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Spring 2006:
Instructor: Dr. Petra Tschakert, 315 Walker, Dept. of Geography; ph: 863-9399, petra@psu.edu
Course Description:
This course is an exploration of the theoretical and practical considerations of human decision-making and adaptive management of resources in complex social-ecological systems. We address critical issues of fisheries, watershed planning, wilderness, forest management, georesource extraction, and environmental services from a holistic perspective that acknowledges historical drivers, dynamics of ecosystems, changing markets, and public conceptions and values. Under conditions of uncertainty, social learning, institutional arrangements, and experimentation play an important role for decision-making processes in dynamic systems. Key concepts discussed include resilience, adaptive capacity, and sustainability. By incorporating several spatial and temporal scales, we explore the main conditions under which actors and players are most successful in using environmental resources in socially, economically, and ecologically sustainable ways.
Format:
One of the key concepts in complex adaptive social-ecological systems is collective/social learning. We use this concept as the main strategy for this course. This implies that the professor and students share responsibility for the learning process and take advantage of collective skills, insights, experiences, and efforts of each other. As in system dynamics, this requires both commitment and flexibility and the willingness to explore foreign territory. We use a case study approach to explore real life lessons of adaptive management around the globe. To make this process work, attendance and active participation are imperative. Because the course is relatively small, it is run more like a seminar than a lecture course. We will draw from a mix of lectures, in-class discussions, presentations, and interactive activities. You are expected to have done all assigned reading before coming to class, and be prepared to discuss it.
Course Materials: