2008/09 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

GEOG3340 Environment and Development in South East Asia

20 creditsClass Size: 95

Module manager: Dr Alan Grainger
Email: a.grainger@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2008/09

This module is approved as an Elective

Module summary

Environment and Development in SE Asia introduces you to the practicalities of balancing on a national scale aspirations for economic and social development against the need to conserve environments in the region, within the constraints imposed by the fragile environments of the humid tropics and international pressures for sustainable development and good governance.Alan Grainger has worked in the region for almost 30 years, so you will be able to share his insights into how societies, politics and government departments actually function there, how the state sphere of the national core relates to the worlds of farmers and loggers in the forested periphery, and how the latest developments in literatures on development, politics, organization theory and international relations theory shed light on this field.

Objectives

This module will examine the difficulties faced by countries in Southeast Asia in achieving development under the constraints of fragile environments. It looks in particular at how countries balance the need to increase food and timber production against the need to sustain the environmental basis for these industries and to conserve nature in general. The first half of the module pays particular attention to Indonesia and Malaysia while the second half looks at detailed case studies of the Philippines and Thailand. On completion of the module students will have developed skills in land use planning, sustainability assessment, the interpretation of deforestation models, and the analysis of policies and organizations.

Skills outcomes
A Knowledge and Understanding
A2 The diversity of global environments and the operation of, and inter-relationships between physical and biological systems over a wide range of spatial and temporal scales
A3 Patterns and processes of environmental change and their inter-relationships with human activities
A4 Spatial patterns and relationships in human phenomena at a variety of scales
A6 The geographies of difference and inequality with particular reference to historical development
A7 Contemporary debates about time-space relationships, globalization and global interconnections
A8 The role of changes in technology, the nature of work and labour markets in influencing spatial patterns of economic activity
A9 The theory and application of quantitative, visualisation and other spatial techniques across a wide range of geographical contexts
A10 The contribution of geography to development of environmental political, economic and cultural agendas, policies and practices

B Cognitive skills
B1 Abstraction and synthesis of information from a variety of sources
B2 Assessment and critical evaluation of the merits of contrasting theories, explanations, policies
B3 Critical analysis and interpretation of data and text
B4 Developing reasoned arguments
B5 Solving problems and making reasoned decisions

C Practical/professional skills
C2 Undertake effective laboratory and field work (with due regard for safety and risk assessment)
C4 Collect, interpret and synthesise different types of quantitative and qualitative geographical data
C5 Recognise the ethical issues involved in geographical debates and enquiries

D Key skills
D1 Learn in familiar and unfamiliar situations
D2 Communicate effectively (in writing, verbally and through graphical presentations)
D3 Apply numerical and computational skills to geographical information
D4 Use information technology effectively (including use of spreadsheet, database and word processing programmes; Internet and e-mail)
D5 Identify, retrieve, sort and exchange geographical information using a wide range of sources
D6 Work as part of a team and to recognise and respect the viewpoints of others
D7 Manage time and organise work effectively

Syllabus

1. Sustaining Development in Fragile Environments
2. The View From the Periphery: Shifting Cultivation in Malaysia
3. The View of the State: Rational Planning for Food Security and Quality of Life in Indonesia
4. The International Dimension: the Modern Plantation Economy
5. How Sustainable is Tropical Forest Management?
6. The International Dimension: the Tropical Hardwood Trade and Forest Certification
7. Reading Week
8. Exploring the Links between Deforestation and Development
9. The Role of Government Policy in Forest Management in the Philippines
10. The Effectiveness of State Forest Institutions in the Philippines and Thailand
11. The Politics of Controlling Deforestation in the Philippines and Thailand

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	10	1.50	15.00
Seminar	10	0.50	5.00
Private study hours			180.00
Total Contact hours			20.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

110 hours - reading to support lectures and seminar discussion
70 hours - revision and preparation for examination

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Through seminar discussions

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Written Work	2,000 word coursework	33.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		33.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Exams

Exam type	Exam duration	% of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc)	2 hr 00 mins	67.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)		67.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 10/03/2009

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