Aims & objectives

This course aims at developing an in-depth understanding of the theory and application of ecosystem management, through field experience and lectures. It is intended to: (i) introduce students to integrated ecosystem and natural resources management; (ii) provide students with an overview of the environmental, social and economic principles that form the basis for ecosystem management; (iii) assist students develop the skills necessary to understand how general scientific principles are translated into management plans for ecological systems, and (iv) help students develop critical thinking and synthesis skills in order to evaluate the adequacy of existing ecosystem management plans and to assess the consequences of alternative policy scenarios. Full advantage is taken of the ample opportunities provided by the island of Lesvos to study ecosystem management in practice. Lesvos is an island with a long history of human habitation and impacts of human activities, a wealth of natural and semi-natural ecosystems and biodiversity, conflicting interests of land use and pressures on the environment which are representative of most regions in the south of Europe. Therefore, the purpose of this course is to assess the environment of Lesvos as an island region, because of its unique features that make it an excellent case study.

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course a successful student should be able to:

1. Understand and use basic concepts of ecosystem management theory

2. Understand the complexity and meaning of the Man/Nature interaction and how it evolved through time

3. Understand components of ecosystem structure and function on different scales

4. Handle and utilise available quantitative and qualitative data sets to identify critical elements, to reach conclusions and to make decisions for ecosystem management

Coordinator: Prof. C. P. Halvadakis

Credits: 6

Duration: 4 weeks