Course - Sustainable Management of Ecosystem Services - RFEL3082
RFEL3082 - Sustainable Management of Ecosystem Services
About
Examination arrangement
Examination arrangement: Assignment and written examination
Grade: Letter grades
| Evaluation | Weighting | Duration | Grade deviation | Examination aids |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| School exam | 75/100 | 4 hours | D | |
| Approved report | 25/100 |
Course content
The pressure on nature and ecosystem services due to human activities are increasing. The challenges are complex and there is a need of an interdiciplinary knowledge base to understand how different drivers affect nature and nature goods, as well as the consequences for human well being and how society could respond to and secure a sustainable future. This interdisciplinary course aims to integrate natural and social sciences including economy, ethics and technological perspectives and show how the ecosystem services framework is relevant for science, policy and practices towards a more sustainable future. The course will give an introduction to sustainability and the ecosystem services framework. Status and trends of ecosystem services (provisioning, support, regulating, social and cultural) nature goods and direct and indirect drivers of ecosystem services change will be reviewed at a global, regional and local scale with examples from different regions, communities and habitats. Possible future scenarios for ecosystems services, alternative visions and goals for sustainability as well as possible pathways to a more sustainable society will be presented. The course includes the importance of governance, institutional arrangements, private and public decision making for human well-being and sustainable management of ecosystem services.
Learning outcome
After completing the course, the student will be able to:
Knowledge:
- Demonstrate substantial knowledge and an overview of alternative visions for sustainable development and how the ecosystem services framework could be used to promote sustainable socio-ecological systems underpinning human well-being.
- Demonstrate substantial knowledge on:
- status and trends of ecosystem services (provisioning, support, regulating, social and cultural) and ecosystems, direct and indirect drivers of ecosystem services change at different scales and in different ecosystems,
- scenarios, visions and pathways for sustainable development of ecosystem services,
- how governance, institutional arrangements and decision making could contribute to sustainable development of ecosystem services.
Skills:
- Evaluate and apply knowledge on how changes in socio-ecological systems affect ecosystem services and human well-being at global, regional and local scales.
- Evaluating a broad range of approaches, methods and techniques needed for sustainable decisions and transitions towards a more sustainable society.
- Integrate her/his discipline and education into a wider interdisciplinary context in order to promote sustainable management of ecosystem services.
General competence:
- Communicate research results to specialists and to a broader audience about central theories and reflect independently around the importance of sustainable management of ecosystem services that is highly valuable both for scientific and management purposes
- Contribute to innovative thinking within the field.
Learning methods and activities
Lectures, seminar discussion, and project work.
The teaching is based on lectures given by course teachers and invited guest lecturers where it is emphasized that the students will actively attend in discussions In the project work the students will work in groups on a topic closely related to sustainable management of ecosystem services. The student groups will present their projects.
Lectures/seminars: 30 hours
Project work:15 hours
Compulsory assignments
- Oral project presentation
Further on evaluation
The course consists of two assessment parts: project work (25%) and written exam (75%). Both parts are given individual grades and if both are assessed as passed the grades will be calculated to one final grade.
In the case of 'fail":
- Exam: A final written exam is held during the exam period each semester. The written exam can be changed to an oral exam in the semester when the course is not taught.
- Project work: must take part in teaching again and submit a new project work
In case of "retake"/Improvement:
- Exam: a final written exam is held during the exam period each semester.
- Project work: must take part in teaching again and submit a new project work
Appeals for reassessment apply to the final written examination and the project work.
Exam Language: English
Specific conditions
Limited admission to classes. For more information: https://i.ntnu.no/wiki/-/wiki/English/Admission+to+courses+with+restricted+admission
Version: 1
Credits:
7.5 SP
Study level: Second degree level
Term no.: 1
Teaching semester: SPRING 2025
Extraordinary deadline for course registration: 2024-12-01
Language of instruction: English
Location: Trondheim
- Ethics
- Natural Resources Management
- Biology
- Social Studies
- Ecology
- Economics
Examination
Examination arrangement: Assignment and written examination
- Term Status code Evaluation Weighting Examination aids Date Time Examination system Room *
- Autumn ORD Approved report 25/100 INSPERA
-
Room Building Number of candidates - Autumn ORD School exam 75/100 D 2024-11-26 09:00 INSPERA
-
Room Building Number of candidates - Spring ORD Approved report 25/100 INSPERA
-
Room Building Number of candidates - Spring ORD School exam 75/100 D 2025-05-27 15:00 INSPERA
-
Room Building Number of candidates SL110 turkis sone Sluppenvegen 14 23
- * The location (room) for a written examination is published 3 days before examination date. If more than one room is listed, you will find your room at Studentweb.
For more information regarding registration for examination and examination procedures, see "Innsida - Exams"