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Unit of Study ENVR3004 - Protected Area Management (2023)

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Unit Snapshot

  • 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. As such, priority will be given to students in their final year of study. Students must attend a compulsory 3-day field camp departing from the Lismore campus (or agreed alternative). No private vehicles will be allowed. Travel to the field site will be arranged to depart from the Lismore campus the day before the field camp. Details with dates will be available in O Week or you can email the Unit Assessor on debra.stokes@scu.edu.au for dates. Students are expected to contribute to food costs. You will be advised of cost in Week 1.

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

  • Types of protected area (International Union for Conservation of Nature [IUCN] Categories; World Heritage Areas; Australian and NSW systems), and management agencies and responsibilities.
  • Protected areas and biodiversity conservation.
  • Human cultural heritage conservation and management.
  • Visitor impact and management.
  • Protection of ecosystems (features of 'value' such as geological formations, hydrological networks, landscapes).
  • Planning and managing protected areas.

Availabilities

Location Domestic International
Lismore
Term5
Term5
Online
Term5
N/A

Learning outcomes

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:

define the major threats to biodiversity in Australia and the role of protected areas in biodiversity conservation, tourism and protection of cultural heritage.

assess the importance of integrative management of protected areas that encompasses cultural and biological values, threat management and future planning.

design techniques for education and interpretation in protected area management.

Prescribed learning resources

Prescribed Texts
  • No prescribed texts.
Prescribed Resources/Equipment

  • Students will require access to the web to view or download the open source document used to support learning material (web links provided in Week 1). 

    • COVERED shoes (and wetsuit boots if you have them). Please NO THONGS/SANDALS as you will need covered shoes for all scheduled activities
    • plate, bowl, mug, cutlery, tea-towel/s
    • a tent, thermarest/mattress, sleeping bag and pillow; a CHAIR will make you more comfortable
    • sun protection, especially a good hat
    • clothes for the week (cool & WARM gear)
    • notepad and pens; camera, binoculars, books and a torch
    • art materials, musical instruments
    • computer and internet access.

Prescribed Learning Resources may change in future Teaching Periods.