Module Code and Title:       BDC202 Biodiversity Conservation and Management 

Programme:                          BSc in Environmental Management

Credit:                                                12

Module Tutor(s):                   Bikram Sharma (Coordinator), Tshewang Dorji, Kinley Dorji

General objective: This module aims to teach important aspects of biodiversity conservation and management starting with pertinent threats to biodiversity. The module discusses frameworks and practical approaches to conserving biodiversity, sustainable utilization and equitable benefit-sharing.

Learning outcomes – On completion of the module, students will be able to:

1. Discuss the impacts of different threats to biodiversity.
2. Describe common conservation approaches.
3. Explain the significance of ecosystem-based approaches in biodiversity conservation and management in the face of climate change.
4. Describe the importance of biosecurity and use of integrated approaches to manage it. 
5. Discuss the ethical and ownership issues surrounding the use of genetic resources.
6. Discuss frameworks available to ensure sustainable and equitable access and benefit sharing of biological resources.
7. Evaluate the conservation approaches implemented in Bhutan.
8. Explain the significance of various national and international policies and conventions on biodiversity conservation and management.

Learning and teaching approach:

Assessment Approach: 

1. Individual Written assignment: 15%

The tutor will provide approximately 10 recently published research articles about biodiversity conservation and management from Bhutan and abroad related to themes like biodiversity management practices, regimes, issues, stories of success and failure, factors, gaps, and opportunities. Students will individually write a review paper of 1000-1250 words selecting one common theme that runs through at least 3 of the articles and synthesizing the article’s findings on that theme.

Part A: Draft: 5%

2%       Content (originality, approach, result/discussion, scholarship) 

1%       Focus (relevance, organization, conclusion)

2%       Language (style, mechanics) 

Part B: Final submission: 10%

2%       Depending on how many comments from the draft are incorporated for the final submission, the tutor can award them negative marking.

3%       Synthesis of the information (includes an explanation of a key concept or process from the module, and well-supported argument for how their subject illustrates the concept or process taught in the class)

3%       Analytical thinking (discuss the best practices of biodiversity conservation and propose remedial measures to reduce threats to different biodiversity, discuss different conservation techniques)

2%       Mechanics (Language and referencing)

2. Forum discussions via VLE: 15%

Discussion 1 (5%): conservation challenges and threats

Discussion 2 (5%): use of various biological resources, traditional knowledge systems, and benefit sharing

Discussion 3 (5%): policy and legal frameworks for biodiversity conservation and management

The VLE forum discussions will be hosted over one day each, spread out over the semester. Students will be given readings on issues related to the upcoming discussion topic to be read, then reflected upon/discussed together in the VLE forum. Each student will have to participate with appropriate discussion points in the VLE forums in line to the flow of discussions therein. Students may make multiple posts as appropriate totalling to approximately 300-500 words for each discussion. The contributions will be cumulatively assessed once a particular discussion concludes.

3%       Quality of analysis (originality, thoughtfulness of reflection, use of relevant and adequate support for all claims made, ties analysis to relevant module concepts)

2%       Articulation, accuracy, and completeness

3. Block-week field-visit report:15%

A week-long field visit to Wangdue Phodrang and Punakha will be undertaken this semester. In the field, students will observe, interact and discuss with the people involved (community people, government officials, and private firms) in the conservation and management of biodiversity through management of protected area, community forest, wetland and habitat of Black Necked Cranes. Students are expected to employ an inquiry-based learning approach to develop technical competency of observing, collecting, interpreting, recording and evaluating various types of information. 

Students in groups of four will produce a block-week field visit report (1250-1500) consisting of reports for individual visits reported by individual students. The group report must also have an overall organisation and structure as given in the criteria. The reports must capture an adequate description of management practices (for protected area, community forest, wetland and habitat of Black Necked Crane) explaining the concepts of biodiversity conservation and management, theories of species level/ecosystem level conservation, principles of stakeholder participation in resources access, use and management, and overall management plan including key challenges and limitations.

Group assessment on common portions of the report (5%)

1%       Organisation and structure (Introduction, methodology, discussion, and conclusion)

3%       Quality of content across the Introduction (Clarity and focus, significance and proposition), Methodology (Accuracy/reliability - measurement instrument, collection, analyses, and context), Overall discussion (Interpretation and description, argument, and proposed perspectives)

1%       Mechanics (language, correct use of figures and tables, citation and referencing)

Individual assessment on report portions related to individual areas visited (10%)

4%       Synthesis of the information (well-supported argument for how their subject illustrates the concept or process taught in the class)

3%       Analytical thinking (critically discuss the opportunities, limitations and best practices of biodiversity conservation with the adequate logical background supports)

3%       Mechanics (Language and vocabulary usage)

4. Midterm Examination: 15% 

Students will take a written exam of 1.5-hr duration covering topics up to the mid-point of the semester. The exam will comprise structured questions like MCQ, fill-in-the-blanks, matching, definition, as well as open-ended essay questions.

5. Semester-End Examination: 40%

Students will take a written exam of 2.5-hr duration encompassing all the subject matter covered in the semester. This assessment is comprehensive and summative in nature, and will comprise structured questions like MCQ, fill-in-the-blanks, matching, definition, as well as open-ended essay questions.

Overview of assessment approaches and weighting

Pre-requisites: BDC201 Fundamentals of Biodiversity

Subject matter:

1. Unit I: Biodiversity conservation issues
   1. Habitat loss
      1. Definition and descriptions of habitat reduction and habitat fragmentation
      2. Causes of habitat loss (terrestrial and marine)
      3. Effects of habitat loss: Initial exclusion, Isolation, Insular/Island biogeography, Edge effect
   2. Climate change effects: Reproduction timing, Migration timing, Length of growing seasons for plants, Geographic distribution, Population size, Invasive plant, Extinction, Disturbance regime and ecosystem change
   3. Overexploitation/Unsustainable use
      1. Resource-use conflicts (scarcity, abundance and inequality)
      2. Forest resources, marine resources, water resources etc.
      3. Cascading effect 
      4. International wildlife trade
   4. Invasive alien species: Endemic areas, Stages of the biological invasions, Ingression, Cases of worst invasive alien species globally and locally
   5. Environmental pollution impacts on biodiversity: Acid deposition, Toxic discharges, Biological contamination, Nutrient build up, Plastics
2. Unit Il: Conservation approaches
   1. History of biodiversity conservation efforts and approaches
   2. Biodiversity mitigation hierarchy
   3. Conservation at species and population level, opportunities and techniques available for both in situ and ex situ conservation.
   4. Conserving endangered species 
   5. Re-introduction of endangered species
   6. Management and conservation issues at the ecosystem level
      1. Definition, theory and examples of metapopulations
      2. Protected areas as a conservation tool. Types of protected areas, the criteria for their selection, ICDPS, and management
      3. Importance of non-protected areas
      4. Ecosystem service provision and the wider landscape
   7. Maintaining the flow of biodiversity
      1. Land use and development regulation 
      2. Habitat corridors and passageways 
      3. Biological dispersal zones
      4. Habitat restoration
   8. Adaptive management to reduce impacts of Climate Change
      1. Ecosystem based approach (Principles, key elements and benefits)
      2. Adaptation principles (Practical action, ecological resilience and accommodating change)
      3. Integrate action across partners and sector
      4. Develop knowledge and strategic planning
3. Unit III: Biosecurity
   1. Biosecurity
      1. Concept 
      2. Related Concepts (Biorisk, Biohazard, Biosafety, Biocontainment, Biosecurity, Biodefense, Bioweapons, Bioterrorism)
      3. History 
      4. Factor influencing it
      5. Need and benefits
   2. Components of biosecurity
      1. Plant, animal (specifically human) life and health security 
      2. Environmental protection
      3. Food safety 
      4. Environmental protection
   3. Integrated approach to biosecurity
      1. Stakeholder analysis
      2. Biodiversity linkage 
      3. Risk Analysis
      4. Primary drivers for change
4. Unit IV Access and Benefit Sharing
   1. Definition and importance
   2. Use of genetic resources 
      1. Bioprospecting (definition, benefits and disadvantages) 
      2. Genetically Modified Organism (history, scope, future prospect and   ethicality)
   3. Use of traditional knowledge
   4. Stakeholders
   5. Key agreements
      1. Prior informed consent (PIC)
      2. Mutually agreed terms (MAT)
   6. Rights & responsibilities
      1. Patents, trademark, and copyright
   7. Legal Framework for Access and Benefit Sharing
      1. Intellectual property rights (World Intellectual Property Organization)
      2. The Bonn Guidelines
      3. The Nagoya Protocol
      4. National implementation (Bhutan)
   8. Key Opportunities 
   9. Key Challenges 
5. Unit V: Policies and conventions on biodiversity and its management
   1. Relevant Laws in Bhutan: Aims/agendas and significance on biodiversity conservation and management.
      1. National Environmental Act, 2007
      2. Biodiversity Act, 2003
      3. Biosafety Bill of Bhutan, 2014
   2. Relevant International biodiversity conventions; Overview, main purposes and significance on biodiversity conservation and management:
      1. Convention on wetlands of international importance (Ramsar)
      2. Convention on International trade in endangered species (CITES)
      3. Convention on the conservation of migratory species of wild animals 
      4. International treaty on plant genetic resources for food and agriculture
      5. Convention on biological diversity
      6. World heritage convention
      7. International plant protection convention
      8. International whaling commission

List of practical work: 

A block-week field visit will be organized to Wangdue Phodrang and Punakha, shared with other modules in this semester (Site visits to Lamperi National Botanical Park, community forest in Punakha, Phobjikha wetland area):

1. Study insitu and exsitu conservation of critical plant species.
2. Study the details of community forest management practices.
3. Study the details of wetland ecosystem diversity and wetland management methods.

Reading List:

Essential Reading

Gordh, G., & McKirdy, S. (Eds.). (2014). The handbook of plant biosecurity: Principles and practices for the identification, containment and control of organisms that threaten agriculture and the environment globally. London: Springer.

Lovejoy, T.E, Hannah, L, and Wilson, E.O. (eds.). (2019). Biodiversity and climate change: Transforming the biosphere. Yale University Press.

Shiva, V. (2021). Biodiversity conservation: Whose resource? Whose knowledge? New Delhi: Indian National Trust for Art & Cultural Heritage.

Shiva, V. (2016). Biopiracy: The plunder of nature and knowledge. New Delhi: Natraj Publishers.

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (2014). The Convention on biological diversity and the Nagoya Protocol: Intellectual property implications: A handbook on the interface between global access and benefit sharing rules and intellectual property. New York: United Nations Publications (electronic copy).

Additional Reading

Ives, J. D and Messerli B. (1989). The himalayan dilemma, reconciling development and conservation. London, Tokyo, New York: Routledge. 

Lhamo, N. (2011). Health seeking behaviour related to sowa rigpa in Bhutan. Thimphu: National Institute of Traditional Medicine.

National Environment Commission. (2016). Bhutan state of the environment report 2016. Thimphu: National Environment Commission.

Ohsawa, M. (1987). Life zone ecology of the Bhutan Himalaya. Japan: Chiba University.

Pradhan, R. (1999). Rhododendrons of Bhutan. Kathmandu: Quality printers Pvt. Ltd.

Tsering, D. (2002). Public biodiversity policy analysis in Bhutan (PhD Dissertation submitted to the Institute of Technology, Zurich.) Thailand: Keen Publishing.

Wildlife Conservation Division. (2010). Analysis of the contributions of protected areas to the social and economic development of Bhutan - a case study in Bomdeling Wildlife Sanctuary. Thimphu: Ministry of Agriculture.

Wildlife Conservation Division, (2010). Analysis of the contributions of protected areas to the social and economic development of Bhutan - case study in Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park. Thimphu: Ministry of Agriculture.

Date: June 2021