Conservation and Communities - WCON5460

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Module delivery information

Location Term Level1 Credits (ECTS)2 Current Convenor3 2024 to 2025
Canterbury
Spring Term 6 15 (7.5) Mahesh Poudyal checkmark-circle

Overview

The driving causes of biodiversity loss are not just ecological, but also political, economic and cultural, and conservationists need to acquire the knowledge and skills to address broader social contexts. This module aims to introduce students to cutting-edge debates about the place of local people in biodiversity conservation, and provide them with an overview of the essential role that the social sciences play in the analysis of environmental issues. Objectives of the module are to provide students with a broad conceptual understanding of the social context of conservation; knowledge of the history of conservation approaches towards local communities; familiarity with key issues in the implementation of community conservation; and a critical approach to analysis of the current conservation debates.

Details

Contact hours

Private Study: 125
Contact Hours: 25
Total: 150

Availability

Compulsory to the following courses:
• BA Environmental Social Sciences/Environment and Sustainability and cognate courses

Optional to the following courses:
• BSc Human Geography and cognate courses
• BSc in Wildlife Conservation and cognate courses

Also available as an elective module

Method of assessment

Main assessment methods
• Essay/Report (2000 words) (50%)
• Examination, 2 hour (50%)


Reassessment methods
• Reassessment instrument: Like for like

*Exams will be online*

Indicative reading

The University is committed to ensuring that core reading materials are in accessible electronic format in line with the Kent Inclusive Practices.

The most up to date reading list for each module can be found on the university's reading list pages.

Learning outcomes

On successfully completing the module students will be able to:

1 Understand the history of western conservation approaches towards local communities
2 Acquire a broad conceptual understanding of the social context of conservation, including economic, cultural and political factors
3 Acquire familiarity with different forms of community conservation and key issues and techniques in its implementation
4 Analyse case studies and come up with practical recommendations for management measures related to the relationship between communities and conservation
5 Critically approach and analyse the current conservation debates.

Notes

  1. Credit level 6. Higher level module usually taken in Stage 3 of an undergraduate degree.
  2. ECTS credits are recognised throughout the EU and allow you to transfer credit easily from one university to another.
  3. The named convenor is the convenor for the current academic session.
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