Biodiversity Conservation

The course aims at providing an introduction to the principles of biological conservation, with special reference to the conservation of ecosystems and wild animals. Using a multidisciplinary approach based on a solid ecological background, the course will focus on the concept of biodiversity and on the anthropogenic impact on the biosphere, with special reference to the causes and consequences of biodiversity loss, both from ecological and evolutionary standpoints.

Students are expected to acquire the ability to identify and define threats to biodiversity and natural ecosystems, the processes behind conservation threats, and to suggest mitigation actions. In addition, students should acquire the basic concepts of biodiversity inventories. The acquired competences will allow students to suggest and implement informed decisions about wildlife and ecosystem conservation priorities within a framework of rapid ecological transformations due to the increasing anthropogenic pressure on ecosystems.