MSc - Conservation Management

What you will learn

Compulsory modules in the key areas of conservation management provide the foundational knowledge for the degree.

In the first semester, students learn about the emerging conservation issues and agendas, considering both ecological and human dimensions. Core research skills needed to understand conservation management, and to interpret and perform research are also acquired in this semester.

The second semester covers legislation impacting the conservation sector, and the social, economic and ecological contexts for sustainable management strategies of key natural resource systems.

Optional modules allow for diversification and specialisation among students within the programme e.g. learning specialised technologies involved in Landscape Ecology and Forests, or Natural Resource Management.

The conservation management field course enables students to experience the research approaches introduced in the Masters Programme in practice, and across a distinct array of habitats to those found in the Lake District.

The summer dissertation project offers the opportunity for students to immerse themselves in a self-led piece of original research on their chosen aspect of conservation management.

Modules

Priorities in Conservation

• Demonstrate detailed knowledge of how Multilateral Environmental Agreements operate and critically review the impacts of global conservation conventions on conservation.
• Critically review how changing priorities in conservation affect applied conservation management over time.
• Critically evaluate the evidence base for key conservation issues from multidisciplinary perspectives.

Human Dimensions in Conservation

• Critically review the human dimensions associated with contemporary conservation and their impacts.
• Identify and critically review how the human-environment interface differs between social settings and impacts project management.
• Identify the skills and strategies used to resolve negative/conflict scenarios and critically review their success in aiding project progression.
• Demonstrate practical skills in designing and facilitating stakeholder engagement processes, including participatory methods and co-management strategies.

Research Skills

• Review research & data to identify their strengths/areas for improvement.
• Undertake research tasks with growing independence & proficiency, demonstrating critical thinking & problem-solving skills.
• Perform & interpret core subject-specific statistical analyses with precision & effectiveness, showcasing statistical tools.
• Critically appraise quantitative & qualitative methods employed in current research.
• Assess how research, policy & impact are interrelated, evaluating how research findings influence policy decisions & societal outcomes.

Conservation Governance and Legal Tools

• At a given nation state scale, identify and critically review the governance and legislative frameworks and processes supporting conservation aims.
• At the global to nation state interface, identify and critically review the mechanisms and processes of implementation by which Multilateral Environmental Agreements are enacted nationally and their impacts for conservation within state.
• Critically assess the effectiveness of top-down governance approaches compared to community-based or market-based approaches.
• Critically consider the role of Indigenous Local Knowledge (ILKs), local norms and other cultural perspectives, how they have been considered within conservation projects and their impacts on project management.

Landscape Ecology and Forests

• Discuss key concepts in landscape ecology.
• Critically evaluate spatial & temporal patterns in species & habitats.
• Critically assess natural & anthropogenic influences on landscape patterns & processes in forestry.

Natural Resource Management

• Critically review the interactions between global commerce and natural resource use.
• Critically review cost-benefit analyses and how they are used to inform conservation policy and practice.
• Critically examine key models and concepts and apply them in community-based sustainable development projects.

Conservation Management in Practice

• Demonstrate the ability to apply theoretical conservation principles to practical field scenarios.
• Develop and implement a field-based conservation project, including planning, execution, and evaluation.
• Critically reflect on the challenges and outcomes of field-based conservation efforts and identify areas for improvement.
• Utilize key aspects of project management, such as task allocation, stakeholder engagement, and monitoring, in field-based conservation activities.

Dissertation

• Critically evaluate the literature to formulate a robust research question & methodology.
• Identify, evaluate & conform to recognised data & project management, health & safety, ethical & legal requirements prior to implementation.
• Apply appropriate methodologies to collect & manage data to address your research question.
• Analyse, interpret & critically evaluate findings using appropriate techniques, drawing valid conclusions with consideration of the appropriate literature.
• Communicate findings, using a variety of format outputs, inclusive of digital tools where applicable.

A B.Sc.(Hons.) or equivalent in a related area with a minimum 2:2 grade.