Course detail

Nature Protection and Sustainable Development

FCH-MAO_OPTAcad. year: 2013/2014

Basic principles of nature and landscape protection, environment, strategy and perspective. Biological principles of nature conservation. International Convention of the Conservation of Nature, the international institutions of the protection of nature. The current state of nature protection - examples of from the Czech Republic, Germany, USA. Basic principles and concepts of sustainable development (history, development, principles, objectives, policies, strategies). Environmentally affected areas of the world. Global problems (the effect of increasing population, climate change, the ozone hole, pollution of air, water, oceans, soils, biodiversity change). Significant declarations and conventions (Bruntland Report, Rio Earth Summit, Agenda 21, the Kyoto Protocol, Johannesburg 2002 Millennium Ecosystem Assessment). Indicators of sustainable development, methods for measuring and achieving sustainable development, the implementation of sustainable development. Ecological footprint.

Language of instruction

English

Number of ECTS credits

3

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Learning outcomes of the course unit

Students will gain new knowledge in the following fields

1st Students will increase their knowledge on issues of Nature Conservation and Landscape, sustainable development.
2nd Students will know the current state of nature protection in the Czech Republic, Germany, USA.
3rd Students will be able to assess the impact of anthropogenic activities on ecosystems and will be able to determine the individual effects of anthropogenic activities on ecosystems.
4th Students will understand the global problems of the of mankind in the relation to environmental protection and sustainable development.
5th Students will be able to understand the current declarations and conventions of sustainable development, in the methods and activities to achieve sustainable development at national and European level.

Prerequisites

Basis knowledge of principles of Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry, Ecology, Biology.

Co-requisites

Not applicable.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

The course uses teaching methods in form of Lecture - 2 teaching hours per week. The e-learning system (LMS Moodle) is available to teachers and students.

Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes

Evaluation is given on the submission of a satisfactory term project selected issues of nature protection and sustainable development and presentation.

Course curriculum

1st Basic principles of nature and landscape protection, environment, strategy and perspective.
2nd Biological principles of nature protection.
3rd International Convention for the Conservation of Nature, an international institution for the protection of nature (CITES, WWF, UNESCO, MAB, IUCN, Europarc).
4th The current state of nature - examples of nature protection in the Czech Republic, Germany, USA.
5th Basic principles and concepts of sustainable development (history, development, principles, objectives, policies and strategies).
6th Environmentally affected areas of the world.
7th Global problems (impact of increasing population).
8th Global issues (climate change, ozone hole, air pollution).
9th Global problems (pollution of water, oceans, soils, biodiversity change).
10th Significant declarations and conventions (Bruntland report, the Rio Earth Summit, Agenda 21, the Kyoto Protocol, Johannesburg 2002 Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, The Ramsar Convention on wetlands protection, Bern Convention, Bonn Convention, Antarctic Treaty, Natura 2000, the Aarhus Convention).
11th Sustainable Development Indicators
12th Methods for measuring and achieving sustainable development, ecological footprint.

Work placements

Not applicable.

Aims

The aim of the course is to provide students with basic information and clarification of the principles of nature conservation, landscape and sustainable development, biological principles of conservation. Introduce students with basic international conventions and institutions for the protection of nature, the current state of environmental protection in the Czech Republic, Germany, USA. Explain the basic principles and concepts of sustainable development (history, development, principles, objectives, policies, strategies). Explain the impact of human activity on the natural sphere, (examples of environmentally affected areas of the world). Explain global problems of mankind (the influence of the growing population in the state of sustainability, climate change, pollution of air, water, oceans, soils, biodiversity change). To acquaint students with important declarations and conventions of Sustainable Development. Explain indicators of sustainable development, methods for measuring and achieving sustainable development, the principle of ecological footprint.

Specification of controlled education, way of implementation and compensation for absences

Attendance at lectures is recommended, but not controlled.
An integral part of teaching and combined form of teaching is a e-learning tutorial course, divided into blocks, within which are available to students learning support including electronic textbooks, presentations, lectures, and other complementary materials.
For students in combined form of study are organized consultations on the topics for full-time students.
Consultations are also provided to full-time students on request.

Recommended optional programme components

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Doležalová: Elearningové studijní opory,https://www.vutbr.cz/elearning/course/view.php?id=121883 (EN)
Chiras D.D. Environmnetal science, Creating a sustanaible future. Jones and Bartlett Publisher, 2006, pp.1-730 (EN)
Manahan S.E. Environmental science and Technology, Sustainable Approach to Green (EN)

Recommended reading

Moldan, B., A decade os suistanable development, UK, Prague, 2004 (EN)
Primack, B.P., Kinldmann, P., Jersáková, J., Biologické principy ochrany přírody, Portál, Praha, 2001 (EN)

Classification of course in study plans

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

26 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer