This subject examines the applicability and techniques derived from ecological and earth sciences which are of particular value in protected area management; environmental and human-induced impacts in protected areas; factors affecting human impacts in protected areas; management strategies and concepts; research design for measuring and monitoring human impacts in protected areas; visitor and site management; applications in terrestrial and marine ecosystems (especially tropical rainforest); biological and physical environment field survey; data analysis and interpretation techniques; reviews of previous work undertaken in northern Australian protected areas. The main emphasis is on terrestrial ecosystems (especially tropical environments), but marine and ocean island systems are also included.