Course Description

Asia harbors mega-biodiversity and unique ecosystems while Asia is also home to more than half of the world’s population with the fastest growing economies in the world. Balancing conservation and economic development is a key for achieving sustainable development while at the same time a big challenge for going forward. Therefore, this course will deliver knowledge and key concepts on forest conservation issues in Asia, and regional strategies, programs, and practices for restoring critical landscapes, rehabilitating terrestrial ecosystems and conservation of flagship species. After completion of this course, students will develop critical analytical thinking, reflective judgement and enhance their skills finding effective solutions to conservation issue through reviewing relevant policies and practices and discussing real life conservation issues in Asia particularly focusing on Northeast Asia, South Asia and South-east Asia. It is expected that students will actively participate in the discussion, conduct self-reflection, peer reviews and collaborative work with their peers for co-creation of knowledge to master shifting paradigms, policy and process in conservation and development issue in Asia. Acquiring these knowledge and skills, we believe, contributes for broader understanding of global sustainability.

Target Audience

This course is designed for graduate level students as well as advanced-level undergraduates studying environmental, natural resource management, conservation and forest science degrees. Students are expected to have a basic understanding in a range of disciplines such as environmental science, natural resource management, ecology and conservation science, refresher readings will be provided in case students are unfamiliar with those concepts and disciplines.

Course Prerequisites

There is not a pre-requisites for this course but students are expected to have understanding of basic concept and theory of natural resource management, ecology, conservation science and environmental science. Refresher readings will be provided whenever necessary.