Managing and conserving biodiversity is of critical importance for its intrinsic value and because of the ecosystem services it provides for human societies and their development. This specialisation focuses on the science of biodiversity and the challenges associated with its conservation and management in the face of global change. Courses draw upon the Fenner School’s leading research in biodiversity conservation and landscape ecology and engagement in contemporary biodiversity issues. Australia is a mega-diverse country and therefore represents an excellent field laboratory for the study of biodiversity. Field-based learning is a key component of courses in the specialisation, utilising extensive natural areas in and around the Australian National University and our Kioloa field station on the south-east coast.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
1. Analyse critically and reflect on the processes that shape biodiversity and the scientific principles that underpin its conservation and management
2. Understand and apply the tools employed by conservation biologists and land managers to describe, assess, quantify and map biodiversity, including laboratory and field techniques, simulation modelling and data analyses
3. Evaluate and interpret the social, economic, legal and political frameworks under which biodiversity conservation must operate
4. Synthesise and critically reflect on theory and applications in biodiversity conservation and management, and communicate this effectively to specialist and non-specialist audiences
Relevant Degrees
Requirements
This specialisation requires the completion of 24 units, which must consist of:
6 units from completion of the following course(s):
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ENVS6024 | Biodiversity Conservation | 6 |
6 units from completion of the following course(s):
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ENVS6021 | Participatory Resource Management: Working with Communities and Stakeholders | 6 |
| ENVS6033 | International Environmental Policy | 6 |
| ENVS6528 | Environmental Policy | 6 |
12 units from completion of the following course(s):
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ENVS6023 | Vegetation and Soils | 6 |
| ENVS6026 | Managing Forested Landscapes | 6 |
| ENVS6203 | Biodiversity and Landscape Ecology | 6 |
| ENVS6304 | Land and Catchment Management | 6 |
| ENVS6308 | Fire in the Environment | 6 |
| ENVS6514 | Ecological Assessment and Management | 6 |
