Conservation Biology

The courses cover four aspects of conservation biology, drawing on current scientific research in this field:  

1. Introduction to Biodiversity Conservation(BC): Definition of Conservation Biology. Why conserve biodiversity? Who are the key players in BC, and what is the role of science in BC? 
2. Species Conservation: Which species are priorities? How can we conserve species? How do we know if a species is “well conserved”? 
3. Conservation of Areas: Which areas are priorities? How can we conserve these areas? 
4. Does Conservation Work?The Importance of Social Acceptance and Political Commitment. The Need for Biodiversity Indicators and for Measuring the Impact of Conservation. 

Students also work in groups to present a community library project, addressing the following questions: Why, what, where, how, how much does it cost, and how can we tell if it’s effective? 

- Good spoken and written English skills 

- Basic knowledge of ecology 

- Basic knowledge of biodiversity conservation 

All instruction is conducted in English.

- Understand the main levels, tools, and stakeholders in conservation 

- Understand key concepts in conservation biology  

- Understand the main criteria for prioritizing conservation efforts  

- Develop a critical perspective on the effectiveness of conservation efforts