Course Catalogue

ES 231 Natural Resource Management

Programme: B.A. Environmental Studies

Credit value: 12

Level: Year 2, Semester 3

General objectives

This module aims at providing students with a detailed understanding of the three main renewable natural resources: biodiversity; soil, agriculture and animal husbandry; and forests, all of which continue to form an important element of the livelihoods of most Bhutanese. The module also aims at providing the students with in-depth understanding of the issues surrounding different types of forest management as well as soils and agriculture and pastures and animal husbandry. Main focus will be on the ways in which the renewable natural resources sector can be made more sustainable to ensure its contribution in the future. The module will enrich the acquired knowledge by providing practical experience and examples.

Learning outcomes

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

  • state and assess the importance of biodiversity for human beings as well as adopt the idea of an intrinsic or existence value to biodiversity;

·      describe the various options that exist for biodiversity management in particular through laws and regulations and protected area management and develop these within the context of Bhutan;

·      express insight into recent issues relating to biodiversity in Bhutan as well as globally;

·      develop critical-thinking and problem-solving skills towards current issues in biodiversity management;

·      describe the different forest types that exist and some of the characteristic species as well as their functions, the uses and the threats to them;

·      describe and implement the various management approaches that exist for forest resources in a hypothetical setting;

·      assess the dependence of agriculture on soils and describe the various problems related to soil degradation;

·      list and review the various agricultural and animal husbandry practices that exist and their respective advantages and disadvantages from environmental, economical and social point of view;

·      discern the limitations of conventional agriculture, animal husbandry and forest management practices;

·      describe, compare and choose the options that exist to make forestry, animal husbandry and agriculture more sustainable;

·      assess the current situation of agriculture, animal husbandry and forestry in Bhutan and select the preferable way ahead;

·      apply the theoretical knowledge gained in (hypothetical) real-world cases.

Approach to learning and teaching

The course will consist of 15 teaching weeks, one self-study week and two examination weeks. For the first 12 weeks each week will consist of:

  • 2 theory hours per week during which the theoretical background of biodiversity and biodiversity management will be dealt with in detail.
  • 3 hours of tutorials which will either consist of field trips in the locality to gain first-hand experience with renewable natural resources (forest management units, social forestry sites, PFO Khangma etc.); guest lectures and visits by people working in the area of renewable natural resource management (DFO, DAO, DAHO, park managers), and individual and group assignments related to research articles and current issues related to biodiversity.
  • 3 hours of self-study per week.

The last three weeks will focus on the field work. In the first week there will be 3 hours of preparatory lectures including a guest lecture. The second week will have a 3 or 4 day fieldtrip to Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary, Thrumshingla National Park, or the Kangpara Conservation Area. The last week will have 3 hours of guided lectures during which students will be assisted in finalising the group reports on the field visit.

Assessment

  • End of semester examination                    20%
  • Individual assignments                              20%
  • Group assignments                                    60%

Prerequisite: EVS 111 Introduction to the Environment

Course content

Biodiversity

·      genetic, species and ecological diversity including microbial, plant and animal diversity;

·      relevance and evolutionary significance;

·      biodiversity at local, national and global levels;

·      measures and documentation of biodiversity;

·      functions and values of biodiversity;

·      biodiversity loss and threats to biodiversity including extinction;

·      biodiversity ‘hot spots’;

·      biodiversity protection at genetic, species and ecosystem level (wildlife protection laws, gene banks, reserves and national parks, botanical gardens and zoos).

Forestry

  • recognition of vegetation types and animal species within the context of ecosystems;
  • functions and types of threats to and importance of forests in general and in Bhutan in particular;
  • forest management (clear cutting, rotational forestry, selective cutting and social forestry);
  • Forest Management Units;
  • the five stages in the history of forestry in the world and the local and national objectives of Social Forestry interventions;
  • forest fires, their causes, effects and solutions;

Agriculture

  • the components, profiles, texture and horizons, functions, factors affecting efficacy, phases in the formation of soil;
  • the categories, causes and mechanisms of soil degradation;
  • the condition of soils across the globe;
  • agricultural practices and developments (traditional and industrial agriculture and livestock production systems, shifting cultivation, green revolution) and the food sources they produce;
  • livelihoods and agricultural products in the agro-ecological zones of Bhutan;
  • sustainable agriculture (IPM, soil conservation, organic farming).

Natural resource economics

  • property rights and tragedy of the commons;
  • cost benefit analysis and the environment;
  • natural resources scarcity and the theory of depletion;
  • minerals, energy, and economic growth - beyond petroleum in the 21st century;
  • conflicts and choices in biodiversity preservation;
  • trade and the environment.

Reading list

Texts

  1. Brady N. C & Weil, R. P., 2001, The nature and properties of soil. Pearson Education India
  2. Foth, H. D & Turk, L. M., 1990, Fundamentals of soil science. Wiley
  3. Kumar, H. D., 1999, Biodiversity & Sustainable Conservation. Oxford and IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi
  4. Rose, C. W., 2004, An Introduction to the Environmental Physics of Soil, Water and Watersheds. Cambridge University Press.

References

  1. Acquaah, G., 2004, Principles of crop production: theory, techniques and technology. Prentice Hall.
  2. Chapman, J. L., 1997, Biodiversity: The Abundance of Life. Cambridge University Press.
  3. Cunningham, W. P and Cunningham, M. A, 2004, Principles of environmental science: inquiry and application. Tata McGrawHill
  4. Hambler, C., 2004, Conservation. Cambridge University Press.
  5. Hanumantha Rao , C. H., 2006, Agriculture, Food Security, Poverty, and Environment Essays on Post-reform India. Oxford University Press India.
  6. Ministry of Agriculture, 1998, Biodiversity Action Plan for Bhutan. Ministry of Agriculture, Royal Government of Bhutan.
  7. Ministry of Agriculture, 2000, Forest and Nature Conservation Rules of Bhutan 2000. Ministry of Agriculture, Royal Government of Bhutan.
  8. Norris, R. F., Caswell-Chen E. P & Kogan, M., 2002, Concepts in Integrated Pest Management. Prentice Hall.
  9. Wild, A., 1993, Soils and the environment. Cambridge University Press
  10. Wild, A, 2003, Soils, land and food: managing soils during the 21st century. Cambridge University Press.
  11. Rana, S. V. S., 2005, Ecology and Environmental Science. Prentice Hal of India. New Delhi
  12. Riordan, T. O & Stoll-Kleeman, S., 2002, Biodiversity, Sustainability and Human Communities Protecting Beyond the Protected. Cambridge University Press.
  13. Roling N. G & Wagemakers, M. A. E., 1998, Facilitating Sustainable Agriculture. Cambridge University Press.
  14. Weddel, B. J., Conserving Living Natural Resources in the Context of a Changing World. Cambridge University Press

 
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