2022/23 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

BLGY5135M Conservation Project Management

15 creditsClass Size: 40

Module manager: Dr Maria Beger
Email: M.Beger@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2022/23

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

This module represents an exciting opportunity to visit and learn from one of the world’s leading conservation organisations. The Durrell Institute, based at Jersey Zoo, will deliver key teaching in practical conservation. The focus will be on project planning, management, and evaluation. There will also be guidance on grant writing and leadership skills. The Institute will provide a residential case study in the role of zoos in education and research as well as introducing students to the use of IUCN data and the creation of species recovery programmes. Taken together, the two-week course will be an immersive, exciting opportunity to learn about the practical side of conservation from leading experts.

Objectives

There is a considerable gap between an understanding of the academic aspects of conservation science and the effective application of that knowledge in the field. In this module, we set out to train conservation scientists in the project management skills that are needed to become truly effective conservation scientists. The module will focus on project planning using Conservation Management Plans (CMPs) in the open standards framework. Along the way, students will learn about the application of IUCN datasets, design of species recovery plans and the development of broader skills including teamwork and grant writing.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, students will be able to:
1. Apply the Open Standards in conservation framework (based in Miradi) to plan and adaptively manage their own projects;
2. Critically evaluate the use of ex situ methods (captive breeding, zoos) in the conservation of habitats and species;
3. Critically evaluate conservation actions using the Durrell approach (the Durrell Index);
4. Design species recovery plans for a species of conservation interest;
5. Understand and be able to interrogate the IUCN Red List and associated datasets;
6. Write effective grant applications for conservation funding.

Skills outcomes
This module is designed around the practical development of skills. The module will deliver generic transferable skills in planning and organisation, but also a more formal framework in conservation open standards. Students will also develop skills in conservation grant writing and the evaluation of conservation projects.

Syllabus

The module covers a range of key skills, taught within the context of contemporary conservation issues. The first part of the course will take participants through the five-step approach of the CMP Open Standards (see https://conservationstandards.org/), with a focus on Step 1 and Step 2. The workshop offers a mix of theory, practice, reflection and peer review. The trainer will introduce you to the theory through presentations. You will then put theory into practice during group work sessions focusing on a case study before sharing your results with other groups. All groups will share their lessons learned and thoughts in plenary. There will be extensive training in conservation grant writing, leadership skills, Community working, and conservation education. The module will be run at Jersey Zoo, in association with the Durrell Institute and so opportunities will be taken to discuss the Institute’s role in a wide range of conservation projects. These projects will focus on the role of disease, species recovery, and species captive breeding.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lectures	20	1.00	20.00
Seminars	20	2.00	40.00
Private study hours			90.00
Total Contact hours			60.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			150.00

Private study

Students will be given a set of preparatory materials to work through prior to the course, including a guide to case studies led by the Durrell Institute. These materials will ensure that students can make the most of the time on Jersey. After the course, students will work on their individual assessments.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

There will be time dedicated to feedback on the group presentation during the course within a discussion setting. The species recovery plan will be released before departure on the field course, discussed explicitly in sessions on recovery plans, and there will be a discussion session scheduled between the end of the field course and the submission date. A Minerva discussion board will be available throughout the course for students to ask any questions.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Project	Report: Species recovery plan (2,500 words), incorporating data from IUCN, in situ/ex situ methods	60.00
Group Project	Conservation project proposal delivered as a group (10 minutes) on final day of field course	40.00
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: 14/10/2022

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