Learning objectives
The course is offered to students of the 2nd year of the second degree who are expected to deal with the assessment and management of complex environmental issues that are relevant to human society. Specifically, this course deals with challenging issue for the XXI century, namely the provision of goods and ecosystem services to the human society andthecapacity to stop ecosystem degradation and to start ecosystem restoration.
Students will develop skills, synthesis, critical evaluation of of the main issues offered by the course.
Learning skills: ability to identify, learn and apply analytical methodologies useful for the collection of environemnetal data.f
Making judgement: ability to develop independent assessments by crossing the criteria of scientific approach with the methodologies applied in the national and international application context.
Communication skills: to learn the basic concepts of the dissemination of technical-scientific content in order to allow the correct transfer of information.
Prerequisites
See the individual modules for details
Course unit content
The course composes of two modules: the first deals with functions, services and restoration of ecosystems, the second concerns quality, functionality and sustainable use of soils.
The first module deals with the study of ecosystem services and green and blue infrastructures as systems that guarantee their provision. The ecological issues are integrated with the economic ones to evaluate the potential and limits of ecosystem services in the environmental management. General principles and case studies on regeneration and restoration air of degraded ecosystems are also covered. In the first module, mainly aquatic ecosystems and wetlands are considered.
The second module deals with the study of soils in relation to the ecosystem services it offers. Soil biodiversity and food webs are analyzed in functional terms. Particular attention is paid to soil degradation and loss and to the strategies implemented to combat them. A particular focus is dedicated to the management of agricultural and forest soils.
Both modules make extensive use of case studies.
Full programme
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Bibliography
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Teaching methods
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Assessment methods and criteria
La valutazione dell'apprendimento è fatta con un esame alla fine di ogni modulo. Il voto finale è dato dalla media dei voti dei due singoli esami. Per maggiori dettagli si vedano i singoli moduli
Other information
See the individual modules for details
