Overview

The course has 9 core lectures: - Ecosystem services and the Millenium Ecosystem Assessment - Systems concepts and the sustainable livelihoods framework
- NRM at landscapescales - NRM in degraded systems - Soils Assessment in Natural Resource Management - Incorporating local knowledge in natural resource management - Participatory biodiversity evaluation - Sustaining NRM Interventions (adoption) - Participatory modelling of natural resource management issues

Assessment Strategy

-threshold -(C) Written assignments. Submission covers the fundamentals of the chosen topic, but is based mainly on material provided during the module, shows little evidence of supplementary reading or original information and lacks critical analysis. -good -(B)Written assignments. Submissions are reasonably well-argued report showing good understanding and knowledge of the chosen topics, evidence of supplementary reading, original information and some critical thought. -excellent -(A) Written assignments. Submissions are very well-argued, showing excellent understanding and depth of knowledge of the chosen topics, evidence of substantial supplementary reading, sound collection and use of original information, and much critical thought.

Learning Outcomes

• Students can compare and contrast major paradigms that inform natural resource management (including ecosystem services, resilience, restoration and sustainable intensification) and can identify limitations associated with 'operationalising' these paradigms.

• Students can critically evaluate systems theory and the use of livelihoods frameworks in development.

• Students can explain temporal and spatial scaling in natural resource management – and can propose methods to address these uncertainties for future land use change decisions.

• Students can identify different methods to measure changes to natural systems (including degradation and restoration of biotic and abiotic components and the effects of these on stakeholders) and can assess different approaches for doing this.