Program Overview

Program Overview

The specialisation 'Management' in the Forest and Nature Conservation master's programme provides students with a broad understanding of both societal and ecological factors influencing nature areas.

Understanding Ecology

In order to manage nature areas correctly, students need to understand how nature areas work. Within the specialisation, students gain knowledge on topics like:

• Wildlife management
• Forest resource management
• Animal ecology
• Plant ecology
• Nature management Students gain fundamental knowledge that can be applied in both local and global contexts, learning which principles are key when conserving nature areas for current and future generations.

Societal Influences

Equally important to understanding how natural processes work is knowing which societal factors influence nature conservation and management. Political, economic, and societal factors play a large role in nature conservation. Students learn about the choices that must be made in nature conservation regarding both economic and ecological possibilities. Society greatly influences the way nature is managed, with people's perspectives and dependencies on nature for their livelihood varying and influencing how nature is managed.

Combining Ecology and Society

In this specialisation, both ecology and societal aspects of forest and nature conservation are addressed. The topics are diverse, addressing:

• Wildlife and plant ecology
• Forest ecology and management
• Nature conservation policy
• Livelihoods
• Commodities and economics Students eventually decide which topics to focus on in both their courses and free choice options.

Courses

Within this specialisation, there is no compulsory course, but students must choose courses from several clusters.

• Select two courses from:
  • Wildlife Ecology and Conservation (WEC32806)
  • Resource Dynamics (FEM30806)
  • Agroforestry (FEM32306)
  • Restoration Ecology (PEN40306)
  • Forest Ecology and Forest Management (FEM30306)
  • Disease Ecology (WEC33306)
• Select one course from:
  • Communities, Conservation & Controversies (FNP31306)
  • Natural Resource Economics (ENR31306)
  • Decision-Making Forest Nature Management (FNP32306)
• Choose courses from this cluster if desired or advised to prepare for your future thesis:
  • Advanced Statistics
  • Interviews and Questionnaires
  • Social and Political Theory
  • Methodology for Field Research
  • Plant, Vegetation and Systems Ecology
  • Animal Ecology

Thesis

Students will do their thesis at one of the four Chair groups involved in this study programme.

Career Prospects

This specialisation provides an excellent preparation for Dutch as well as European and non-European jobs. Alumni have gone on to work on 'big' topics and policies that have a real impact.