Principles of Environmental Management

DESCRIPTION:
An introduction to the basic principles, significant underlying concepts and techniques of environmental management. Issues like uncertainty and public goods and their relation to environmental management as well as cases of environmental management practices in different settings are discussed.

RATIONALE: 
All human activities impact on the environment. Economic development, as it has been implemented in recent decades, has negative impacts on the environment and our societies. We need to reconsider how we use and manage natural resources so that sustainable development is possible. Environmental management is a political process. Its different dimensions (technical, political, socio-economic and cultural) as well as basic issues that underlie an environmental management plan should be understood. As a field of study, environmental management has evolved in the recent decades, following developments in our perception of the environment, in related fields (like environmental technology) and in available tools. Environmental management can be applied to different settings: from a protected habitat or a river basin, to an urban setting, a building or a corporation. Environmental management approaches may differ in some ways depending on the setting they are applied; however, their basic principles and underlying tenants are similar. These will be explored in this course.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: 
As a result of taking this course, the student should be able to:
1. Demonstrate knowledge of environmental management by being able to firstly, describe what environmental management entails and secondly, discuss the basic principles and aspects of environmental management.
2. Analyse important dimensions of an environmental management process.
3. Briefly and critically discuss and explain selected policies or tools (e.g. environmental impact assessment) related to environmental management.
4. Apply environmental management principles and theories to an analysis of selected case studies.
5. Demonstrate ability to communicate effectively in several forms (e.g. written, graphical and verbal), engage in debate in a professional manner and produce detailed and coherent project reports.

METHOD OF TEACHING AND LEARNING:
In congruence with the learning and teaching strategy of the college, the following tools are used:
• Class lectures, interactive learning (class discussions, group work), video presentations, and case studies discussed in class.
• Invited speakers and/or visits to selected sites.
• Formative activities (e.g. critical response to selected questions, discussion of case studies)
• Office hours: students are encouraged to make full use of the office hours of their instructor, where they can discuss class material or any aspect related with the course. 
• Use of a blackboard site, where instructors post lecture notes, assignment instructions, timely announcements, as well as additional resources