LNAK10073U Rural Landscapes: Methods and Approaches in Policy Making
MSc Programme in Landscape Architecture
MSc Programme in Nature Management
Rural landscapes cover more than a third of the earth and contribute most of the food and fiber consumed by human populations. At the same time rural landscapes are home to wild flora and fauna which exist alongside human settlement and industry, forming patterns adapted both to the natural conditions of the land and the social conditions of society. As such rural landscapes are manifestations of the way in which human societies organize and use their environment through continuous processes of decision making, forming an interface between society and its ecological basis.
Rural landscapes are also in rapid change in response to natural and social processes of transformation. These changes course challenges but do also offer new opportunities.
The aim of the course is to present knowledge about contemporary
landscape changes and its driving forces and to give insights into
theories and methods to identify landscape characteristics,
qualities, values and sustainability. In addition, the course will
present knowledge about policy approaches and strategies for the
protection, preservation and enhancement of rural landscapes. The
course gives insight into some of the core issues of the M.Sc.
education in Nature Management. The course also constitutes an
important supplement to candidates involved in studies of
sustainability science, forestry, agronomy, biology, geography,
environmental management, environmental anthropology and rural
sociology.
Teaching is organized around three themes:
(1) Methods for analysis, assessment and evaluation of
landscapes, including an introduction to: Spatial analysis and
categorization of landscapes, visual analysis, value- and
vulnerability analyses as well as an introduction to the concept of
landscape character assessment.
(2) Methods for examining preferences, values and
attitudes in relation to landscapes, including: interviews and
different types of preference examination methods.
(3) Policy approachesand strategies for the
protection and enhancement of rural landscapes,
including: Designations and regulation, Agri-environmental
policies and other incentives, Persuasion, Public
participation, Planning processes and Mediation of
dialogues.
On completion of the course, students should able to demonstrate
the following skills and competences and have knowlede of:
Competences:
- Formulate and communicate policies and strategies for the protection, maintenance and enhancement of rural landscapes
- Hold a critical and reflective view on contemporary approaches and strategies related to the use and protection of rural landscapes
- Discuss rural landscape policies and strategies in a wider context
- Work as an individual as well as in groups with people from different disciplines
Skills:
- Apply methods for description, analysis and assessment of landscapes
- Apply methods for examination of preferences, values and attitudes
- Translate landscape assessments in to policies and actions
- Formulate goals for the protection, maintenance and enhancement of rural landscapes
- Identifify policy instruments for the protection, maintenance and enhancement of rural landscapes
- Describe planning processes for the involvment of citizens in the planning process
Knowledge of:
- Contemporary trajectories of landscape change, their driving forces and impacts
- Methods for analysis, description and assessment of landscapes
- Methods for examination of preferences, values and attitudes
- Principles of planning and policies related to the protection, maintenance and enhancement of rural landscapes
- Policy instruments for the protection, maintenance and enhancement of rural landscapes
- Digital map data
A text book supplemented with ann electronic compendium with
seleceted articles
- Category
- Hours
- Lectures
- 45
- Preparation
- 107
- Exercises
- 45
- Excursions
- 9
- Total
- 206
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- Written assignment, during course
- Type of assessment details
- At the end of the course 2-3 papers have to be submitted. This delivery constitutes the exam. The papers are related to both the course literature and the exercises assigned throughout the course. Each paper has to be prepared individually. The background material on which papers build may be derived partly from exercise work done in groups during the course. A list of compulsory paper topics will be ready by the beginning of the course.
- Aid
- All aids allowed
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
SeveraliInternal examiners
- Re-exam
Re-submission of papers from ordinary examination, followed by 15 minuttes oral examination. A combined grade is given after the oral exam.
Criteria for exam assesment
See learning outcomes
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- LNAK10073U
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
- 1 block
- Placement
- Block 2
- Schedule
- B
- Course capacity
- 40
The number of seats may be reduced in the late registration period
Study board
- Study Board of Geosciences and Management
Contracting department
- Department of Geoscience and Natural Resource Management
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Science
Course Coordinators
- Andreas Aagaard Christensen (anaach@ign.ku.dk)
- Lone Søderkvist Kristensen (lokr@ign.ku.dk)