Run by School of Natural Sciences

10.000 Credits or 5.000 ECTS Credits

Semester 1

Organiser: Miss Meryl Furlong

To provide students with a detailed knowledge of a current issue in the area of climate change, forests and livelihoods to be determined by the module organiser. The issue will be a topic currently at the forefront of debate, both in the popular media and scientific literature (e.g. carbon sequestration by forests). To allow students to develop their abilities in using online distance learning methods.

This module is comprised of 2 introductory sub-modules (3 e-lessons each), 7 core content sub-modules (3-6 e-lessons each), plus one (optional) supplementary sub-module. 1. Introduction (un-assessed) - Starting up 2. Introduction (un-assessed) - Are you climate friendly? 3. The climate issues: IPCC forecasts; community-based resilience; strategies to react. 4. Best practices: Project activities; Additionality; Permanence; Leakage; Co-benefits. 5. Policy-Institutional initiatives: UNFCC; CDM JI; Post-Kyoto; REDD+. 6. Policy-Voluntary initiatives What and why; Who is who; Fields of activities; Prices & trends; Carbon washing. 7. Carbon standards: Why and what; Types of standards; Who does what; Registries; Case studies. 8. Project building-1: Actiors’ map; Project phases; Validation and certification; Fundraising; monitoring; Discounting and credit marketing. 9. Project building-2: Testing Additionality; Baseline calculations; Estimating permanence; Estimating leakage. 10. Supplementary (un-assessed) - Ready to be a CO2 hero?: Synergies with forest management standards; benefit sharing mechanisms; local and indigenous community participation.

threshold

Successful completion of 3 – 4 sub-modules. Examination mark 40-50%

good

Successful completion of 5 - 6 sub-modules. Examination mark 50-80%

excellent

Successful completion of all 7 sub-modules. Examination mark >80%

1. Evaluate critically the arguments associated with a specific forestry issue.

2. Demonstrate an understanding of how this issue is perceived by the scientists, policy makers, other stakeholders and the general public

3. Study and critique a range of scientific literature and explain and illustrate specific aspects of the chosen topic

4. Use online distance learning technologies to direct and assess students’ own specific learning activities

5. Communicate effectively and succinctly, and in a timely fashion, through e-communication channels.

Type	Name	Description	Weight
	report		100.00

		Hours
Private study	Independent and guided self-study	62
Lecture	38 online E-lessons	38

• Literacy - Proficiency in reading and writing through a variety of media
• Computer Literacy - Proficiency in using a varied range of computer software
• Self-Management - Able to work unsupervised in an efficient, punctual and structured manner. To examine the outcomes of tasks and events, and judge levels of quality and importance
• Exploring - Able to investigate, research and consider alternatives
• Information retrieval - Able to access different and multiple sources of information
• Critical analysis & Problem Solving - Able to deconstruct and analyse problems or complex situations. To find solutions to problems through analyses and exploration of all possibilities using appropriate methods, rescources and creativity.
• Presentation - Able to clearly present information and explanations to an audience. Through the written or oral mode of communication accurately and concisely.
• Argument - Able to put forward, debate and justify an opinion or a course of action, with an individual or in a wider group setting

• Recognize and apply appropriate theories and concepts from a range of disciplines.
• Consider issues from a range of interdisciplinary perspectives.
• Apply subject knowledge to the understanding and addressing of problems.
• Engagement with current developments in the biosciences and their application.
• Appreciation of the complexity and diversity of life processes through the study of organisms.
• Understand the provisional nature of information and appreciate competing and alternative explanations.
• Recognize the moral, ethical and social issues relating to the subject.

Compulsory in courses:

• D5AB: MSc Sustainable Forest and Nature Management year 1 (MSC/SFNM)