OADD 2045 - Biodiversity Values and Policies

This seminar aims at providing students with a general understanding of key biodiversity issues and policy implementation, from local level action to international governance, with specific attention (in terms of instruments) to economic instruments, economic analysis, international regulation, and also (in terms of field) oceans governance and management. Its objectives are:

(a) Providing a 360° outlook of the dominating ideas and opinions in the field,

(b) Providing a basic knowledge of instruments and techniques involved in policy-making assessment, evaluation and economic valuation,

(c) Allowing personal and well-informed opinions with respect to the main concepts used by research and policy communities.

More specifically, the seminar will deal with the rationales for biodiversity protection or conservation, the main global and thematic assessments of biodiversity depletion, the discussions about the value of biodiversity and the values implied in biodiversity policy-making, the main existing governance instruments and global policy regimes, ocean and high seas governance, offshore zones management, economic instruments, current argumentation and technical solutions to “mainstream” biodiversity in economic development. The seminar will therefore provide a critical overview of public policies, strategies and instruments that deal with biodiversity conservation, restoration and enhancement worldwide. A contradictory debate will be organized in the last session. Active teaching methodologies will be implemented. Most sessions will be prepared with a pre-recorded lecture & readings providedby teachers, introductory talks and discussion lead provided by students, collective discussion organized with feedback provided by teachers. Students of “Biodiversity values and policies” will gain a panoramic understanding of the issues at stake in biodiversity policy-making and management, as well as practical notions of instruments and approaches they may encounter in their career.

Two guest teachers will bring complementary expertise on specific subjetcs.

LEARNING OUTCOMES AND SKILLS

• A 360° outlook of the dominating ideas and opinions in the field
• Basic knowledge of instruments and techniques involved in policy-making assessment, evaluation and economic valuation,
• Personal and well-informed opinions with respect to the main concepts used by research and policy communities.
• Comprehensive understanding of biodiversity economic-oriented policy options
• Biodiversity-related research and assessment

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS:

• Situation assessment, synthesis, critical perspectives
• Contradictory debate

None

The class is mostly an ‘active pedagogy class’ format, with extensive preparation, and class devoted to elaborating, discussing, debating, and complementary ideas and information brought in by teachers and students.

(i) 15-minutes Introductory talk (2 per session, 1 per student for the semester) : 25 %

(ii) Discussion lead and wrap-up (tentatively 2 leaders per session, 1 per student for the semester) : 25 %

• In Class Presence: 2 hours a week / 24 hours a semester
• Reading and Preparation for Class: 2 hours a week / 24 hours a semester
• Research and Preparation for Group Work: 6 hours a semester
• Research and Preparation for Individual Assessments: 20 hours a semester