This minor presents students with an up-to-date overview of current issues, techniques and policies in international wildlife management and biodiversity conservation, with a strong focus on applied research as a means to aid wildlife management and achieve conservation:

1.      You will experience how wildlife management & conservation projects are embedded in international policy, ranging from local, regional to national and international levels.

2.      Using this experience, you will collect information on an international conservation topic of your own choice and disseminate this knowledge in pairs during the student lectures.

3.      You will participate in a two-week field research in the Spanish Pyrenees.

4.      You will set up (design) an applied wildlife management research project with and for a real commissioner, and - during the entire second half of the minor - execute this research yourself, in a small group.

5.      You will communicate about the findings of your research through a report, through a web-based application and through presentations at a symposium, organized by you and your fellow students.

The minor will: 

Start with +/- two months advanced education, consisting of lectures, workshops and a considerable amount of tailor-made blocks for self-study to set up your own student lecture and your research proposal as commissioned by a VHL reader (lector) or other stakeholder such as zoos, provinces, NGOs etc.  

The first half of May we will go on a two-week field study trip to the Spanish Pyrenees. Here we will be introduced to the management of a small mountain area and carry out research on the impacts of rewilding, from the riverine forest at the bottom, to the forests and alps in the highest regions of the mountains.

This will be followed by +/- two months applied (field and desktop) research based on the research proposal as designed by the students themselves, carried out in cooperation with the readerships and other stakeholders. 

TAKE NOTICE:

Although the focus of this minor is international, most of the research projects include field work and are hence local / national.

TAKE NOTICE:

The international study trip is compulsory and to be financed by the students themselves. The student’s contribution is approximately €700,- but is dependent on current rates for transport / food / accommodation etc.

 

Added value:

This minor presents students with an up-to-date overview of current issues, techniques and policies in international wildlife management and biodiversity conservation. The minor places a strong emphasis on ‘Do It Yourself’ and expects students to design and execute an applied research project in a professional manner for external commissioners, equipping students with relevant knowledge, skills and attitudes for their fourth-year thesis projects.

• The student can collect (scientific, professional) ecological and socio-economic information on an international topic and can combine this information in a coherent manner, thereby also incorporating the implementation of international policies and funding in applied wildlife management and research practices.
• The student can set up and execute knowledge dissemination at a correct level for the target audience. 
• The student can design an applied research project in accordance with the commissioner’s (client) requests.
• The student contributes to management of wildlife and biodiversity through executing applied research.

Students must have followed the major Wildlife Management or have accomplished comparable trajectories such as the first 2½ years of International Coastal Zone Management, Forest & Nature Conservation, Environmental Sciences, Applied Biology etc., either at HVHL or another university of applied sciences.

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

The study unit coordinator may require an entry exam.

- The manual for the Spain expedition, which will be made available online (Moodle): mandatory for all

- Hill, D., Fasham, M., Tucker, G., Shewry, M. & Shaw, P. (2005) Handbook of biodiversity methods: Survey, evaluation and monitoring. Cambridge University Press. E-book: free download via VHL library: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/vtenl/detail.action?docID=237586: strongly recommended for students who haven't followed the major Wildlife Management

- Sher, A (2022). An introduction to Conservation Biology (3rd ed), Sinauer Associates: idem

- Hilbers, D, & Woutersen, K. (2016). The Crossbill guide to the Spanish Pyrenees, KNNV uitgeverij. Available via https://knnvuitgeverij.nl/artikel/crossbill-guide-spanish-pyrenees.html : recommended for all

- Mateo, R., Arroyo, B., & Garcia, J.T. (Eds.) (2016). Current Trends in Wildlife Research. Springer International Publishing: recommended as background reading for all

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)

1. Student lecture: group, grade, oral presentation

2. Research proposal: group, pass/fail, written report

3. Web-based application: group, pass/fail

4. Research report: group, grade, written report

5. Presentation (content): group, grade, oral presentation

6. Presentation (skills): individual, grade, oral presentation

Competences:

This minor links with the following professional roles of the study Animal management:

• Researcher
• Advisor

This minor links with the following learning outcomes of the study Animal management:

• Design and execute research on individual animals (Researcher)
• Design and execute ecological research to wild animal population and their environment (Researcher)

Ecological advice for species protection, spatial development and activities (Advisor)

This minor links with the following competences of the study Animal management:

• Application of professional knowledge (Vakinhoudelijk handelen)
• Investigative ability (Onderzoekend vermogen)
• Communicative ability (Communicatief vermogen)

(all at level 2b: competent to do your thesis)

TAKE NOTICE:
You may be asked to pay the contribution for the study trip in full before the start of the minor to secure your place.

Capacity/waiting list:
Minimum 15 students, maximum 36 students. If there are too few applications, the minor will not take place.

In case of a waiting list, acceptance into the minor is based on enrolment date.