INNOVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

The course is part of the training activities characterizing the Master's Degree in Environmental Sciences - Global Environmental Change and aims at introducing students to the principles of natural resource management and current challenges that arise in implementing operational tools in a changing world.
This course is designed to raise students' awareness of the state of natural resources globally and the need for more effective, innovative approaches, helping students develop critical skills in choosing the right tools to address management issues of natural resources at different scales and in a multidisciplinary perspective.
The main focus of the course is on innovation methods and tools to analyse the interactions between the natural and anthropogenic components of the socio-ecosystems.
The spatial and temporal dynamics of phenomena are explored through concrete examples taken mainly from forest and agricultural systems.

1. Knowledge and understanding
1.1 Understand and recognize the relationships of interdependence that link anthropic activities and natural resources
1.2 Know the main tools for analysis and territorial assessment to support planning
1.3 Understand the links between development, well-being and exhaustible and non-natural resources.
2 Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
2.1 Use analysis tools such as indicators and evaluation indices in a territorial context
2.2 Apply simple spatial, dynamic and integrated models
2.3 Apply evaluation methods to support decisions
3 Ability to judge
3.1 Reflect on the relationships between economic activities and the environment with integrated analysis tools
3.2 Choose between different approaches for sustainability measurement and environmental assessment
3.3 Reflecting on sustainability as a criterion for territorial economic development.

There are no prerequisites, but basic knowledge of ecology, economics, statistics is helpful

• Introduction to Natural Resources Management (NRM) in the context of global change
• A framework for understanding socio-ecosystem sustainability and related concepts (vulnerability, adaptability, Resilience, etc)
• Sustainable decisions in a changing world: a conceptual framework
• NRM and sustainable development: main issues in the management of natural resources in forestry and agriculture
• Interactions between social and ecological systems: the case of ecosystem services and their economic valuation
• Water resources management and climate change adaptation
Each topic is treated with reference to a specific example of innovative methods and tools and one or more case studies.

Teaching materials (slides and further readings) are made available by the instructor through the Moodle platform

A report on a case study selected in agreement with the instructor (65%) and an oral presentation (25%), regular attendance and participation to class activities and discussions (10%).

The course foresees a series of lectures making use of powerpoint presentations made available to students since the beginning of the course, group works and questions/answers (written or oral) to monitor learning progress

The blog functionality provided by the Moodle platform is used for on-line communication with students.

English

Course materials (powerpoint slides, homework, readings, etc.) can be found in the Ca' Foscari Moodle web site: http://moodle.unive.it/

written and oral

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Natural capital and environmental quality" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development