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The theoretical module (24h) comprises 12 lectures lasting 2 hours each. The lectures are going to be presented by eight professors – conservation biologists of five different countries. They will cover a wide spectrum of current conservation issues, linking the biological sciences with social sciences, economics and policy-making, addressing many case studies, real paradigms and generating fruitful discussions.
L1: Biodiversity value and loss: is conservation biology the answer?
Dr. Andrew Ramsey, University of Cumbria, UK
Introductory data are given presenting the current biodiversity crisis era, referring to current alteration of ecosystem functioning and to current extinction rhythms of species. The value of biological diversity is emphasized for ethical and anthropocentric reasons. The main principles of conservation biology are presented, as a new multidisciplinary science that can provide solutions against the biodiversity crisis era.
L2: Endangered species action plans and conservation risk assessments
Dr. Adriana Vella. University of Malta, Malta
In this lecture we will present the basic principles of wildlife management with special focus on endangered species. Case studies of the implementation of action plans for endangered species after appropriate conservation risk assessments have been carried out will be presented.
L3: Vikos-Aoos National Park: ecological value and conservation
Haritakis Papaioannou (MSc). University of Ioannina, Greece.
This lecture presents practical issues of protected areas management, taking as a case study the Vikos-Aoos National Park, where the summer school is held. The flora and fauna of the Park are going to be presented, together with the history of its creation, current threats to biodiversity and the existing mechanisms for its management in practice.
L4: Freshwater management and European Policy
Dr. Maria Lazaridou. Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Water policy is one of the crucial issues European Union, scientists and society face nowadays. The Directive 2000/60/EU is the European legal frame for the management and conservation of freshwater ecosystems. The lecture presents the objective and the frame of the above Directive. The main target is to monitor on permanent basis the ecological quality of water using biological, hydromorpological and physico-chemical data, so as to maintain good water quality status until 2015.
L5: Plant diversity in the Mediterranean hotspot
Dr. Giorgos Korakis. Democritus University of Thrace.
The Mediterannean area is one of the global biodiversity hotspots regarding plant diversity and endemism. This lecture will focus on the importance of Mediterranean flora in terms of biogeography and endemism. We will talk about the Mediterranean landscape and habitat types, as well as about human land use and impact on the ecosystems. Case studies will illustrate the above issues.
L6: Conserving biota in a changing climate
Dr. Peter Gilchrist. Jacobs Ltd, UK.
Climate change is it the most important impact facing biological systems on the planet? What will it mean and what can we do to conserve our biota? Is multi-stakeholder co-operation and regional planning the answer?
L7: Designing protected areas: theory and practice
Dr. Vassiliki Kati, University of Ioannina, Greece.
This lecture will present the available methodologies and approaches to design protected areas so as to maximize biodiversity conservation within optimal ecological networks. We will discuss about the reserve selection problem at different areas on Earth and at different scales and finally we will talk about practical reserve selection and management issues in Europe, considering the European ecological network Natura 2000.
L8: Ecological economics: foundation for sustainable nature conservation
to be confirmed
The lecture will present basic principles of Ecological Economics, and compare those to standard neoclassical economic paradigms and principles. The basic obstacles for nature conservation imposed by the standard market approach will be explained and illustrated. Models and routes on how to better integrate nature conservation and economy driven interests under the market system will be discussed.
L9: The role of ecology in development
Dr. Peter Gilchrist. Technical Director & Ecology Discipline Lead, Edinburgh, UK
Increasingly ecology is being used as both a tool to legitimise development as well as the tool to control it. The paradox of conservation biology as a profession in Europe and the ethics of working within the system to conserve and protect endangered biology.
L10: Conservation policy: the nature conservation and society interface in cultural landscapes
to be confirmed
The course will outline some of the basic challenges nature conservation faces in a cultural landscape context. These challenges include conservation on private lands and active participation by land users and other stakeholders. Model programs and projects from the South German State of Baden-Württemberg will be presented and critically evaluated
L11: Ecological networking: conservation outside protected areas
Dr. Renato Massa, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy
This lecture intends to discuss the problem of locating and managing various types of corridors and buffer zones to connect core (protected) areas and to give a perspective of persistence to those species that still have important populations on lands whose fate may very soon change dramatically. It focuses on ecological networks and the possible ways to locate them and validate their location.
L12: Conservation biology in practice
Dr. Andrew Ramsey, University of Cumbria, UK
What are the practical tools we dispose in order to face the biodiversity crisis? A review of research methods and conservation tools is going to be presented, in the field of biodiversity conservation. Furthermore, effective conservation biology often requires the reversal of anthropogenic processes. By understanding the principles behind creating functional ecosystems we can effect population stabilisation and growth can be achieved. Restoration ecology issues
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