EV5209 - Principles and Practices of Protected Area Management

Available to postgraduate students and advanced undergraduate students with appropriate background (approval of Head of School required and subject to available places).

This subject is designed to introduce students to key theoretical and applied foundations of Protected Area Governance and Management. Students will be introduced to the history and concept of protected areas and will learn about the socio-economic, ecological dimensions that influence protected area context. The subject will introduce key elements of governance and management of protected areas, including current planning and management tools such as monitoring, conservation planning, reserve design, and mechanisms for generating social and financial support for protected areas. The subject will emphasise international dimensions of protected areas including global networks and governance, roles of indigenous people and challenges for protected areas in developing countries. Through participating in this subject, students will have the opportunity to engage in an interactive, varied and interdisciplinary learning experience through lectures, tutorials and discussions with a variety of researchers active in the field of Protected Area Management.

Learning Outcomes

• demonstrate an understanding of the diverse concept of protected areas and the multiple factors that influence their establishment and purpose at local, regional and international levels;
• demonstrate knowledge of key concepts and theories that define the social and ecological context of protected area management;
• demonstrate an understanding of key aspects of management and governance of protected areas including the distinctions and interactions between them;
• describe the key challenges affecting protected area management in developing countries, and the specific role of indigenous people in protected areas;
• apply key practical tools and approaches to protected area management and design (e.g. impact evaluation, conservation planning, zoning, user fee implementation, stakeholder participation);
• communicate the necessity of applying interdisciplinary, participatory, contextual approaches to protected area management.

Subject Assessment

• presentations (50%)
• written assessment (50%).

Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.