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Unit of Study FOR00110 - Natural Resources Policy (2020)

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Unit Snapshot

  • Pre-requisites

    192 credit points in any SCU units

  • Enrolment information

    To be successful in this unit students require a sound understanding of ecological principles and processes and how these apply to natural resource management. Students need to be able to integrate this knowledge and apply it to the critical review and analysis or existing policy frameworks, identifying policy gaps, inconsistencies and shortcomings, and identifying ways in which policy could be used to achieve more effective outcomes for natural resource management. Therefore, prior study should include units relevant to biology, ecology and natural resource management. Students will need to bring a computer or device to tutorials as access to the internet is often required for tutorial exercises. Online students need reliable access to the internet to download recorded lectures, tutorial exercises and other study materials. There is no residential school for this unit.

Unit description

Develops an understanding of the need for environmental and natural resource policy, the process by which such policy is developed, and the constraints facing policy makers. In such a short unit, it is only possible to investigate a selection of natural resource policies, full coverage of all policies will not be possible in the time allowed. In particular, this unit will assist students to develop the following skills and values: conceptual understanding of the importance of environmental policy using language appropriate to the profession written communication sustainability reasoned debate, exchange of views and presentation skills.

Unit content

  • Policy foundations – environmental and natural resource policy
  • How is policy developed? Policy at different scales – key attributes and challenges
  • Forest policy in Australia and internationally
  • Land use policy
  • Policy to support biodiversity
  • Marine policy and the oceans
  • Energy policy
  • Property rights
  • Global climate policy: why is it needed?
  • Policy integration and wrap up

Availabilities

Location Domestic International
Lismore
Session1
Session1
Online
Session1
N/A

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 understand the objectives of environmental and natural resource policy in the context of ecological, economic and socially sustainable development
2 appreciate the differences between policies at different spatial scales (local, state, federal, and global)
3 develop an overview of current environmental and natural resource policies in Australia
4 critically evaluate current policies in a variety of natural resource sectors
5 understand the role of Australia in international environmental policies.

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

  1. understand the objectives of environmental and natural resource policy in the context of ecological, economic and socially sustainable development
    • GA1:
    • GA2:
    • GA3:
    • GA4:
    • GA5:
    • GA6:
    • GA7:
  2. appreciate the differences between policies at different spatial scales (local, state, federal, and global)
    • GA1:
    • GA2:
    • GA3:
    • GA4:
    • GA6:
    • GA7:
  3. develop an overview of current environmental and natural resource policies in Australia
    • GA1:
    • GA2:
    • GA3:
    • GA4:
    • GA6:
    • GA7:
  4. critically evaluate current policies in a variety of natural resource sectors
    • GA1:
    • GA2:
    • GA3:
    • GA4:
    • GA6:
    • GA7:
  5. understand the role of Australia in international environmental policies.
    • GA1:
    • GA2:
    • GA3:
    • GA4:
    • GA6:
    • GA7:

Prescribed learning resources

Prescribed Texts
  • Prescribed text information is not currently available.

Prescribed Learning Resources may change in future Teaching Periods.