Overview

This module will look at sustainable development which is based on effective ways of protecting the environment, prudent use of natural resources, maintenance of stable and flourishing communities where everyone’s needs are met. Thus changing and contested discourses of power, community, distinctiveness of place and social progress will also be considered along side effective environmental planning and management methods. These entail specific examples of tools applied for working towards, managing and monitoring sustainability will be presented e.g. Footprint analysis, Eco Systems services and specific case studies where these have and are being applied will be utilised from real contrasting geographical areas. The module will draw on existing community energy, regeneration and tourism-related initiatives at local, regional and national level and provide critical commentary on their relative effectiveness and lessons learnt relating to sustainability. In order to examine strategic economic activity within the scope of sustainability theoretical discussion of several contexts will be examined in detail e.g. Local Food Initiatives, Sustainable Tourism, Sustainable Agriculture. This will include the basic global principles of sustainable tourism and how these have been variously applied in different contexts through charters and protocols. The development of the concept of sustainability will be examined in a general introduction to the changing population, resource technological and development debate. The economic theories relating to the wise management of natural resource will be explored along with the notion of governance for sustainable development involving international actors as well as exploring the relationships between TNC’s and Campaigning groups. Students will be consier specific case study scenarios involving techniques currently used by local sustainability practitioners and individually in quantitative assessment. In past years some of these projects will involve community organisations local to North Wales. This will include consideration of the mode of delivering sustainable development in protected areas eg Mon AONB or Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty as a potential model approach to a sustainably managed protected area which emphasises high environmental quality and adding value and appreciation through integrated land use and activity management.

Assessment Strategy

-threshold -Threshold (Standard Pass: D– to D+)a.No major omissions or inaccuracies in the deployment of information/skills.b.Some grasp of theoretical/conceptual/practical elements.c.Integration of theory/practice/information present intermittently in pursuit of the assessed work's objectives.d.Use of primary literature.

-good -Good (Average to high standard Pass: C– to B+)a.Much or most of the relevant information and skills accurately displayed.b.Good/adequate grasp of theoretical/conceptual/practical elements.c.Good/fair integration of theory/practice/information in the pursuit of the assessed work's objectives.d.Evidence of the use of creative and reflective skills.e. Critical use of primary and other literature cited in the lecture.

-excellent -Excellent (Excellent standard First Class: A– to A**)a.An outstanding performance, exceptionally able.b.The relevant information accurately deployed.c.Excellent grasp of theoretical/conceptual/practice elements.d.Good integration of theory/practice/information in pursuit of the assessed work's objectives.e.Strong evidence of the use of creative and reflective skills.f.Critical use of literature beyond that cited in the lecture.

Learning Outcomes

• Appreciate the differing geographical contexts where this notion of development may be applied.

• Describe a range of methods and tools used in the managing and monitoring of sustainability, e.g. water

• Develop soft project management skills and knowledge involved with sustainable development practice

• Experience and recall lecture based and field based evidence of specific contexts of sustainable resource management e.g. energy, tourism, eco systems services

• Understand and apply field research techniques such as conducting resource audits, consulting with key stakeholders, understanding human impact and other activity data and trend analysis in order to develop strategic and sustainable area and regional action plans .

• Understand how both scientific knowledge and socio economic understanding is applied to the wise management of different types of resources at community and /or global and local scale.

• Understand the origin of the theory of sustainable development