GEOGG054 Monitoring Conservation

CORE GEOGG054 - MONITORING CONSERVATION
(15 credits)

Term 1 (2011)

Staff:
Jan Axmacher

Aims:
·    to outline the challenges and issues related to monitoring conservation status
·    to introduce and discuss different surveying and monitoring methods and technologies
·    to enable to enable the meaningful and effective design and implementation of monitoring programmes in order to assess the conservation status of habitats and species

Content:
The MSc Conservation core module on Monitoring Conservation Status commences with an introduction to basic principles of monitoring and surveying techniques for habitats and species. Conservation professionals will then provide in-depth insights into systems established to monitor conservation features (habitats and species) in the UK, with a focus on Common Standards Monitoring (CSM). This methodology is examined and discussed in great detail during a 3-day field class to the New Forest, where conditions are assessed for a variety of habitats. The fieldwork is be followed up by student group presentations, providing further insights into key plant communities encountered in the study area.

The main sessions include:

·    Introduction to monitoring and surveying methods
·    Introduction to Common Standards Monitoring with focus on habitats
·    Butterfly monitoring
·    Key British habitats and plant communities with relevance to the New Forest field class
·    Field class to the New Forest to examine and discuss CSM and alternatives
·    Woodland and forest monitoring in the UK

Assessment:
Critical report on CSM and an evaluation of the potential for improvements/ alternatives (max 2000 words; worth 8% of total assessment).

Format:
The course is based upon lectures, presentations by external speakers and groups of students, informal discussions and supervised monitoring work in the field.

Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the course students should:
·    understand monitoring approaches and why they are needed
·    be able to evaluate Common Standards Monitoring as an example of a country-wide monitoring system
·    have practical experience in conducting condition assessment in a range of habitats
·    put forth own ideas for a realistic monitoring scheme


Class schedule:

This module runs in Term 1 in weeks 7, 8, 10 (field class) and 12.