NIFK14013U Tropical Forests, People, and Policies

Volume 2019/2020
Education

MSc Programme in Environment and Development
MSc Programme in Forest and Livelihoods (SUTROFOR)
MSc Programme in Forest and Nature Management

Content


The course takes a people-oriented approach to issues that all environmental resources managers in developing countries should be familiar with. Emphasis is on the relationships between people and environmental resource use and conservation in developing countries, with particular emphasis on forests. Central themes are: (i) Paradigms – what ideas and views guide tropical forestry development? (ii) Livelihoods – how do poor people depend on environmental resources? (iii) Valuation – how can we put a price on environmental products and make visible their importance to local people? (iv) Forest cover – how much forest is there and how do we know? (v) Deforestation – why do forests disappear and what can be done? (vi) Policies – what characterises national policies? What global policies exist and why? Do policies work? and (vii) Sustainable management – can REDD, certification or other instruments save the tropical forests?

Learning Outcome

This course provides an introduction to essential contemporary issues related to environmental product use in developing countries. The aim is to give students a thorough understanding of the current and potential role of environmental products in improving rural livelihoods. It is stressed that environmental products are an integral part of society and should not be considered in isolation.

After finishing the course the student is expected to be able to:

Knowledge:
Understand the potential of using environmental products to prevent and reduce poverty

Understand key contemporary issues in tropical forestry, including forest-dependency, deforestation, national and global forest policy and processes, and the potential of using market-based mechanisms to achieve sustainable forest management

Understand basic environmental product valuation methods

Skills:

Apply principles, theories, and frameworks to case studies

Make judgment on the quality of scientific publications

Communicate clearly, concisely, and confidently in written format

Competences

Argue cogently and think critically within the parameters of a particular academic discipline

Reflect on the nature of poverty and the role of environmental products in poverty alleviation

Demonstrate the values of scholarship: inquiry, reflection, integrity, open mindedness, evidence-based thinking, and collegiality

Tackle problems by collecting, analysing and evaluating appropriate qualitative and quantitative information and using it creatively

Literature


Course material consists of selected scientific articles, book chapters, lecture notes, video clips, and slideshows. These are accessible through the course homepage.

The course draws on basic elements of economic theory and management of renewable natural resources, all or part of which are introduced in a wide range of undergraduate programmes.

Academic qualifications equivalent to a BSc degree is recommended.
The course is provided through a web-based teaching and learning system as well as in the classroom. Modules focus on integrating literature studies and exercises, including online discussions mediated by faculty. Exercises focus on understanding theory and using theory on actual cases.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • E-Learning
  • 24
  • Lectures
  • 48
  • Preparation
  • 134
  • Total
  • 206
Written
Oral
Individual
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Continuous assessment
Students are assessed according to: (i) their completion of exercises throughout the course, and (ii) through two teacher marked assignments (essays). The assignments are distributed electronically and answers must be submitted electronically. Completion of exercises and teacher marked assignments count 40% and 60% respectively towards the final mark.

The final grade is calculated as a weighted average of the results from the part-examinations, and you can pass if the average grade is 02 or above.
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
One internal censor
Re-exam

Reexam: written assignment cutting across the materials covered in the course.

4 hours. No inviligation.

Criteria for exam assesment

To obtain the grade 12 the student must fullfil the Learning Outcomes