Learning Outcomes:
On the successful completion of the course, you should be able to:
• Describe the legal framework in place for environmental protection and conservation at different spatial scales (local, regional, national, European Union, Global);
• Understand the institutional and legal frameworks necessary for nature conservation and species protection;
• Outline, theoretically, why environmental issues arise in the first place;
• Demonstrate an awareness of the current environmental issues facing the planet, including biodiversity loss and species decline;
• Demonstrate an understanding of the rationale for the use of MBI in environmental management;
• Outline and evaluate key policy instruments for environmental protection at different spatial scales.
Indicative Module Content:
Indicative Sessions / topics
1. Introduction to the module and the lecturers
a. The need for Environmental Management: Controlling human influence on the environment
b. Population increase, poverty, rapid urbanisation,
c. Biodiversity and species loss / habitat loss
2. Market failure and externalities
a. Common Pool Resource theory
b. Need for institutional / legal frameworks outside of self-governance
c. Market failure and externalities
3. History of international environmental law
a. Overview of the international legal system, the sources and principles of international environmental law and international environmental law-making.
4. Biodiversity in international law
a. Endangered species and deforestation
b. UN Convention on biodiversity
5. Peace, war and the environment
6. WTO and international trade in endangered species
a. CITIES
7. New environmental policy instruments applied to species / habitat conservation
a. Tradeable development rights
8. Poverty, militarisation of conservation and the environment
a. Rhino poaching in South Africa
9. Sustainable development and environmental conservation
a. Gender, poverty, property rights
b. Human-animal conflicts
10. Class presentations and feedback