This module is not currently running in 2024 to 2025.
Protected areas are a mainstay of global conservation policy, with more than 17% of the terrestrial realm and 8% of the marine realm under some type of protection. In this module students will be introduced to the key concepts needed to understand protected area management and policy at the national and international level. The following indicative topics will form the basis of lectures, seminars and field trip around which the module will be taught: the history of protected areas and relevant international policies and commitments; current definitions of protected area based on management categories and governance types; management planning and measuring protected area management effectiveness; economic issues relating to protected areas; designing protected area networks to form representative ecological networks.
Total contact hours: 18
Private study hours: 132
Total study hours: 150
MSc Conservation and cognate pathways
Written assignment - 3000 words (100%)
Reassessment Instrument: 100% coursework.
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.
See the library reading list for this module (Canterbury)
On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
1. Have a critical awareness of the current problems that relate to protected areas and their impacts on people and biodiversity;
2. Have a systematic understanding of the governance and management of protected areas, informed by insights at the forefront of their academic discipline;
3. Have a deep understanding of protected area management effectiveness and the ability to systematically and creatively make sound judgements on the advantages and disadvantages of the different assessment approaches;
4. Demonstrate self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems by bringing together a range of biodiversity, conservation, socio-economic and social data to understand the advantages and disadvantages of the protected area approach;
5. Have a comprehensive understanding of the techniques and principles underpinning the design of effective and representative protected area networks.
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