Int'l Community Based Conserv

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

The conservation of natural resources and biodiversity is an international priority in the current period of global change. In this course, students will assess how natural resources can be used sustainably through ethical conservation practices led by local and Indigenous communities. We will examine case studies from around the world, including applications of traditional and local ecological knowledge in the Arctic, the ‘wildlife economy’ paradigm in Africa, and decentralized forest governance in the Amazon rainforest, among others. We will use a discussion-based approach to assess the strengths and weaknesses of diverse approaches to management to come up with promising practices which prioritize sustainable use, biodiversity conservation, and the livelihoods of local communities. This course blends the science, policy, and ethics of international natural resource conservation.