Teaching Methodologies
In each topic of the program, the main concepts are presented by the teacher, followed by discussion sessions, experimental sessions and/or study visits. The experimental sessions and/or study visits are coordinated by the teacher and students work autonomously/follow-up in order to apply and develop the theoretical concepts. Student involvement will also be promoted through group work that includes structured research to answer proposed objectives, oriented by the teacher, and oral presentation to the class.
Learning Results
1. Understand the concepts of biodiversity and ecosystem services and recognize their importance from different perspectives, with particular relevance to the maintenance and enhancement of biodiversity in agricultural ecosystems; to know the various levels of organization of biodiversity;
2. Know the main threats to biodiversity and ecosystem services with particular relevance to those that are related to agricultural ecosystems, either as a target of threat or because they themselves can be a threat to biodiversity;
3. Know good practices that promote the conciliation of agricultural activity with the preservation/ conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services in a sustainable manner; agro-environmental measures.
Program
1. Introduction: concepts of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services; values related to biodiversity (environmental, consumption, production, aesthetic, etc.);
2. Importance of Biodiversity: levels (genetic, organismal, ecological); types; importance;
3. Threats to Biodiversity with particular relevance to how agricultural activities contribute to these threats and/or they threaten agricultural activities: habitat destruction and fragmentation, overexploitation of resources, invasive alien species, diseases, climate change, etc.;
4. Biodiversity Preservation/Conservation: in situ and ex situ conservation practices; human behaviour change; legislation; protected areas;
5. Examples of good practices for reconciling agricultural activity with the preservation/conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services; agro-environmental measures.
Internship(s)
NAO
Bibliography
Altieri, M. A.; Funes-Monzote, F. R.; Petersen, P. 2012. Agroecologically eficiente agri¬cultural systems for smallholder farmers: contributions to food sovereignty. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 32 (1): 1-13.
Altieri, MA. 2009. Agroecology, Small Farms, and Food Sovereignty. Monthly review 61(3): 102. DOI: 10.14452/MR-061-03-2009-07_8
IPBES. 2019. Summary for policymakers of the global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services of the Intergovernmental
Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. S. Díaz, et al. (eds.). IPBES secretariat, Bonn, Germany. 56 pages
Jackson, LE; Pascual, U; Hodgkin, T. 2007. Utilizing and conserving agro¬biodiversity in agricultural landscapes. Agriculture Ecosystems and Environment. 121: 196-210
Primack, R.B. 2014. Essential of Conservation Biology. 6th Ed. Sinauer Associates.
Sodhi, N.S. & P. R. Ehrlich. 2010. Conservation Biology for All. Oxford University Press