James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2022

BZ5930 - Conservation in a Changing World: Issues and Solutions

Subject Description

We are living in the Anthropocene, a time where the entire world has changed due to the impacts of humans on the global environment. Sustainable management of the environment and the conservation of biodiversity depends on dealing with the combined impacts of climate change, habitat loss and modification, pollution, illegal hunting, and invasive species. This subject will focus on applied conservation issues, threats, and solutions in a changing world. How can we adapt land management, conservation approaches, and policy to protect biodiversity and ecosystem processes in a rapidly changing world? The subject will cover issues and solutions on species management, landscape resilience, habitat restoration, invasive species, and the links between conservation biology, environmental policy, and management. It will emphasise that conservation management needs to be more dynamic compared to the traditional static conservation approach, and move from being a reactive approach to one that is proactive and both temporally and spatially dynamic.

There are additional charges for this subject; please contact the College of Science and Engineering (pre 2023 PCS) for details.

Learning Outcomes

• discuss the key issues facing conservation in a changing global environment
• demonstrate an advanced understanding of the issues and solutions relevant to species management, landscape resilience, restoration and invasive species
• synthesise, evaluate and compare scientific literature on global change biology and formulate potential solutions to these issues

Subject Assessment

• Written > Examination (centrally administered) - (50%) - Individual
• Participation > Class participation - (20%) - Group & Individual
• Performance/Practice/Product > Practical assessment/practical skills demonstration - (30%) - Individual

Note that 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.

Assumed Knowledge:  An undergraduate science degree in biology/ecology

Availabilities