2011. Ecology. The Experimental Analysis of Distribution and Abundance, sixth edition. Pearson Education Inc. Mackenzie A., Ball A.S., Virdee S.R. 2001. Instant Notes in Ecology. Taylor & Francis. |
| Learning outcomes: | Knowledge Student knows the issues concerning biodiversity at various levels. He knows the major ecosystems occurring in Central Europe, their risks and methods of conservation. Student knows the basic legal regulations and organizational system of the nature conservation in Poland and European Union. Skills Student is able to analyze data concerning the natural environment. Student is able to prepare a action plan for the nature conservation of an area on a local scale with the use of different sources of information. Social competences Student is aware of the need for lifelong training. Student understands the need to work in interdisciplinary teams. Student is able to work in small teams, which is proved by preparing action plan for the nature conservation of the area of a cultural landscape. Basic issues at work are applying the principles of sustainable development and sensitivity to the problems of environmental risks. |
| Assessment methods and assessment criteria: | grade obtained at classes (50%) + grade obtained at lectures (50%) |