Conservation of Biological Diversity

Code: BIO14006I

3 ECTS

Duration: 15 weeks/78 hours

Scientific Area: Biological Sciences

Teaching languages: Portuguese

Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese

Presentation

Sustainable Development Goals

Saúde e bem-estar - Assegurar uma vida saudável e promover o bem-estar para todos, em todas as idades.

Educação de qualidade - Assegurar a educação inclusiva, e equitativa e de qualidade, e promover oportunidades de aprendizagem ao longo da vida para todos.

Ação contra a mudança global do clima - Tomar medidas urgentes para combater a mudança climática e seus impactos (*).

Vida na água - Conservação e uso sustentável dos oceanos, dos mares, e dos recursos marinhos para o desenvolvimento sustentável.

Vida terrestre - Proteger, recuperar e promover o uso sustentável dos ecossistemas terrestres, gerir de forma sustentável as florestas, combater a desertificação, deter e reverter a degradação da Terra e deter a perda da biodiversidade.

Learning Goals

OBJECTIVES
1. Recognize the scope of biological diversity and its importance for the quality of life of humans
2. Be aware of the Planet Earth state of emergency and what are the causes
3. Recognize the current sharp decline in biological diversity and the main threats for this diversity
4. Develop a critical capacity in the analysis and discussion of issues related to the conservation of biological diversity
5. Understand that the conservation of biological diversity depends on a multidisciplinary cooperation (ecology, economics, sociology) and that it will only be successful if the mainstreaming of this diversity is promoted at all stages of political decision about new projects or infrastructures.

COMPETENCES
Develop the following generic skills: reading in English; integrate information from different sources and produce consensus, autonomous work and independent learning; encouragement of entrepreneurship by proposing solutions to specific problems in conservation.

- What is biological diversity? Importance; spatio-temporal patterns; how to evaluate
- Current status and main threats to biological diversity: Habitat degradation / fragmentation; introduction of exotic species; overexploitation; diseases, global changes
- Objectives and tools to assess the threat of biological diversity and measures to reverse the situation. UICN Conservation Statutes; international conventions / directives; Natura2000 network; European biodiversity strategy; Aichi goals
- Ecosystem services and functions: type of services and importance for human well-being
- Management and Conservation of Biodiversity: Evaluation of priorities and planning in Conservation; restoration / rehabilitation of ecosystems; conservation outside protected areas; Conservation in / ex situ
- Health: human diseases, domestic animals, wildlife and environmental health. The effects of habitat reduction and intensification of farming in increasing the risk of zoonoses.

Teaching Methods

Theory in oral lessons; talking and discussion, thematic seminars; computer simulations; filed visits.

Evaluation will be based on the elaboration of a short reports based on the analysis of scientific papers (30%) on written testes (70%)

Autonomous study will be supported by tutorial hours and e-learning.