Tropical Environments in the Anthropocene

Code

GEOG3057

School

Geography

Level

3

Credits

20

Semesters

Spring UK

Summary

Tropical environments are some of the most important ecosystems on the planet. Their terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems hold over 75% of global biodiversity, their forests contribute to climate change mitigation and they provide resources that both directly and indirectly support millions of people. However, tropical environments are also subject to pervasive and interacting stressors. They are set within a socio-economic context that includes an ever-growing population, growing pressures from an increasingly globalized world as well as weak governance. As a result of increasing human exploration and activity, these ecosystems are increasingly being lost or degraded, polluted, overexploited, and invaded by non-native species, which permanently alters their biodiversity and their ecosystem functioning and processes often with global consequences.

This module will draw from a variety of geographical themes to explore the importance of tropical terrestrial and aquatic environments in the earth’s system as well as the threats and debates that may determine their future. Drawing on examples, case studies and practical exercises based on both terrestrial and aquatic tropical environments, the module will explore the uses and management of tropical environments, their local and global consequences, and some of the methods that have been developed to model and monitor human impacts in these ecosystems.

Target Students

Available to level 3 or 4 students, on Natural Science plans, Life Sciences plans, Bioscience plans, Environmental Science plans, BA Hons Geography, BSc Geography, or BSC Environmental Sciences (2+2) Ningbo.

Classes

Teaching will take place through a mixture of lectures, seminars, workshops and computer practicals.

Assessment

• 60% Coursework: 2,500 words
• 40% Electronic Exam (2-hour): Electronic exam

Assessed by end of spring semester

Educational Aims

Learning Outcomes

a. Knowledge and Understanding:

• Develop deeper understanding of the importance of tropical environments in the earth’s system.
• Develop in-depth knowledge of the human and societal impacts and threats on a variety of tropical environments as well as their global consequences.
• Identify key research and applied challenges to tropical environments.
• Appreciate the complexities of challenges faced by tropical environments.

b. Intellectual Skills:

• Critically evaluate scientific evidence to inform problems and challenges in tropical environments.
• Appreciate and justify policy and environmental management decision-making on tropical environment at various scales.#
• Gather and synthesize multiple lines of evidence to persuasively argue.    

c. Professional Practical Skills:

• Assess and summarize scientific evidence and literature on a subject of high international priority.
• Use a wide range of methods to track and assess impact on tropical environments.
• Use the most recent evidence from the scientific community and beyond to inform decision-making processes.

d. Transferable Skills:

• Frame and scope complex challenges faced by tropical environments.
• Communicate ideas, finding, principles and theories effectively and fluently by written and oral means.

Conveners

• Professor Geertje Van Der Heijden