Duration
10d FW
Number of credits
| Master in biology of organisms and ecology, professional focus in conservation biology : biodiversity and management | 4 crédits | |||
| Master of education, Section 4: Biology | 3 crédits |
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
All year long
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
In Europe, implementing nature conservation measures require to reconcile very different interests, especially in Belgium where pressures are high on land. A numbers of actors from society have a large impact on species and natural habitats, directly through their activities (agriculture, sylviculture, hunting, tourism...) or by occupying the lands with a natural value (private companies, quarries, military bases...).
This is this integrationist rationale that guided the implementation of the European Natura 2000 network. Moreover, agro-environmental measures integrated into the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) are based on this approach. However, on a daily basis, implementing these actions is very complicated because of the diversity of involved actors and their socio-economical requirements are usually very far from nature conservation priorities.
The course will focus on understanding how these different actors work and how they influence nature in Belgium. Concrete examples of conservation projects in which these sectors are involved will be analyzed. People involved in conservation measures and projects will exaplin of they implement conservation practices. We will also meet with local structures favoring a concerted management of land and developing projects in conservation.
This course consists in field outings to meet the different actors. The list of activities varies every year, but structures and actors may involve:
-Life projects
-"Contrats de rivière"
-Natural preserves
-Conservation NGOs
-Biological or conventional farming
-Fish farming
-Dams
-Biologists involved in projects, e.g., about coexistence of Man with protected species, or reintroduction of species
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
The student must be able to understand the complexity of implementing conservation measures, especially
-understand environmental, socio-economical and cultural aspects at stakes for a given territory
-acquire skills to develop a participative approach around a project involving protection of biodiversity and sustainable use of a territory
-understand the importance of political and economical actors in implementing compromises on that sustainable use
-use the toolkit at their disposal as levers for the management of natural spaces
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
These courses constitute a solid base for the present course:
-Perfectionnement naturaliste SSTG0046-1, to recognize important species in the field
- Biologie de la conservation BIOL0810-2, to understand conservation biology in Belgium
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
THe course is composed of visits in the field.
The student can meet the actor in his environment and observe the discussed problematics on site.
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Field excursions
Course materials and recommended or required readings
Documentation will be available on eCampus
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
oral exam
Written work / report
Out-of-session test(s)
Further information:
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
oral exam
Additional information:
Any session :
- In-person
oral exam
- Remote
oral exam
- If evaluation in "hybrid"
preferred in person
Additional information:
Oral exam: Presentation of the report in a ten-minute presentation using PowerPoint.
Completion of a 5-10-page personal assignment on a specific case of nature conservation in Western Europe, with an oral presentation of the results.
The report must be based on discussions with stakeholders involved in the conservation project, through face-to-face, video, or email interviews.
The report will present the project in terms of biodiversity, ecology, management, and the involvement of various stakeholders, etc.
The report must be based on concepts learned during the field trips to inform the student's reflection.
25% of the overall grade will be based on the students' participation and attitude during the field trips. In particular, students are expected to respect external speakers, listen attentively, and participate actively. Field trips are mandatory. An absence must be justified and a high number of absences will be penalized.
Work placement(s)
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
Going to the visited places is accomplished through car sharing. Students must form groups of 4 or 5 including a driver. Students without a driver must contact the professor.
Car plates of vehicles used must be provided to the professor before the first excursion.
Contacts
Nicolas Magain nicolas.magain@uliege.be