Overview

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Examine our reliance on the Earth’s resources –and vice versa – and you will discover a stunning tapestry of complex interactions between ecosystems and human life. From preventing the extinction of species (from plants to animals) to mitigating the effects of long-term environmental shifts, how do we ensure that our interaction with the world around us doesn’t leave it destroyed?

In this course, you’ll learn the science behind the capacities of various ecosystems including extinction rates, desertification and how their physical makeup has evolved with environmental shifts. You’ll experience the lives of local populations dependent upon these resources, from their economic activities to their societal norms.

After taking this course, you will be equipped with an understanding of diverse ecosystems and how responsible use of these resources is imperative to our planet’s survival.

This course is for:

Graduate students and advanced undergraduate students studying ecosystem management, forestry, sustainable development, economics, sustainable business and related fields
Practitioners in forestry, ecosystem management, conservation and related fields who are interested in current science and research around use and preservation
Sustainable development practitioners – as well as private-sector actors, such as those who work in corporate sustainability and responsibility, land development or tourism – who need to understand responsible consumption and interaction with our ecosystems

Syllabus

Module 1: Introduction to Terrestrial Ecosystems

1.1 Welcome to the Course
1.2 Introduction to SDG 15
1.3 Terrestrial and Inland Freshwater Ecosystems
1.4 Social and Economic Importance of Terrestrial Ecosystems
1.5 Human Dimension of Ecosystem Protection and Management
1.6 The Savanna Grasslands

Module 2: The Challenges Facing Terrestrial Ecosystems

2.1 Ecosystem Degradation
2.2 Ecosystem Conversion
2.3 Biodiversity Loss
2.4 Thresholds and Tipping Points
2.5 Fragmentation and Landscape Management

Module 3: Terrestrial Ecosystem Valuation

3.1 Valuing ecosystems services
3.2 Payment for environmental services
3.3 The Cost of Inaction
3.4 Forest certification

Module 4: Management Systems for Terrestrial Ecosystems

4.1 Protected Area Management I
4.2 Protected Area Management II
4.3 Agroforestry Systems
4.4 Sustainable Forest Management
4.5 Cross-sectoral Issues: The Case of Small-scale Gold Mining

Module 5: Designing Sustainable Ecosystem Programs

5.1 From Strategy to Action
5.2 Designing for Complex Landscapes
5.3 Designing Participatory Methods
5.4 Designing Sustainable Institutions: The case of the Amazonas Sustainable Foundation
5.5 The Amazon Rainforest: The Bolsa Floresta Program

Module 6: Public Policies, Programs and Projects: Evaluation and Assessment