Expertise and Management of Natural and Human-Made Environments 1

General Objectives: To understand the methods and tools required for the assessment and management of natural and human-altered areas. To develop a scientific mindset in the implementation of protocols (rigor, relevance, etc.) and in the ability to adapt methods (self-directed learning, use of knowledge-tracking tools, etc.).

Upon completion of this module, learners will have the skills to implement biodiversity assessment methods necessary for developing management plans or conducting expert assessments requested of public agencies (ONCFS, national parks, research laboratories, etc.) or consulting firms. This module includes the ability to critically evaluate objectives and methods.

The course is divided into three units

Segment 1: Preparing a Naturalist Assessment

By the end of the module, learners will be able to provide the information needed to validate a naturalist assessment. They will be familiar with bibliographic research tools. They will be able to analyze a scientific article (in English) to extract information about the methods used. They will have learned the rules for formatting reports.

Session 1: Group work: List the elements included in a naturalistic study Duration: 1.5 hours

            Analysis of studies conducted within regulatory frameworks: management plans, National Action Plans (NAPs), DOCOBs, impact assessments, etc.

            Sessions 2 & 3: Reading Articles - Duration: 6 hours

Work on content (technical vocabulary) and work on the structure of articles.

This work is based on an analysis of the content of two recent articles.

Session 4: Bibliographic Research Tools and Report Formatting - Duration: 1.5 hours

Session 5: Group Work: Formatting the Naturalist Study – Duration: 3 hours.

At the end of the session, one hour is set aside to present and prepare the work to be completed remotely.

Students must write a summary on a monitoring method associated with a given organism or taxonomic group. Time required: 6 hours.

Work-study students must find an existing summary of a monitoring method associated with a specific taxonomic organism or group. Time required: 1 hour.

Session 2: Conducting a Naturalist Survey

            By the end of this unit, learners will have reviewed the regulatory provisions governing protected species and protected areas.  They will be familiar with the regulatory procedures required to conduct field surveys, including access to private land and intellectual property rights related to naturalist data… In addition, they will be familiar with the different types of protocols (based on student presentations from the summary exercise in Module 1).

            Sessions 1, 2, and 3: Overview of the regulations required for naturalist assessment.

Sessions 4 & 5: Learner presentations on methods.

Presentations are prepared at the beginning of the session over a 30-minute period using a computer connected to the Internet and a guide sheet. Presentations last 5 minutes. Each presentation is followed by 5 minutes of discussion.

Segment 3: Sharing Naturalist Expertise

By the end of the lesson, students will be familiar with the rules of oral communication (particularly the use of slide presentations). They will also be able to enter natural history data into natural history databases.

Sessions 1, 2, and 3: Work based on the students' presentations (sequence 2)

Overview and Application of the Rules for Oral Communication

Sessions 4 & 5: Management of natural history data and integration into the databases associated with the SINP.

- Professional experience in biodiversity management

- Use standard digital tools and IT security guidelines to collect, process, produce, and disseminate information

Module from the Professional Bachelor's Degree in Natural Area Studies and Development

Module that follows the work-study program schedule

Understand the process of knowledge formation in various disciplines

English: Know the scientific vocabulary associated with the various disciplines; understand a simple written or oral scientific source; be able to understand a general-interest document in English (written, oral, or video)

Be able to apply concepts and tools from various disciplines to analyze a document, an observation, or the results of an experiment

Be able to search for and extract information critically, prioritize information sources, assess their reliability, and synthesize the information

Be able to deliver an oral presentation and write a scientific report, using illustrations and a presentation style appropriate for the target audience, with the help of appropriate computer tools