Conservation biology

The courses present four aspects of conservation biology based on current scientific research in this discipline:  

1. Introduction to biodiversity conservation(BC): definition of conservation biology. Why conserve biodiversity? Who are the main players in BC and what role does science play in BC? 
2. Species conservation: Which species are priorities? How can species be conserved? How can we tell if a species is "well conserved"? 
3. Conserving spaces: Which spaces are priorities? How can spaces be conserved? 
4. Does conservation work?The importance of social acceptability and political commitment. The need for biodiversity indicators and measuring the impact of conservation. 

Students also carry out group work in which they present a BC project, focusing on the following questions: why, what, where, how, how much does it cost, and how can we know if it is effective? 

- Good level of spoken and written English 

- Basic knowledge of ecology 

- Basic knowledge of biodiversity conservation 

All teaching is conducted in English.

- Understand the main scales, tools, and actors involved in conservation 

- Understand key concepts in conservation biology  

- Understand the main criteria for prioritizing conservation actions  

- Develop a critical mindset regarding the effectiveness of conservation actions