814.527 (15S) The Politics of Ecosystem Services

Sommersemester 2015

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Erster Termin der LV
14.04.2015 14:00 - 17:00 IFF, Schottenfeldgasse 29, Seminarraum 3b Off Campus
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Überblick

Lehrende/r
LV-Titel englisch The Politics of Ecosystem Services
LV-Art Seminar (prüfungsimmanente LV )
Semesterstunde/n 2.0
ECTS-Anrechnungspunkte 4.0
Anmeldungen 7 (25 max.)
Organisationseinheit
Unterrichtssprache Englisch
LV-Beginn 01.03.2015
Anmerkungen AdressatInnen: Participants of the Master in Social Ecology and participants of other study programs. No special requirements; in particular it is not necessary to have in-depth experiences with the concept of ES itself or with such debates at the interface between sciences and policy. Some previous knowledge about environmental policy making and its challenges however would be an advantage.

Zeit und Ort

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LV-Beschreibung

Lehrmethodik inkl. Einsatz von 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.

Inhalt/e

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.

Lehrziel

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.

Prüfungsinformationen

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.

Prüfungsinhalt/e

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.

Beurteilungskriterien/-maßstäbe

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.

Beurteilungsschema

Note Benotungsschema

Position im Curriculum

  • Masterstudium Sozial- und Humanökologie (SKZ: 919, Version: 05W.1)
    • Fach: Modul 2: Vertiefende Lehrveranstaltungen aus Sozial- und Humanökologie (Pflichtfach)
      • 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)
  • Masterstudium Sozial- und Humanökologie (SKZ: 919, Version: 05W.1)
    • Fach: Modul 6: Spezialgebiete und Ergänzungsfächer (Wahlfach)
      • Seminar ( 2.0h SE / 4.0 ECTS)
        • 814.527 The Politics of Ecosystem Services (2.0h SE / 4.0 ECTS)
  • Masterstudium Sozial- und Humanökologie (SKZ: 919, Version: 14W.1)
    • Fach: GWF1 Gesellschaft und Umwelt (Wahlfach)
      • 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)

Gleichwertige Lehrveranstaltungen im Sinne der Prüfungsantrittszählung

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