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Unit of Study BIO00244 - Protected Area Management (2020)

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Unit Snapshot

  • Pre-requisites

    168 credit points in any SCU unit.

  • Enrolment information

    This unit is a capstone unit that requires students to integrate a body of knowledge from many units which may include science, resource management, geography or indigenous studies from a range of degrees across the university and to apply it to the planning, management and interpretation of protected areas. This unit is offered in Study period 5 with the Blackboard site open in Study period 4. Students must attend a compulsory 7-day (6-night) field camp departing from the Lismore campus (or agreed alternative). No private vehicles will be allowed. Students are expected to contribute to food costs of approx. $260 for the week.

Unit description

Examines issues relating to the management of visitors, Indigenous and cultural heritage of terrestrial and marine environments. Special emphasis is placed on Australian and local (Northern NSW) case studies, techniques for conservation, and practical field experience in developing management plans for local terrestrial or marine protected areas. Students gain 'hands on' skills useful in future careers through interactions with park staff, Indigenous rangers and community organisations.

Unit content

  • Status of global and Australian biodiversity and environments and reasons for establishment of protected areas.
  • Theory and principles of conservation biology (revision of biology and ecology; units of conservation; classification of threat; population ecology and management; impacts on physical, genetic, species and communities and their management; sustainable environmental use).
  • Types of terrestrial and marine protected area (IUCN Categories; World Heritage Areas; Australian and NSW systems), and management agencies and responsibilities. 
  • Marine protected areas, habitat protection and fisheries management.
  • Human cultural heritage conservation and management.
  • Planning processes, management strategies and production of plans of management.
  • Site management and restoration.
  • Education and interpretation in protected areas.
  • Parks and people (human ecology, Indigenous issues, public participation in planning and management, alternative management models (co-management, conservation outside protected areas, private reserves), carrying capacity concepts, economic values, user pays, ecotourism, disaster management and dealing with wildlife issues.
  • Strategic planning and large ecosystem approach, cultural heritage conservation, integrated catchment management and multiple-use managed areas.

Availabilities

Location Domestic International
Online
Study Period6
Study Period6

Learning outcomes and graduate attributes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

GA1: Intellectual rigour, GA2: Creativity, GA3: Ethical practice, GA4: Knowledge of a discipline, GA5: Lifelong learning, GA6: Communication and social skills, GA7: Cultural competence
Learning outcome count Learning outcome description GA1 GA2 GA3 GA4 GA5 GA6 GA7
1 discuss the major issues and threats to terrestrial and marine biodiversity in Australia and the role of protected areas in biodiversity conservation, recreation, tourism, and protection of cultural heritage
2 explain the importance of the integrative basis for management of linked ecosystems and human settlements at various scales, particularly large ecosystem management and integrated catchment management
3 apply skills developed to analyse the principles and methods for environmental restoration and apply these to the development of a management plan for a protected area
4 analyse and evaluate techniques for education and interpretation and public participation in protected area planning and management processes
5 demonstrate the ability to work as part of a team and understanding of group processes.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. discuss the major issues and threats to terrestrial and marine biodiversity in Australia and the role of protected areas in biodiversity conservation, recreation, tourism, and protection of cultural heritage
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
    • GA5:
    • GA6:
    • GA7:
  2. explain the importance of the integrative basis for management of linked ecosystems and human settlements at various scales, particularly large ecosystem management and integrated catchment management
    • GA1:
    • GA3:
    • GA4:
    • GA6:
  3. apply skills developed to analyse the principles and methods for environmental restoration and apply these to the development of a management plan for a protected area
    • GA1:
    • GA2:
    • GA3:
    • GA4:
    • GA6:
  4. analyse and evaluate techniques for education and interpretation and public participation in protected area planning and management processes
    • GA2:
    • GA5:
    • GA6:
    • GA7:
  5. demonstrate the ability to work as part of a team and understanding of group processes.
    • GA5:
    • GA6:
    • GA7:

Prescribed learning resources

Prescribed Texts
  • No prescribed texts.

Prescribed Learning Resources may change in future Teaching Periods.