Current Topics in Conservation Biology

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

Biodiversity losses and conservation responses worldwide: a state of the art Translocations and assisted migration Restoration of forests, fens and bogs Mitigating the consequences of eutrophication Ex situ conservation of biodiversity Tracking illegal logging in the tropics Certification schemes (e.g. REDD) Population Viability Analysis Practical conservation of crop wild relatives Legal aspects of access and benefit sharing (Nagoya protocol) These topics will be complemented with ad hoc topics presented by guest lecturers, covering actual conservation themes For the exam paper, students are expected to present a topic of their own choice. The topic should be closely related to the issues presented throughout the course and have a clear link with at least two lectures. During the presentation and discussion sessions, students present their topic and progress in the class and discuss it with other students and teachers. Students are expected to demonstrate that they are capable of elaborating and critically reflecting on the issues dealt with throughout the course in a personal way. The students clearly describe the theme and research question, discusses the relevance of the research question in the field of conservation biology, and link it to the theories and perspectives provided during the lectures. The paper can be a concise review of the literature or the elaboration of a case study (for example, a conservation plan for a particular species, or an ecosystem restoration plan). Excursions to institutes committed to the ex-situ conservation and management of living collections and germplasm collections.