2021/22 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

SOEE5585M Environment & Development Case Study: from theory to practice

15 creditsClass Size: 80

Module manager: Susannah Sallu
Email: s.sallu@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2021/22

Module replaces

SOEE5499 Environment & Development Remote International Field Course

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

Using a blended learning approach – combining use of online educational materials and more traditional lecture and seminar-based teaching – this module draws on academic field-based research, local community and stakeholder perspectives from the unique case-study context in Tanzania. Focus is given to a nature reserve that protects a large expanse of tropical forest for biodiversity and water catchment purposes. The reserve is surrounded by a diverse rural community whose livelihoods are directly dependent on natural resources (agriculture, forest resources etc.). The forest is believed to play a significant role in climate regulation in the region, ensuring a temperate and moist micro-climate, whilst also providing an essential store of carbon. However, agriculture, the predominant livelihood sustaining local communities, is said to be the major driver of deforestation in Tanzania. With rising temperatures and more extreme climatic conditions affecting the productivity of rainfed agriculture, the case study provides an interesting context in which to explore academic and theory and develop better context-specific understanding of the Using a blended learning approach – combining use of online educational materials and more traditional lecture and seminar-based teaching – this module draws on academic field-based research, local community and stakeholder perspectives from the unique case-study context in Tanzania. Focus is given to a nature reserve that protects a large expanse of tropical forest for biodiversity and water catchment purposes. The reserve is surrounded by a diverse rural community whose livelihoods are directly dependent on natural resources (agriculture, forest resources etc.). The forest is believed to play a significant role in climate regulation in the region, ensuring a temperate and moist micro-climate, whilst also providing an essential store of carbon. However, agriculture, the predominant livelihood sustaining local communities, is said to be the major driver of deforestation in Tanzania. With rising temperatures and more extreme climatic conditions affecting the productivity of rainfed agriculture, the case study provides an interesting context in which to explore academic and theory and develop better context-specific understanding of the interrelationships between forest conservation, agricultural development and climate change, and associated practice. The knowledge and understanding developed in this module will be of particular interest and relevance to future environment-development and climate change and environmental governance professionals.

Objectives

Using a blended learning approach – combining use of online educational materials developed in East Africa and more traditional lecture and seminar-based teaching – this module draws on academic field-based research, local community and practitioner perspectives from a developing country case study to provide students a structured opportunity to:
1) develop knowledge of environment-development issues related to sustainability in a developing country case-study context.
2) develop in-depth understanding of the interrelationships between biodiversity conservation, climate change and sustainable rural development in a developing country context,
3) explore the diversity of academic, local community, and practitioner perspectives on these key environment-development issues, and
4) through focussed desk-based project work, critically investigate relationships between context, theory and practice.

Learning outcomes
By the end of the module students will be able to demonstrate:
1) knowledge and in-depth understanding of environment-development issues of particular relevance to a case study context in a developing country.
2) deep understanding of the interrelationships between biodiversity conservation, climate change and sustainable rural development,
3) rich contextual understanding of the diversity of academic, local community, and practitioner perspectives on key environment-development issues
4) ability to plan, develop and implement a desk-based project that critically analyses the relationships between context, theory and practice on a topic of choice in the environment-development field.

Skills outcomes
• Developing deep contextual understanding in a developing country context
• Critical analysis and evaluation of literary material and secondary data in the field on environment and human development interactions
• Desk-based research skills to inform environment-development practice
• Writing for scientific, as well as practitioner audiences
• Independent project work
• Time-management and meeting deadlines

Syllabus

• Introduction to the case study context, followed by subsequent sessions focussing on the following topics drawing on materials from the case-study context:
• Biodiversity conservation and forest governance
• Biodiversity conservation and rural livelihoods
• Biodiversity conservation and agricultural development
• Biodiversity conservation, tourism and sustainability
• Climate change, impacts, adaptation and mitigation
• Climate-compatible development
• Climate-smart agriculture and innovation

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Independent Learning	8	2.00	16.00
Lecture	8	1.00	8.00
Seminar	7	1.00	7.00
Private study hours			0.00
Total Contact hours			31.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			31.00

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Each week teaching will be composed of lecture and seminar which builds on and engages with online learning materials that students will be asked to study in preparation for class. The seminar sessions will provide room for discussion among students in small groups. Small group discussions will be monitored by staff and feedback provided.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Report	4000 words project report	100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

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: 30/06/2021 16:25:50

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