814.527 (15S) The Politics of Ecosystem Services

Sommersemester 2015

Registration deadline has expired.

First course session
14.04.2015 14:00 - 17:00 IFF, Schottenfeldgasse 29, Seminarraum 3b Off Campus
... no further dates known

Overview

Lecturer
Course title german The Politics of Ecosystem Services
Type Seminar (continuous assessment course )
Hours per Week 2.0
ECTS credits 4.0
Registrations 7 (25 max.)
Organisational unit
Language of instruction Englisch
Course begins on 01.03.2015

Time and place

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Course Information

Teaching methodology including the use of eLearning tools

After an introduction of the lecturer in charge into the topic and the methods to analyze such debates (from Science&Technology Studies) the course will focus on important scientific papers and reports that give an overview about the debates on ecosystem services. Paper will be introduced by participants and scrutinized in the seminar discussion, but a selection of papers must be read by all participants. An online version of the papers will be provided.

Course content

Over the last couple of years, the concept of Ecosystem Services (ES) becomes a major topic in environmental research and policy making. Ecosystem Services denotes in general the benefits people obtain from functioning ecosystems. Developed to address the relevance of nature for societal welfare and human well-being, the concept raises high expectations in various sectors of policy-making. These rising expectations are mirrored by a rising amount of scientific publication in several fields of environmental research, from issues like biodiversity, nature conservation and land use to other topics like water governance or green economy. Thus the complexity of research and policy making increases significantly and stimulates concern whether this new concept is really such a ‘silver bullet’ and whether it is able to fulfil the high expectations. These concerns are further stimulated by two interrelated challenges, which both address the use of the new concept in policy making. First, after several years of research there still exists no agreement in terms of definition and classification of ES. Various approaches emphasizes different characteristic of ecosystems and developed differing ways to approach the links between ecosystems, their services and human well-being. Secondly, and even more important, the concept is often criticized for is utilitarian and economic bias which contributes to the commodification of nature. Thus, it is in particular the use of the new concept at the interface between science and policy that create emerging debates and controversies.

Teaching objective

The course is dedicated to an introduction into these debates. It will first gives an overview about history and emergence of the concept of ES and will introduce and discuss several related application processes (like the TEEB-process: The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity). It will then deal with some specific challenges of the concept like the stakeholder relationships, its role in policy making, about ethical dimensions and the problem of commodification.

Examination information

Im Fall von online durchgeführten Prüfungen sind die Standards zu beachten, die die technischen Geräte der Studierenden erfüllen müssen, um an diesen Prüfungen teilnehmen zu können.

Examination topic(s)

Examination is based on both, on the preparation of paper(s) of one session and on the active and continuous engagement in the seminar discussions.

Assessment criteria / Standards of assessment for examinations

Successful participation will require the preparation and reviewing of the paper(s) of one session and the active and continuous engagement in the seminar discussions.

Grading scheme

Grade / Grade grading scheme

Position in the curriculum

  • Master's degree programme Social and Human Ecology (SKZ: 919, Version: 05W.1)
    • Subject: Modul 2: Vertiefende Lehrveranstaltungen aus Sozial- und Humanökologie (Compulsory subject)
      • Vertiefende Lehrveranstaltungen aus Sozial- und Humanökologie ( 6.0h SE / 12.0 ECTS)
        • 814.527 The Politics of Ecosystem Services (2.0h SE / 4.0 ECTS)
  • Master's degree programme Social and Human Ecology (SKZ: 919, Version: 05W.1)
    • Subject: Modul 6: Spezialgebiete und Ergänzungsfächer (Compulsory elective)
      • Seminar ( 2.0h SE / 4.0 ECTS)
        • 814.527 The Politics of Ecosystem Services (2.0h SE / 4.0 ECTS)
  • Master's degree programme Social and Human Ecology (SKZ: 919, Version: 14W.1)
    • Subject: GWF1 Gesellschaft und Umwelt (Compulsory elective)
      • GWF1 Vertiefung ( 0.0h VO, SE, EX, KU, SX / 14.0 ECTS)
        • 814.527 The Politics of Ecosystem Services (2.0h SE / 4.0 ECTS)

Equivalent courses for counting the examination attempts

Wintersemester 2016/17
  • 814.516 SE The Politics of Ecosystem Services (2.0h / 4.0ECTS)