Are you looking for a minor that offers you an overview of current issues in the field of international nature management and biodiversity conservation? Then the International Wildlife Management minor is a good choice for you.

During the minor you will work on a research project based on professional practice. Are you going to study animal behavior? Do you monitor populations or find a way to prevent poaching? Perhaps you would rather get started using sensor techniques to conduct biodiversity assessments? Whatever you choose within the minor, you do it in a professional manner. You will acquire this knowledge through peer review, self-study, giving and receiving guest lectures and doing practical exercises and workshops. In addition to practical information, we also show you how policy, at local, regional, international and national level, plays a major role in nature conservation.

During the minor you learn both theoretically and practically. For example, lectures, workshops and self-study are given, with a focus on themes such as natural ecology and natural techniques such as telemetry, automated observation techniques and camera traps. But you will certainly also take a look at the practice, with applied (field and desktop) research. We also go on a bi-weekly excursion to Northern Spain, where we immerse ourselves in mountain ecosystems and experienced cross-cultural approaches to wildlife management. You conclude the minor with a self-organised symposium where you present your research results.

So, do you see the importance of biodiversity and do you want to learn how policy and management can be used to preserve it? Then register for this minor.

Take notice:
The two-week international study trip is financed by the students themselves. The student's own contribution is approximately €650, but depends on current rates for transport / food / accommodation, etc.

Added value:
This minor will present students with a good overview of current issues on policies in international wildlife management and biodiversity conservation. Students are commissioned by an HVHL professor on a real life applied research project, with subjects as carrying out biodiversity assessments, monitoring populations, studying animal behaviour and more.

Within this well-guided project, students will work in a professional manner, using peer review, (guest) lectures, practicals and self-study to test their (own) field data collection methods and to undertake their own research. The project provides ample opportunity for students to include their own ideas and contributions to meet the requirements of the commissioner.
Students will be well prepared for their graduation thesis, having gone through the process of setting up, carrying out and presenting applied research during this course.

DM2: Work in an interdisciplinary and systematic manner on (international) projects and processes (level 2)

DM5: Setting up and carrying out applied research: to collect and analyse data in a scientific manner, used for developing policy, management or product (level 2)

The learning outcomes for the competency DM2 are:
2a: The student can recognize and discuss the shared context of the different topics in international conservation by engaging in group discussion and literature research. 

2b: The student can collect (scientific, professional) ecological and socio-economic information on an international topic and can combine this information. 

2c: The student can set up and execute knowledge dissemination in which interdisciplinary information on an international topic is explained, at a correct level for the target audience. 

The learning outcomes for the competency DM5 are:
5a: The student can design an applied research project in accordance with the client's requests. 

5b: The student contributes to management of wildlife and biodiversity through executing applied research.

Sufficient ecological knowledge and data analysis skills in using SPSS and GIS are required.

The study unit coordinator may require an entry interview and/or and entry exam.

Documents to be submitted for entry requirements: Formal proof of the modules/subjects followed and a list of marks. 

Mandatory:

• The manual for the Spain expedition which will be available online but needs to be printed.

• For students who haven't followed the major Wildlife Management, we additionally expect you will familiarize yourself with the content of the following book: Hill, D., Fasham, M., Tucker, G., Shewry, M. & Shaw, P. (2005) Handbook of biodiversity methods: Survey, evaluation and monitoring. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. E-book: free download via VHL library: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/vtenl/detail.action?docID=237586
• For students who haven't followed the major Wildlife Management, we additionally expect you will familiarize yourself with the content of the following book: “An introduction to Conservation Biology” by Primack and Sher (or it’s follow up, Sher & Primack)

Recommended:

• The “Crosbill Nature Guide Spanish Pyrenees And Steppes Of Huesca – Spain” by Dirk Hilbers, Kees Woutersen, to be purchased e.g. through the website of the KNNV: https://knnvuitgeverij.nl/artikel/crossbill-guide-spanish-pyrenees.html

• If you have not followed the regular Wildlife Management major lectures and would like an intro into this topic: “An introduction to Conservation Biology” by Primack and Sher (or it’s follow up, Sher & Primack) is a good book to start with.
• Useful background reading (but not compulsory) is the book by Rafael Mateo Beatriz Arroyo Jesus T. Garcia (Eds.) (2016) “ Current Trends in Wildlife Research”. Springer International Publishing Switzerland.

All other materials to study will be available digitally, either through the internet or using Moodle.

Total study load  for the minor is 840 hours (terms 3 and 4), which is roughly divided as follows :
•    Lectures and practical exercises (180 hours) 
•    Design research, write research proposal (100 hours)
•    Execute research project, write research report (320 hours)
•    Knowledge dissemination (student lecture, story map, organize symposium, give presentation) (140 hours)
•    Field trips (100 hours)

• Student lecture: (individual) pass/fail (passing norm = pass)  – weighting factor 6
• Research proposal: (group) pass/fail (passing norm = pass) – weighting factor 4
• Story map: (group) pass/fail (passing norm = pass) – weighting factor 4
• Research report: (group) grade (passing norm = 5.5) – weighting factor 14
• Research presentation: (individual) grade (passing norm = 5.5) - – weighting factor 2
•  

Compulsory contact hours:
In period 3: 20-30 contact hours per week
In period 4: 4 contact hours per week
During International field trip: 40+ contact hours per week