(in Polish) Applied ecosystem services
2600-AES-GC-2-S2
The lectures will focus on a biophysical perspective on natural capital, ecosystem services, and environmental accounting and provide methods to assess the value of natural capital (stocks of renewable and non-renewable natural resources) and ecosystem services (benefits humans derive from nature). In addition, lectures provide theoretical and applied knowledge on environmental accounting tools for assessing environmental footprints and sustainability indicators.
The tutorials and discussion seminars will be dedicated to introducing students to the theoretical principles of natural capital and ecosystem services. Different approaches to assessing ecosystem services, such as MA, TEEB and CICES, will be discussed. The course also covers issues related to ecosystem accounting based on SEEA-EA. Additionally, practical methods for assessing ecosystem services provided by trees in urban ecosystems and conducting life cycle assessments of selected products using appropriate software will be presented. Students will gain practical knowledge on the valuation of natural capital, ecosystem degradation and their role in human well-being, mainly on the example of the importance of green infrastructure in cities
Total student workload
Contact hours with teacher (60 hrs):
- participation in lectures - 15 hrs
- participation in tutorials -15 hrs
- participation in discussion seminars - 15 hrs
- consultation hours - 15 hrs
Self-study hours (90 hrs):
- collection and selection of relevant materials - 10 hrs
- reading reference materials - 20 hrs
- development of projects and reports - 10 hrs
- preparing presentation - 30 hrs
- developing an educational leaflet - 10 hrs
- ongoing preparation for classes - 10 hrs
Altogether: 150 hrs (5 ECTS)
Learning outcomes - knowledge
W1: Students can analyze natural resource and environmental management problems by using appropriate methods from natural science disciplines K_W02
W2: Students demonstrate knowledge of ecological principles and interdisciplinary aspects of natural resource and environmental management issues K_W02,
W3: Students are able to characterize the organization and functioning of ecological systems and the relationship between the organism and the environment K_W05
W5: Students explain the role and importance of the natural environment for human functioning; K_W13
W6: Students describe changes and environmental hazards caused by human activity on the surface of the earth, in soils and waters; K_W07
W7: Students list and describe the basic methods, technologies, and tools that allow to use of the natural potential to improve the quality of human life, as well as allow for the restoration of lost natural values; (K_W08)
Learning outcomes - skills
U1: Students communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, to diverse audiences including professionals, resource managers, local communities and policymakers; (K_U14, K_U15)
U2: Students can conduct original, independent scientific research of professional quality in their specialization area; (K_U16)
U3: Students can function as professionals in their specialization area by demonstrating responsible and ethical conduct, effective collaboration, informed decision-making, and life-long learning; K_U13, K_U16)
U4: Students use a computer to search for information, create databases, analyze data, prepare reports and present results; (K_U04)
U4: Students recognize the health and environmental hazards and put the correct hypotheses about their causes; (K_U05, K_U07)
U5: Students interpret observations and measurements and draw correct conclusions on their basis; (K_U09)
U7: Students use source information in Polish and English, carry out analyses, syntheses, summaries, critical assessments and correct conclusions; (K_U09)
Learning outcomes - social competencies
K1: Students can function as professionals in their specialization area by demonstrating responsible and ethical conduct, effective collaboration, informed decision-making, and life-long learning; (K_K01, K_K02)
K2: Students can constructively critique real or possible programs, policies, and institutions that impact ES, based on those possible impacts and the concepts of efficiency, equity, and sustainability; (K_K01; K_K03, K_K05)
K3: Students can advocate and support their views on the pros and cons of economic valuation of ecosystem services and other routes to affecting decision-making based on ecosystem services research and stakeholder input; (K_K01; K_K03, K_K07)
K4: Students are willing to work in a team as a member; (K_K11)
Teaching methods
- informative (conventional) lecture
- problem-based lecture
- presentation of a paper
- seminar
- project work
- case study
- field measurement
Observation/demonstration teaching methods
- display
Expository teaching methods
- informative (conventional) lecture
- problem-based lecture
- participatory lecture
Exploratory teaching methods
- project work
- field measurement
- observation
- presentation of a paper
- seminar
- classic problem-solving
- laboratory
- practical
Type of course
compulsory course
Prerequisites
Not applicable
Course coordinators
Assessment criteria
Assessment methods:
- presentations,
- projects,
- report,
- educational leaflet.
Involvement in a group presentation/project: 60-75% satisfactory; 76-90% good; 91-100 excellent
Lectures:
- presentations in groups W02, W07, W08, U14, U15, U04, U09, K01, K01, K02, K03, K05
Tutorials (final grade equal grade for presentation):
- projects (for a pass) - W05, U16, U04, K11
- report (for a pass) - U16, U04
- presentation in groups/pairs (for a grade) - W13, U14, U15, U04, U05, U07, U09, K11
Discussion seminars (final grade equal average grade for the following):
- individual presentation (for a grade) - W02, W07, W08, U14, U15, U04, U09, K01, K03, K05
- educational leaflet (for a grade) - W13, U13, U16, U04, K01, K03, K07
Practical placement
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors,
localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: