I. General Information

1. Course Title:
Ecosystem Management

2. Course Prefix & Number:
NATR 2161

3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:

Credits: 2

Lecture Hours: 1

Lab Hours: 2

4. Course Description:

This course is designed to assess the ecological and social factors of ecosystem management. Students will prepare a management plan after collecting ecosystem data and resolving conflicting objectives.

5. Placement Tests Required:

6. Prerequisite Courses:

9. Co-requisite Courses:

There are no corequisites for this course.

II. Transfer and Articulation

2. Transfer - regional institutions with which this course has a written articulation agreement:

Name of Institution	Date of Acceptance	Discipline/Area/Program of Transfer
University of Minnesota Crookston	March 2010	Natural Resources Management
University of Wisconsin Steven’s Point	2007-2009	Natural Resources Management

III. Course Purpose

1. Program-Applicable Courses – This course fulfills a requirement for the following program(s):

Natural Resources Technology, AAS

IV. Learning Outcomes

1. College-Wide Outcomes

College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies	Students will be able to:
Apply ethical principles in decision-making	Develop solutions for managing ecosystems based on sound ecological principles.
Work as a team member to achieve shared goals	Prepare a semester-long ecosystem management plan using real-life data on an existing public area.

2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of the course:

• Assess the impacts of environmental and economic factors on managing ecosystems.
• Evaluate the techniques used for engaging stakeholders in ecosystem management process and projects.
• Compare and contrast various methods for assessing progress of ecosystem management projects.
• Comprehend the holistic approach to managing ecosystems.
• Understand the economic impact of ecosystem management.
• Understand the biological impact of ecosystem management.

V. Topical Outline

Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.

1. Lecture Sessions

1. The Conceptual Tool Box
• Introduction to Landscape Scenarios
2. Getting a Grip on Ecosystems Management
• Incorporating Uncertainty and Complexity into Management
• Adaptive Management
3. The Biological and Ecological Background
• Genetic Diversity in Ecosystem Management
• Issues Regarding Populations and Species
• Populations and Communities at the Landscape Level
• Landscape-Level Conservation
4. Managing Biodiversity Across the Landscape: A Manager’s Dilemma
5. The Human Decisions; Working in Human Communities

2. Laboratory/Studio Sessions

1. Introduction to Ecosystem Management
2. Ecosystem Management Exercise
3. Ecosystem Management Uncertainty and Complexity Exercise
4. Adaptive Management Exercise
5. Genetic Diversity Exercise
6. Populations and Species in Ecosystem Management
7. Landscape-Level Ecosystem Management Lab Exercise
8. Human Dimensions of Ecosystem Management Exercise