NIGK14009U Land Use Transitions in the Global South
MSc programme in Geography and Geoinformatics
MSC Programme in Agricultural Developmen
The aim of the course is to provide an overview of the dominant contemporary land use transitions taking place in developing countries. Using case studies from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Pacific, it explores physical, socio-economic as well as institutional aspects of land use and land use change, and links these to ongoing international debates such as economic globalization, global food crises, biofuel production, land grab and nature conservation. The course discusses (national) land use planning, including rural-urban fringe/peri-urban land use aspects, and issues related to the management of land and natural resources in the Global South. Satellite based land use change monitoring and scenarios will also be introduced and discussed. Overall the course aims at analyzing land use change through a range of analytical lenses and the possibilities and constraints of different analytical and methodological approaches will be assessed. Topics of particular interest to the participating students will be identified at the beginning of the course and will receive more in depth attention.
The first few sessions aim to provide an in depth understanding of the theoretical aspects of land use and land use transitions in the Global South. The next few sessions will focus more on the topics identified by the students. Emphasis will be on active participation in the form of plenary discussions, presentations and group work.
Knowledge:
Dominant land use transitions in developing countries, theoretical
aspects of land use change, main local and global drivers of land
use transitions in developing countries, barriers to change,
implications of global processes for local land use, climate change
as a driver of land use change and vice versa, impacts of local and
global land management policies for land use in the South,
practical aspects of land use change research in the global South
including satellite based monitoring and scenario building.
Skills:
• Discuss and critically reflect upon different aspects of land use change in a globalized world
• Analyse and describe drivers and impacts of particular land use transitions
• Identify emerging issues in land use (change), acquire in depth knowledge of a particular issue, and subsequently present and discuss this issue in one of the courses’ sessions (group work)
• Assess the potential impact of global, national and local policies on local land use
• Identify relevant theories and monitoring tools for analysis of land use change in the Global South
Competences:
Analyse, assess and apply results, methods, theory and data in
connection with land use transitions in the global
south
Please see Absalon course page.
- Category
- Hours
- Preparation
- 136
- Project work
- 35
- Theory exercises
- 35
- Total
- 206
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- Written assignmentOral examination, 20 minutesThe written assignment is prepared during the course and must be handed in prior to the exam week. The oral exam uses the written assignment as its point of departure. It includes the titles listed in the officially approved reading list.
- Aid
- All aids allowed
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
Several internal examiners.
Criteria for exam assesment
Please see learning outcomes.
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- NIGK14009U
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
- 1 block
- Placement
- Block 2
- Schedule
- A
- Course capacity
- 24
- Continuing and further education
- Study board
- Study Board of Geosciences and Management
Contracting department
- Department of Geoscience and Natural Resource Management
Course responsibles
- Sarah Ann Lise D'haen (3-8273774f78767d3d7a843d737a)