Entry requirements

80 credits in biology equivalent to the basic course in biology within the Bachelor's Programme in Biology/Molecular Biology and Ecology, 15 credits, or Limnology, 15 credits, and Floristics and Faunistics, 7.5 credits.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should be well prepared to work with nature conservation.

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• discuss fundamental values for the preservation of biological diversity
• account for different forms of human influence on natural ecosystems
• combine physical planning with nature conservation
• justify instructions given in management plans and their equivalents
• discuss nature conservation theory and their problems both orally and in writing
• critically discuss nature conservation literature
• handle geographic information systems (GIS) on a basic level.

Content

• The human influence on the landscape, including social and ethical considerations associated with nature-preserving actions
• Biodiversity and characterisation of different habitat types according to Natura 2000
• Identification and rectifying of decreased biological diversity and other damages to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems
• Practical measures of nature conservation
• Evidence-based nature conservation
• Basic exercises in GIS and applications in nature conservation.

Instruction

The teaching is given in the form of lectures, seminars and independent work. Participation in seminars and group work is compulsory.

Assessment

Course modules: Conservation theory 8 credits, seminars 4 credits, GIS training 3 credits.

Conservation theory is examined by a written exam. Seminars require active participation in discussions. GIS training is examined by written assignments.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the disability coordinator of the university.