Description

Island Conservation in Action

Description - summary of the module content

Module description

This module consists of a ten-day fieldwork research study trip to Tenerife (Canary Islands) where several protected areas and conservation-related institutions are housed. You are required to review the material relating to environmental and conservation biology issues (papers, books, reports, webpages, etc.) before the trip in order to obtain a deeper understanding of the environmental problems related with mass tourism and agriculture in Tenerife. The module is delivered in part with La Laguna University, where students and staff from both institutions simultaneously undertake a programme of study that includes several excursions.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The aim of this module is to gain practical experience in island biodiversity and conservation, and consolidate learning over the previous seven months. The module explores a real model system (Tenerife, Canary Islands) and how biodiversity is protected through several natural area networks and species catalogues, despite being subjected to increasing economic development and mass tourism. You will meet with local policy makers and the technical staff of these protected areas to complement the theoretical approach developed during the MSc course.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Discuss the main impacts that the economic development model is exerting over the natural areas
• 2. Propose solutions for making compatible conservation and local population development
• 3. Discuss the political criteria existing behind the conservation decisions

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 4. Apply statistical and modelling skills to understand and interpret quantitative analyses using the more important statistical computational tools and packages
• 5. Analyse scientific results and determine their strength and validity

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 6. Communicate effectively through oral presentations, written reports, posters and scientific publication
• 7. Demonstrate management skills, such as decision-making, problem definition, project design and evaluation, risk management, teamwork and coordination, and resource and time management
• 8. Integrate and evaluate information from a variety of sources using state-of-the-art communications

Syllabus plan

Syllabus plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that they syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

Island Conservation in Action:

• Visit to the protected areas of the Canary Islands local network and Natura 2000 European network: Teno Rural Park, Anaga Rural Park, Malpaís de Güímar Special Natural Reserve and Las Cañadas del Teide National Park
• Discussion with conservation experts about the main problems faced in the different areas visited and the on-going restoration and conservation programs carried out there
• Visit to Tenerife’s Island Council Environmental Department and discussion with policy makers and civil servants about the main goals of conservation efforts on Tenerife
• Visit to the Canarian Government Environmental Department and analysis of the conservation plans for recovering threatened plant and animal endemic species
• Visit to La Laguna University and contact with staff and students of the local Island Biodiversity and Conservation MSc
• Natural areas webs coexisting in the Canaries
• Tenerife natural areas organisation and management
• Tenerife endangered species management
• Tenerife on-going ecological restoration projects
• Climate change impact on the Canaries

Learning and teaching

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Assessment

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Re-assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

One assessment is required for this module. In all cases re-assessment will be the same as the original assessment. Where you have been referred/deferred for any form of assessment detailed above you will have the opportunity to retake within the period specified above from the date that feedback was provided.

If you pass re-assessments taken as a result of deferral, your re-assessment will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment and the overall module mark will not be capped.

If you pass re-assessments taken as a result of referral (i.e. following initial failure in the assessment), the overall module mark will be capped at 50%.

Resources

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

• Ashmole, P. & Ashmole, M. (2017) Natural History of Tenerife. Whittles.
• Fernández-Palacios et al. (2007) Los bosques termófilos de Canarias. Cabildo Insular de Tenerife [on line version available].
• Fernández-Palacios, J.M. et al. (2019) The Laurisilva. Canaries, Madeira and Azores. Macaronesia Editorial

Module has an active ELE page

Indicative learning resources - Other resources

• A booklet about the excursion (to be prepared) with important logistic and scientific info will be given to student groups with enough time. Contents of this booklet will include:
  • pdfs of relevant (biodiversity and conservation) literature
  • web addresses of institutions to be visited
  • map of the island protected areas
  • logistic info

Key words search

Island, biodiversity, paleoecology, conservation, fieldwork, ecology, protection, species, catalogue