Course aims:

-understand the concept of management of protected areas and the conservation of biological diversity
-understanding the mechanisms of management of protected areas and their rules
-understanding the impact of anthropogenic activities on the environment of protected areas of community interes

Course Entry Requirements:

No restrictions

Course contents:

Course content: -Introduction. What are protected areas. Protected area management categories -Legislative aspects governing protected areas -Identifying and monitoring the habitats of shrubs, swamps, rocks and forests -Identification and monitoring of marine species and coastal and marine habitats of Community interest -Identification and monitoring of salt, dune, continental, grassland, freshwater habitats -Identification and monitoring of plant species of community interest -Identification and monitoring of fish species of Community interest -Identification and monitoring of invertebrate species of community interest -Identification and monitoring of mammal species of community interest -Identification and monitoring of reptile and amphibian species of community interest -Identification and monitoring of bat species of community interest -Identification and monitoring of bird species of Community interest -Identification and monitoring of invasive species -Management of protected areas

Teaching methods:

Lecture, Multimedia presentations

Learning outcomes:

The course aims to help students to understand the concept of management of protected areas and the conservation of biological diversity, understanding the mechanisms of management of protected areas and their rules, understanding the impact of anthropogenic activities on the environment of protected areas of community interest, interpretation of qualitative and quantitative indicators, define different categories of protected areas

Learning outcomes verification and assessment criteria:

A two-hour written examination (70% of the final grade). Project. (30% of the final grade)

Recommended reading:

Michael Lockwood, Graeme Worboys and Ashish Kothari, Managing Protected Areas: A Global Guide, Earthscan, London, 2006, 1-802.
Mézard, Nadine ; Sundseth, Kerstin ; Wegefelt, Susanne, Natura 2000 Protecting Europe’s biodiversity, Information Press, Oxford, 2008, 1-292.
European Union, LIFE improving the conservation status of species and habitats Habitats Directive Article 17 report, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxemburg, 2010, 1-84.