Overview

The module is based on an assessment of an existing site to answer a specific question or series of questions related to the area's land use. Students will be provided with background information and will have opportunities to visit the locations. Using this information plus other relevant physical, biological, technical, economic and geospatial data, a management plan / strategy document will be prepared. Students will be provided with a detailed assessment brief that defines the scope of the planning assignment and the outcomes. Tutorial support will be provided to address technical issues as they arise.

An integrated catchment management plan (ICMP) concentrates on the likely impacts and inter-relationships between land use, conservation interests (e.g., protected areas and priority habitats), watercourses and water quality, and the local stakeholders within the catchment. This requires identifying current policies in place, e.g. a relevant agency or directive responsible for oversight of the atchment risk assessments for the constituent watercourses, water quality, agricultural activity, implementation of cross-compliance rules and other agri-environment measures to reduce diffuse pollution from agricultural sources. In addition, an ICMP also requires forestry activities within the catchment boundaries, including restoration activities (e.g., species and composition), harvesting activities (e.g., timber/NTFPs), recreational activities, and other ecosystem services. Whilst it is not feasible within the timeframe of the exercise to undertake a consultation, you should state how the public consultation and stakeholder involvement could best be undertaken. Suggestions of any modifications to current practices that may be necessary (in your view) to further encourage a catchment sensitive approach, should be made after careful consideration. Potential conflicts arising from your suggestions and future sources of funding for beneficial management (e.g., Chinese gov’t agency responsible for oversight/funding for such projects) should also be explored.

Assessment Strategy

Excellent: Grade A- and above

The document is logically structured and includes appropriate analyses, evaluation and discussion. The analyses are detailed with evidence of original thought. The technical and evaluative parts of the Plan are described coherently with evidence of extensive synthesis and in-depth analyses and interpretation. There are no errors in the assumptions or calculations. The discussion includes critical interpretation and application including comments that reflect understanding of the weaknesses and strengths of the methodologies employed. The standard of presentation is high, including high quality maps derived from the datasets provided.

Good: C- to B+

The document is logically structured and includes appropriate analyses, evaluation and discussion. The technical and evaluative parts of the Plan are described coherently with evidence of synthesis, detailed analyses and interpretation. There are very few errors in the assumptions or calculations. The discussion includes critical interpretation and application. The standard of presentation is good, including appropriate mapping derived from the datasets provided.

Threshold: D- to D+

The document is logically structured and includes some analysis, evaluation and discussion. The technical parts of the document are described coherently but without detailed analysis or interpretation. There are some errors in the assumptions or calculations. The discussion is limited in scope and depth. The standard of presentation is acceptable, with limited use of maps derived from the datasets provided

Assessment Details

This will be an individual effort and should allow you ample opportunity to incorporate ideas that have matured throughout your degree course. Along with your vision it is important that a realistic and practical approach is adopted throughout the assessment. Support all statements by logical arguments based on referenced material. Please avoid regurgitating large chunks of text derived from support scheme information. This does not impress us as markers. Properly referenced, relevant numbered sections/paragraphs from the literature are preferred.

The plan accounts for 30 credits so you should be looking to spend (at the very minimum) half of your time per week during the 1st Semester working on your plan. The document should not exceed 10,000 words (excluding any appendices) and be word processed using a minimum 11-point font with 1.15 line spacing. Maps and illustrations should be incorporated as appropriate. The BCC policy is for online submission through SafeAssign via Blackboard. The plan components (i.e. management plan template) should be submitted as .pdf format documents via Blackboard. Please note: file size is restricted to 10MB submissions.

In response to student requests to encourage participation earlier in the semester and to facilitate feedback before the final submission, the Site Description section (including maps) should be submitted by 12.00 (noon) on Friday, 24th of November 2023(end of Week 12). This assessment will account for 20% of the final module mark

Final submission: The completed sections (excluding the Site Description) should be submitted by 12.00 (noon) on Friday, 19th of January 2024(end of week 20). This will account for the remaining 80% of the final module mark.

Maps may be integrated into the text or if you prefer A3 sized maps may be concatenated into a separate .pdf map book. An additional link for submission of the latter will be made available on Blackboard, to provide some flexibility, should you wish to use it.

Learning Outcomes

• Students can classify different land types and can describe how these translate to priority habitats

• Students can critically appraise best practice for maintenance of water quality referring to international standards

• Students can evaluate the likely impacts (e.g., on land-use and/or water quality) of proposed changes in agricultural activity due to different policy levers

• Students can identify and evaluate ‘best practice’ with regard to interventions designed to address catchment water quality (with full consideration to local legal constraints that might exist)

• Students can plan, conduct, and present appropriate spatial analysis including the development of maps using desktop GIS

• Students can critically examine and evaluate national and devolved forestry policies of China, statutory bodies plus other relevant organisations regarding the future support of agriculture and forestry to achieve sustainable land use in a catchment management context.