Urban ecology

The expansion of the urban environment is leading to the fragmentation/destruction of natural habitats, conservation problems and a change in the relationship between man and nature. However, urban spaces can also be home to significant biodiversity in close proximity to man, which can then be used for conservation, awareness-raising, improving human well-being or even therapeutic purposes. It's a tall order to try to work in ecology while denying the existence and consequences of the urban environment and its particularities. The aim of this course is to help future ecology professionals find a compromise between urban development and respect for nature. Through courses given by a variety of professionals and a field trip to Montpellier, students will discover where (associations, consultancies, local authorities, etc.), with whom and how an ecologist can act in urban ecology.

Knowledge of ecology at undergraduate level is required

-explain the particularities of biodiversity in an urban environment and the constraints it faces 

-understand the challenges of regional planning

 -understand the different phases of a land development project and the players involved

-criticize the ecological aspects of an urban development project

-propose measures to maintain and/or promote biodiversity in urban environments

-reconciling biodiversity issues and development on a regional scale