Global Forests and People
Course content
The course provides you with a people-oriented global approach to sustainable environmental resource management, combining readings with exercises and writing. Emphasis is on the relationships between people, environmental resource use, and conservation, with a particular focus on forests. The course offers a combination of guided readings, in-class discussions and exercises, online discussions and tests, and detailed feedback on two individual essays.
Central themes are: (i) Paradigms – what ideas and views guide forest use and conservation? (ii) Livelihoods – how do people rely on environmental resources? What are the relationships between forests and human health? (iii) Valuation – how can we put a price on environmental products and make their importance to local people visible? (iv) Forest cover – how much forest is there, and how do we know? (v) Deforestation – why do forests disappear, and what can be done? (vi) Policies – what characterises policies? What global forest policies exist and why? Do policies work? And (vii) Sustainable forest management – can REDD, certification, or other instruments save the tropical and sub-tropical forests? In addition, the course provides guidance and exercises in essay writing.
MSc Programme in Environment and Development
MSc Programme in Global Environment and Development
MSc Programme in Forest and Nature Management
MSc Programme in Global Forestry (GLOFOR)
MSc Programme in Sustainable Forest and Nature Management
(SUFONAMA)
This course provides an introduction to essential contemporary
issues related to global forests. The aim is to give students a
thorough understanding of the relationships between forests and
people, e.g. the role of environmental products in improving rural
livelihoods. It is stressed that environmental products are an
integral part of society and should not be considered in isolation.
After finishing the course, the student is expected to be able to:
Knowledge:
Understand key contemporary issues in global forestry,
including forest reliance, deforestation, the potential of using
environmental products to prevent and reduce poverty, the
connections between forests and human health, environmental product
valuation methods, global forest policy and processes, and the
potential of using market-based mechanisms to achieve sustainable
forest management.
Skills:
Apply principles, theories, and frameworks to case studies
Make a judgment on the quality of scientific publications
Communicate clearly, concisely, and confidently in written format
Competences
Argue cogently and think critically within the parameters of a
particular academic discipline
Reflect on the role of environmental products in poverty
alleviation
Demonstrate the values of scholarship: inquiry, reflection,
integrity, open-mindedness, evidence-based thinking, and
collegiality
Tackle problems by collecting, analysing, and evaluating
appropriate qualitative and quantitative information and using it
creatively
Teaching is blended learning, combining online exercises and
discussions with lectures and essay writing.
The course is provided through a web-based teaching and learning
system as well as in the classroom. Modules focus on integrating
literature studies and exercises, including discussions mediated by
faculty. Exercises focus on understanding theory and using theory
on actual cases. Each student is provided guidance in essay writing
and receive detailed feedback on two individual
essays.
Course materials include selected scientific articles, book
chapters, lecture notes, video clips, and slideshows. These are all
accessible through the course homepage.
The course draws on basic elements of economic theory and
management of renewable natural resources, all or part of which are
introduced in a wide range of undergraduate programmes.
Academic qualifications equivalent to a BSc degree is
recommended.
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
-
Continuous assessment
- Type of assessment details
- Students are assessed based on (i) their completion of
exercises throughout the course (such as multiple-choice exercises)
and (ii) through two teacher commented essays. Completion of
exercises and essays count 20% and 80% respectively towards the
final mark. Students typically complete exercises each week and
have around three weeks to prepare each essay.
The final grade is calculated as the above sum accumulated sum (in percentage), and you pass if the average grade is 02 or above (equivalent to a total course score of minimum 50%) - Aid
- All aids allowed
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
One internal censor
- Re-exam
-
Reexam: written assignment cutting across the materials covered in the course.
4 hours. No inviligation.
Criteria for exam assessment
To obtain the grade 12 the student must fullfil the Learning Outcomes
Single subject courses (day)
- Category
- Hours
- Lectures
- 48
- Preparation
- 90
- E-Learning
- 16
- Project work
- 52
- English
- 206
Kursusinformation
- Language
- English
- Course number
- NIFK22002U
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Programme level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
-
1 block
- Placement
- Block 1
- Schedulegroup
-
B
- Capacity
- 50
The number of places might be reduced if you register in the late-registration period (BSc and MSc) or as a credit or single subject student. - Studyboard
- Study Board of Natural Resources, Environment and Animal Science
Contracting department
- Department of Food and Resource Economics
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Science
Course Coordinator
- Carsten Smith-Hall (3-677773446d6a7673326f7932686f)
Teacher
Guest lecturers
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Courseinformation of students