The following four
sets of topics were developed from the 'Jacobs Model for Youth
Links with Rangers', an education/training pilot to evaluate
the principles required to promote environmental literacy.
Cultural ecology is a mind map within which to build these
principles into a personal body of knowledge. A comparison of
the ways in which conservation management plans are made can be
seen
HERE
1 Awareness
of international/national designations, and of wider
environmental ethics and sustainable resource management, including
the history of national parks and other protected
areas.
Global
dimensions
-
International
Protected Area Management Categories (according to IUCN/WCPA) and
International Conventions: their implementation in Europe.
Differentiation between management categories II-V and knowledge
about regional peculiarities (e.g. German Naturparke, English
National Parks, French Parques regionales)
-
Category II
national parks: their roots in the USA (roles of philosophers,
writers, painters, researchers and politicians in the designation
of the first game reserves and national parks, development of the
US National Park Service), wilderness ethics and early protected
areas in Europe
-
Behaviour and
the environment: careful treatment of nature, inspired by the awe
of the living. (A. Schweitzer), thinking and acting in the sense of
sustainability;
-
Defining and
defending green heritage assets against adverse
impacts.
Local
dimensions
-
National history
of nature and landscape conservation.
-
Nature
conservation and society.
-
Aims, objectives
and tasks of nature conservation.
-
Categories of
organisations tasked with nature conservation.
-
Conflicts of
aims within nature conservation and solutions, conservation of
cultural landscapes vs. free space for natural
processes.
-
Instruments of
nature conservation.
-
Basics in nature
conservation law.
-
Legal
authorities and duties of staff in nature conservation
agencies.
2
Understanding of the dynamics of, and relationships between,
local landscape, biodiversity and culture, and the resulting
conflicts of use.
Global
dimensions
-
Interpretation
of basic ecological concepts and terms.
-
Biosphere (e.g.
changes in atmosphere and climate, ozone problems, storage of
environmentally hazard substances, function and endangering the
world’s habitats).
-
Photosynthesis
(autotrophy), energy flux, nutrient cycles, food chains and
food webs, self purification of waters.
-
Biodiversity,
origin of species and subspecies, value of variety as genetic
potential for the future, stability by
diversity.
-
Sustainability -
principles of success of nature's balance (e.g. recycling, cascades
of utilization, economical balance of energy and water, diversity
instead of monostructures, self-limiting of natural systems,
regionalization, examples of green technologies (e.g. in
construction, agriculture, sewage treatment, energy and drinking
water supply).
-
Natural
resources and their benefits for human beings as non-commercial
goods.
-
Relationships
with local communities and other stakeholders; skills in involving
and integrating the communities in issues of managing the protected
area; ability to listen effectively and engage in facilitation,
conflict resolution and problem solving.
Local
dimensions
-
History of
landscapes; natural and cultural landscapes.
-
Dynamics of, and
relationships between, local landscape, biodiversity and
culture.
-
Conflicts of use
in different landscapes (e.g. agriculture, forestry, outdoor
recreation, settlement, traffic, nature conservation), forms of
nature friendly land-use.
-
Development of
cultural habitats and landscapes with minimal
intervention.
-
Programmes for
financial support of measures in nature conservation and landscape
management
-
Knowledge of who
the neighbours are and what knowledge and expectations they
have.
-
Knowledge of
local political agendas and key players in the
communities.
-
Ability to
demonstrate political, social and cultural sensitivity and
tolerance.
3 Ability
to survey, monitor and report on the natural
resources
Global
dimensions
-
Principles of
the Linnaean system
-
Use of
identification guides
-
Principles of
mapping species, habitats, natural resources and damages to the
landscape; how to interpret maps; how to report to the
organization
-
Instruments for
environmental monitoring
Local
dimensions
-
Organisation of
and co-operation in nature conservation and landscape
management
-
Obtaining
knowledge about conspicuous, regionally important, endangered
and/or protected species of plants and animals
-
Obtaining
knowledge about regionally typical habitat types (origin,
development, distribution, utilization, threats,
conservation)
-
Use of survey
data in planning
4 Knowledge
of habitat and operational techniques, with skill in such
techniques as an optional specialism
Global dimensions
-
Relationships
between strategic and operational conservation
plans.
-
Methods and
measures in landscape, habitat and species
management,
-
Creation and
restoration of destroyed habitats.
-
Relief measures
for endangered species.
-
General
administration and financial planning.
Local
dimensions
-
Estimation of
damages to habitats and planning of necessary remedial
measures.
-
How to use
materials and fuels in an environmentally friendly
way.
-
How to avoid
waste and how to treat waste environmentally
friendly.
-
How to implement
precautionary measures for the avoidance of environmental
damages.
Optional
practical specialisms
-
Description,
calculation, advertisement, awarding, inspection and approval,
financial costing of habitat, landscape and facility management
works.
-
Principles of
legislation on work, social welfare, contracts and
assurance.
-
Knowledge and
ability to deal with visitor safety and countryside
emergencies.
-
Interpretation
services and visitor management.
-
Producing seed
and seed stock.
-
Seeding and
planting techniques.
-
Pruning woody
plants.
-
Use of machines
and tools for landscape management.
|
|