KE6023 - Applied Ecology and Conservation Management

You will learn through lectures, workshops, practical management and independent learning.

The timetabled sessions mix lectures, workshops and mini field trips. Your lectures will focus on research rich examples of contemporary practice and challenges for nature conservation, combined with workshops giving you the experience of working data collection and interpretation. Mini-field trips will take you out to local sites to gain first-hand experience of nature conservation site assessment. Your coursework puts you in the role of a nature conservation professional, using real data to make decisions about sites, an “assessment for learning approach” encouraging you to practice skills and build confidence.

Teaching staff operate an ‘open door’ policy for students meaning you can approach them anytime during normal office hours, or via email, to answer questions, receive feedback and support your learning on the module.

You will be supported by feedback from the tutors, including timetable formative feedback session so you can get advice on coursework before you hand it in. In addition the tutors will respond to individual questions via our open door policy and email.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk

Please note that this is an indicative list of key texts only. You will be provided with additional weekly reading lists covering more specialist, topic-based material aligned with the module teaching programme.

Knowledge & Understanding:

You will be able to
• MLO 1: To critically review survey methods, design and undertake standard baseline site surveys.
• MLO 2: To research ecological problems in the field using a range of tools, to evaluate the results of these surveys and reach justified conclusion grounded in ecological and conservation theory.
• MLO 3: Critically review ecological, environmental, legal, social and economic information to develop practical sustainable management solutions.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
• MLO 4: Use, apply and critically assess subject-specialist techniques of data analysis and presentation e.g. Population modelling, nature reserve (SSSI or equivalent) selection, Habitat surveys and classification, UK NVC and Phase 1 mapping (or international equivalents), River Habitat Survey, River Corridor Mapping along with widely applicable professional skills of report writing, data handling and presentation.

These skills and methods have been chosen to underpin your employability, both in the precise detail of their use and the confidence gained from experience of using them

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
• MLO 5: You will demonstrate professional competencies and a critical, inquisitive and nuanced approach to the conservation of biodiversity, in particular an awareness that people are the key.

You will be assessed using two summative assessments: one piece of coursework and one seen exam.

Assessment 1 puts you in the position of a conservation officer tasked with making decisions about sites. This will require self-organised field data collection. This helps reinforce understanding of designations (MLO2), professional methods (MLO1, 2) and above all a willingness to make decisions (MLO5). The assessment uses real data and a “discovery-based” RRT approach (MLO4). Summative feedback is provided by individual feedback written directly onto the finished report, a standard summary pro-forma providing generic comments and a pro-forma checklist given out as part of the assessment brief rehearsing the coverage of each item. (50% of module mark)

Assessment 2 tasks you with analysing and reporting on anthropogenic imapacts on tropical forest, for example fragmentation. This will require analysis of authentic data for real forest sites, addressing MLO2 and 3. Again this requires active research and the ability to critically assess and report results (MLO4). Summative feedback is provided by individual feedback written directly onto the finished report, a standard summary pro-forma providing generic comments and a pro-forma checklist given out as part of the assessment brief rehearsing the coverage of each item. (50% of module mark)

KE5014 Fundamentals of Ecology

None

Elephants are wise and charismatic, aware of their own mortality. Alternatively they are large and dangerous, so why not shoot a few to raise money for conservation?

Wildlife conservation is a challenging mixture of scientific enquiry and professional judgement. This module will give you the expertise, skills and confidence to work in conservation and make a difference for the future of the planet. All the teaching and assessment is research rich, drawing not only on staff expertise but also encouraging you to see yourselves as conservation professionals. The module builds on advice from employers and makes an ideal link with dissertations and placements. We have many graduates working in conservation, with the RSPB, Environment Agency, Whale and Dolphin Conservation, local government, Wildlife Trust and consultancies. This module is a powerful stepping stone into these rewarding careers.