The course will explore what is understood by the term Mediterranean Environment. The main characteristics of the Mediterranean will be studied from an ecological, social, economical, political and cultural point of view. Emphasis will be given to the approaches of the different countries and the interaction between them to tackle regional environmental problems. Attention will be paid to the effects of human activities on the marine and coastal areas, the efforts to reverse the ecological damage and to reach sustainable development. (3 credits)
Attendance policy:
Attendance is mandatory for all IES classes, including field studies. Any exams, tests, presentations, or other work missed due to student absences can only be rescheduled in cases of documented medical or family emergencies. If a student misses more than three classes in any course half a letter grade will be deducted from the final grade for every additional absence. Seven absences in any course will result in a failing grade.
Learning outcomes:
By the end of the course, the students are able to:
· Recognize the major features of Mediterranean ecosystems;
· Analyze the role of humans in shaping Mediterranean ecosystems;
· Value the need for sustainable development;
Appreciate the significance of “mediterraneism”: a climate, a sea, a landscape, a culture, a history… all of these and much more
Method of presentation:
· Lectures: during the lectures, the different topics will be presented, analyzed, and discussion will be encourage to share different points of view and settle core concepts
· Readings: selected texts will give students an overview of each subject and background information to be able to participate in class discussions.
· Homework: to identify the key points of the readings and facilitate discussion during class
· Class activities: consisting of role-games, group activities, student’s presentations, documentary viewings, etc. to get a more direct involvement from students
· Term paper and oral presentation: to give students the opportunity to analyze and explore in more detail some of the topics that we discuss. The oral presentation and discussion will allow to share your learning experience with the rest of the class
· Off-site classes: for some of the sessions, we will get out of the classroom and we will visit several places in Barcelona to see and experience some of the topics discussed and presented.
Field trip: as part of the DiscoverIES program, we will take a one day mandatory field trip (Friday, 25th of October) to Les Gavarres natural area to experience some of the most important Mediterranean forest ecosystems and learn about how humans have interact and modified the natural landscape through history.
LANGUAGE OF PRESENTATION: English
Field study:
Field trip: as part of the DiscoverIES program, we will take a one day mandatory field trip (Friday, 25th of October) to Les Gavarres natural area to experience some of the most important Mediterranean forest ecosystems and learn about how humans have interact and modified the natural landscape through history.
Required work and form of assessment:
The final grade will be determined as follows:
· Class participation and homework (15%): to guarantee that students are familiar with the topics covered in class, and their involvement in class activities and assignments
· Fieldtrips and classes off-site (10%): attendance to fieldtrips and off-site classes is mandatory, this activity is essential to gain a deep insight into some of the topics covered by the course. There will be specific assignments for these activities that will need to be completed during and after the visits.
· Midterm exam (25%) and Final exam (25%):a set of written, short-answered questions to evaluate whether students are familiar with the basic topics discussed in class
· Term paper and oral presentation (25%): to assess the capacity of students to integrate analyze, compare and present information.
content:
Session 1: Introduction to the course
Session 2: Definitions of the Mediterranean environment. The Mediterranean climate. King, R. (1997). Introduction. An essay on Mediterraneanism. In: King, R., L. Proudfoot and B. Smith The Mediterranean Environment and Society: 2-11. London: Arnold.
Perry, A. (1997). Mediterranean climate. In R. King, L. Proudfoot and B. Smith (eds.) The Mediterranean. Environment and Society: 30-44. London: Arnold, 1997
Blondel, J. and J. Aronson (2005). Biology and Wildlife of the Mediterranean Region. New York: Oxford University Press. Pp 25-29.
Session 3: The role of history in landscape dynamics Blondel, J. and J. Aronson (2005). Biology and Wildlife of the Mediterranean Region. New York: Oxford University Press. Pp 197-206, 216-223.
Session 4: Natural habitats and biodiversity Myers, N., R. A. Mittermeier, C. G. Mittermeier, G. A. B. da Fonseca and J. Kent. (2000). Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities Nature 403: 853-858.
Blondel, J. and J. Aronson (2005). Biology and Wildlife of the Mediterranean Region. New York: Oxford University Press. Pp 112-133.
Session 5: Visit to the Barcelona botanical gardens (Class off-site) Barcelona Botanical Gardens Website
Session 6: Mediterranean wetlands. Skinner, J. and A. J. Crivelli. (1995). Wetland loss in the Mediterranean. In A. Crivelli (ed.) Functions and values of Mediterranean Wetlands: 19-21. Arles: Tour du Valat
Saurí, D., F. Breton, A. Ribas, J. Llurdés and F. Romagosa. (2000). The Ecological values of traditional land-use in low-lying coastal environments:The example of the Aiguamolls de l’Empordà, Costa Brava. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management 2: 277-290.
Session 7: Coastal development and mass tourism. Pastor, X. (1991a). Tourism. The price the Mediterranean pays. In X. Pastor (ed.) The Mediterranean: 92-95. London: Collins & Brown.
Papathanassious, E. and Gabrielides, G.P. (1999). State and pressures of the marine and coastal Mediterranean environment. Copenhagen: European Environment Agency. pp 47-52,82-85.
Session 8: Sustainable tourism Farsari, Y., Prastacos, P. 2003. Towards a framework for establishing policy goals for sustainable tourism in Mediterranean popular destinations. Sustainable Planning & Development , pp. 441-451
Session 10: Agriculture. European Commission (2004). The Common Agricultural Policy Explained. Available: http://europa.eu.int
Session 11: Mediterranean forests: goods and services IUCN (1999). Forest Harvest: Mediterranean woodlands and the importance of non-timber forest products to forest conservation. Special Supplement Arbor Vitae.
Session 12: Wildfires in Mediterranean ecosystems. Grove, A. T. and Rackham, O. (2003). The Nature of Mediterranean Europe. An Ecological History. New Haven and London: Yale Universtiy Press. pp 217-222, 226 and 231-240.
Session 13: Midterm Exam
Topics covered in sessions 1-12.
All-day Field trip: DiscoverIES: Les Gavarres (Friday, 25th of October)
Session 14: Mediterranean marine ecosystems UNEP-MAP RAC/SPA 2010. The Mediterranean Sea Biodiversity: state of the ecosystems, pressures, impacts and future priorities. By Bazairi, H., Ben Haj, S., Boero, F., Cebrian, D., De Juan, S., Limam, A., Lleonart, J., Torchia, G., and Rais, C., Ed. RAC/SPA, Tunis; pp 16-37
Session 15: Fisheries I. Documentary viewing and discussion: “Empty Oceans, Empty Nets”.
Session 16: Fisheries II. Pastor, X. (1991b) Fishing. The plunder of the sea. In X. Pastor (ed.) The Mediterranean: 82-90. London: Collins & Brown
Anonymous (2004). Mediterranean bluefin tuna conquers Japan, Fishing in Europe 23: 10-11.
Session 17: Pollution. Pastor, X. (1991c). Pollution: waves of sickness. In X. Pastor (ed.) The Mediterranean: 42-59. London: Collins & Brown.
Papathanassious, E. and Gabrielides, G.P. (1999). State and pressures of the marine and coastal Mediterranean environment. Copenhagen: European Environment Agency. pp 47-52, 82-85, 69-73, 76-81, 85-97.
Session 18: Climate change I.
Film viewing and discussion: ”An inconvenient truth”.
Session 21: Visit to La Fàbrica del Sol: center for sustainable development (Class off-site) Barcelona City Council. La Fàbrica del Sol Website and Agenda 21 (2004). Barcelona Works Towards Sustainability. Available: http://www.bcn.es/agenda21/
Session 22: Ecological Footprints and Environmental education. Venetoulis, J., D. Chazan and C. Gaudet. (2004). Ecological Footprint of Nations 2004. Redefining Progress. Available: http://www.rprogress.org/
Session 23: Presentation of term papers and discussion.
Session 24: Presentation of term papers and discussion.
Final Exam
Required readings:
Anonymous (2004). Mediterranean bluefin tuna conquers Japan, Fishing in Europe 23: 10-11.
Blondel, J. and J. Aronson (2005). Biology and Wildlife of the Mediterranean Region. New York: Oxford University Press. Pp 25-29, 112-133, 197-206, 216-223.
European Commission (2004). The Common Agricultural Policy Explained. Available: http://europa.eu.int
Farsari, Y., Prastacos, P. 2003. Towards a framework for establishing policy goals for sustainable tourism in Mediterranean popular destinations. Sustainable Planning & Development , pp. 441-451.
Gordo, O. and Sanz, J.J. (2006). Climate change and bird phelonogy: a long-term study in the Iberian Peninsula. Global Change Biology 12: 1993-2004.
Grove, A. T. and Rackham, O. (2003). The Nature of Mediterranean Europe. An Ecological History. New Haven and London: Yale Universtiy Press. pp 217-222, 226 and 231-240.
King, R. (1997). Introduction. An essay on Mediterraneanism. In: King, R., L. Proudfoot and B. Smith The Mediterranean Environment and Society: 2-11. London: Arnold.
Myers, N., R. A. Mittermeier, C. G. Mittermeier, G. A. B. da Fonseca and J. Kent. (2000). Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities Nature 403: 853-858.
Papathanassious, E. and Gabrielides, G.P. (1999). State and pressures of the marine and coastal Mediterranean environment. Copenhagen: European Environment Agency. pp 47-52, 82-85, 69-73, 76-81, 85-97.
Pastor, X. (1991a). Tourism. The price the Mediterranean pays. In X. Pastor (ed.) The Mediterranean: 92-95. London: Collins & Brown.
Pastor, X. (1991b) Fishing. The plunder of the sea. In X. Pastor (ed.) The Mediterranean: 82-90. London: Collins & Brown.
Pastor, X. (1991c). Pollution: waves of sickness. In X. Pastor (ed.) The Mediterranean: 42-59. London: Collins & Brown.
Perry, A. (1997). Mediterranean climate. In R. King, L. Proudfoot and B. Smith (eds.) The Mediterranean. Environment and Society: 30-44. London: Arnold, 1997.
Saurí, D., F. Breton, A. Ribas, J. Llurdés and F. Romagosa. (2000). The Ecological values of traditional land-use in low-lying coastal environments:The example of the Aiguamolls de l’Empordà, Costa Brava. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management 2: 277-290.
Skinner, J. and A. J. Crivelli. (1995). Wetland loss in the Mediterranean. In A. Crivelli (ed.) Functions and values of Mediterranean Wetlands: 19-21. Arles: Tour du Valat
UNEP-MAP RAC/SPA 2010. The Mediterranean Sea Biodiversity: state of the ecosystems, pressures, impacts and future priorities. By Bazairi, H., Ben Haj, S., Boero, F., Cebrian, D., De Juan, S., Limam, A., Lleonart, J., Torchia, G., and Rais, C., Ed. RAC/SPA, Tunis; pp 16-37. Available: http://www.rac-spa.org/sites/default/files/doc_cop/biodiversity.pdf
Venetoulis, J., D. Chazan and C. Gaudet. (2004). Ecological Footprint of Nations 2004. Redefining Progress. Available: http://www.rprogress.org.
Mediterranean Environment
The course will explore what is understood by the term Mediterranean Environment. The main characteristics of the Mediterranean will be studied from an ecological, social, economical, political and cultural point of view. Emphasis will be given to the approaches of the different countries and the interaction between them to tackle regional environmental problems. Attention will be paid to the effects of human activities on the marine and coastal areas, the efforts to reverse the ecological damage and to reach sustainable development. (3 credits)
Attendance is mandatory for all IES classes, including field studies. Any exams, tests, presentations, or other work missed due to student absences can only be rescheduled in cases of documented medical or family emergencies. If a student misses more than three classes in any course half a letter grade will be deducted from the final grade for every additional absence. Seven absences in any course will result in a failing grade.
By the end of the course, the students are able to:
· Recognize the major features of Mediterranean ecosystems;
· Analyze the role of humans in shaping Mediterranean ecosystems;
· Value the need for sustainable development;
Appreciate the significance of “mediterraneism”: a climate, a sea, a landscape, a culture, a history… all of these and much more
· Lectures: during the lectures, the different topics will be presented, analyzed, and discussion will be encourage to share different points of view and settle core concepts
· Readings: selected texts will give students an overview of each subject and background information to be able to participate in class discussions.
· Homework: to identify the key points of the readings and facilitate discussion during class
· Class activities: consisting of role-games, group activities, student’s presentations, documentary viewings, etc. to get a more direct involvement from students
· Term paper and oral presentation: to give students the opportunity to analyze and explore in more detail some of the topics that we discuss. The oral presentation and discussion will allow to share your learning experience with the rest of the class
· Off-site classes: for some of the sessions, we will get out of the classroom and we will visit several places in Barcelona to see and experience some of the topics discussed and presented.
Field trip: as part of the DiscoverIES program, we will take a one day mandatory field trip (Friday, 25th of October) to Les Gavarres natural area to experience some of the most important Mediterranean forest ecosystems and learn about how humans have interact and modified the natural landscape through history.
LANGUAGE OF PRESENTATION: English
Field trip: as part of the DiscoverIES program, we will take a one day mandatory field trip (Friday, 25th of October) to Les Gavarres natural area to experience some of the most important Mediterranean forest ecosystems and learn about how humans have interact and modified the natural landscape through history.
The final grade will be determined as follows:
· Class participation and homework (15%): to guarantee that students are familiar with the topics covered in class, and their involvement in class activities and assignments
· Fieldtrips and classes off-site (10%): attendance to fieldtrips and off-site classes is mandatory, this activity is essential to gain a deep insight into some of the topics covered by the course. There will be specific assignments for these activities that will need to be completed during and after the visits.
· Midterm exam (25%) and Final exam (25%):a set of written, short-answered questions to evaluate whether students are familiar with the basic topics discussed in class
· Term paper and oral presentation (25%): to assess the capacity of students to integrate analyze, compare and present information.
Session 1: Introduction to the course
Session 2: Definitions of the Mediterranean environment. The Mediterranean climate. King, R. (1997). Introduction. An essay on Mediterraneanism. In: King, R., L. Proudfoot and B. Smith The Mediterranean Environment and Society: 2-11. London: Arnold.
Perry, A. (1997). Mediterranean climate. In R. King, L. Proudfoot and B. Smith (eds.) The Mediterranean. Environment and Society: 30-44. London: Arnold, 1997
Blondel, J. and J. Aronson (2005). Biology and Wildlife of the Mediterranean Region. New York: Oxford University Press. Pp 25-29.
Session 3: The role of history in landscape dynamics Blondel, J. and J. Aronson (2005). Biology and Wildlife of the Mediterranean Region. New York: Oxford University Press. Pp 197-206, 216-223.
Session 4: Natural habitats and biodiversity Myers, N., R. A. Mittermeier, C. G. Mittermeier, G. A. B. da Fonseca and J. Kent. (2000). Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities Nature 403: 853-858.
Blondel, J. and J. Aronson (2005). Biology and Wildlife of the Mediterranean Region. New York: Oxford University Press. Pp 112-133.
Session 5: Visit to the Barcelona botanical gardens (Class off-site) Barcelona Botanical Gardens Website
www.jardibotanic.bcn.es
Session 6: Mediterranean wetlands. Skinner, J. and A. J. Crivelli. (1995). Wetland loss in the Mediterranean. In A. Crivelli (ed.) Functions and values of Mediterranean Wetlands: 19-21. Arles: Tour du Valat
Saurí, D., F. Breton, A. Ribas, J. Llurdés and F. Romagosa. (2000). The Ecological values of traditional land-use in low-lying coastal environments:The example of the Aiguamolls de l’Empordà, Costa Brava. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management 2: 277-290.
Session 7: Coastal development and mass tourism. Pastor, X. (1991a). Tourism. The price the Mediterranean pays. In X. Pastor (ed.) The Mediterranean: 92-95. London: Collins & Brown.
Papathanassious, E. and Gabrielides, G.P. (1999). State and pressures of the marine and coastal Mediterranean environment. Copenhagen: European Environment Agency. pp 47-52,82-85.
Session 8: Sustainable tourism Farsari, Y., Prastacos, P. 2003. Towards a framework for establishing policy goals for sustainable tourism in Mediterranean popular destinations. Sustainable Planning & Development , pp. 441-451
Session 9: Water, a critical resource. WWF (2006). Drought in the Mediterranean: WWF Policy Proposals: 1-17. Available: http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/where_we_work/europe/what_we_do/mediterranean/news/index.cfm?uNewsID=75500
Session 10: Agriculture. European Commission (2004). The Common Agricultural Policy Explained. Available: http://europa.eu.int
Session 11: Mediterranean forests: goods and services IUCN (1999). Forest Harvest: Mediterranean woodlands and the importance of non-timber forest products to forest conservation. Special Supplement Arbor Vitae.
Available: http://www.iucn.org/themes/fcp/publications/arborvitae/avspecials/avspecials.htm
Session 12: Wildfires in Mediterranean ecosystems. Grove, A. T. and Rackham, O. (2003). The Nature of Mediterranean Europe. An Ecological History. New Haven and London: Yale Universtiy Press. pp 217-222, 226 and 231-240.
Session 13: Midterm Exam
Topics covered in sessions 1-12.
All-day Field trip: DiscoverIES: Les Gavarres (Friday, 25th of October)
Session 14: Mediterranean marine ecosystems UNEP-MAP RAC/SPA 2010. The Mediterranean Sea Biodiversity: state of the ecosystems, pressures, impacts and future priorities. By Bazairi, H., Ben Haj, S., Boero, F., Cebrian, D., De Juan, S., Limam, A., Lleonart, J., Torchia, G., and Rais, C., Ed. RAC/SPA, Tunis; pp 16-37
Available:
http://www.rac-spa.org/sites/default/files/doc_cop/biodiversity.pdf
Session 15: Fisheries I. Documentary viewing and discussion: “Empty Oceans, Empty Nets”.
Session 16: Fisheries II. Pastor, X. (1991b) Fishing. The plunder of the sea. In X. Pastor (ed.) The Mediterranean: 82-90. London: Collins & Brown
Anonymous (2004). Mediterranean bluefin tuna conquers Japan, Fishing in Europe 23: 10-11.
Session 17: Pollution. Pastor, X. (1991c). Pollution: waves of sickness. In X. Pastor (ed.) The Mediterranean: 42-59. London: Collins & Brown.
Papathanassious, E. and Gabrielides, G.P. (1999). State and pressures of the marine and coastal Mediterranean environment. Copenhagen: European Environment Agency. pp 47-52, 82-85, 69-73, 76-81, 85-97.
Session 18: Climate change I.
Film viewing and discussion: ”An inconvenient truth”.
Session 19: Climate change II European Commission (2005). Environment Fact Sheet: climate change. Available:http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/home_en.htm
European Commission (2006). Environment Fact Sheet: energy for sustainable development. Available: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/home_en.htm
Gordo, O. and Sanz, J.J. (2006). Climate change and bird phelonogy: a long-term study in the Iberian Peninsula. Global Change Biology 12: 1993-2004
Session 20: Natural protected areas European Union's Nature and Biodiversity Website. Available: http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/nature/home.htm
Session 21: Visit to La Fàbrica del Sol: center for sustainable development (Class off-site) Barcelona City Council. La Fàbrica del Sol Website and Agenda 21 (2004). Barcelona Works Towards Sustainability. Available: http://www.bcn.es/agenda21/
Session 22: Ecological Footprints and Environmental education. Venetoulis, J., D. Chazan and C. Gaudet. (2004). Ecological Footprint of Nations 2004. Redefining Progress. Available: http://www.rprogress.org/
Session 23: Presentation of term papers and discussion.
Session 24: Presentation of term papers and discussion.
Final Exam
Anonymous (2004). Mediterranean bluefin tuna conquers Japan, Fishing in Europe 23: 10-11.
Barcelona Botanical Garden Website. Available: http://www.jardibotanic.bcn.es
Barcelona City Council. La Fàbrica del Sol Website and Agenda 21 (2004). Barcelona Works Towards Sustainability. Available:http://www.bcn.es/agenda21/
Barcelona Sustainability Center Website. Available: http://www.bcn.es/agenda21/crbs/
Blondel, J. and J. Aronson (2005). Biology and Wildlife of the Mediterranean Region. New York: Oxford University Press. Pp 25-29, 112-133, 197-206, 216-223.
European Commission (2004). The Common Agricultural Policy Explained. Available: http://europa.eu.int
European Commission (2005). Environment Fact Sheet: climate change. Available: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/home_en.htm
European Commission (2006). Environment Fact Sheet: energy for sustainable development. Available:http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/home_en.htm
European Union's Nature and Biodiversity Website. Available: http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/nature/home.htm.
Farsari, Y., Prastacos, P. 2003. Towards a framework for establishing policy goals for sustainable tourism in Mediterranean popular destinations. Sustainable Planning & Development , pp. 441-451.
Gordo, O. and Sanz, J.J. (2006). Climate change and bird phelonogy: a long-term study in the Iberian Peninsula. Global Change Biology 12: 1993-2004.
Grove, A. T. and Rackham, O. (2003). The Nature of Mediterranean Europe. An Ecological History. New Haven and London: Yale Universtiy Press. pp 217-222, 226 and 231-240.
IUCN (1999). Forest Harvest: Mediterranean woodlands and the importance of non-timber forest products to forest conservation. Special Supplement Arbor Vitae. Available: http://www.iucn.org/themes/fcp/publications/arborvitae/avspecials/avspec...
King, R. (1997). Introduction. An essay on Mediterraneanism. In: King, R., L. Proudfoot and B. Smith The Mediterranean Environment and Society: 2-11. London: Arnold.
Myers, N., R. A. Mittermeier, C. G. Mittermeier, G. A. B. da Fonseca and J. Kent. (2000). Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities Nature 403: 853-858.
Papathanassious, E. and Gabrielides, G.P. (1999). State and pressures of the marine and coastal Mediterranean environment. Copenhagen: European Environment Agency. pp 47-52, 82-85, 69-73, 76-81, 85-97.
Pastor, X. (1991a). Tourism. The price the Mediterranean pays. In X. Pastor (ed.) The Mediterranean: 92-95. London: Collins & Brown.
Pastor, X. (1991b) Fishing. The plunder of the sea. In X. Pastor (ed.) The Mediterranean: 82-90. London: Collins & Brown.
Pastor, X. (1991c). Pollution: waves of sickness. In X. Pastor (ed.) The Mediterranean: 42-59. London: Collins & Brown.
Perry, A. (1997). Mediterranean climate. In R. King, L. Proudfoot and B. Smith (eds.) The Mediterranean. Environment and Society: 30-44. London: Arnold, 1997.
Saurí, D., F. Breton, A. Ribas, J. Llurdés and F. Romagosa. (2000). The Ecological values of traditional land-use in low-lying coastal environments:The example of the Aiguamolls de l’Empordà, Costa Brava. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management 2: 277-290.
Skinner, J. and A. J. Crivelli. (1995). Wetland loss in the Mediterranean. In A. Crivelli (ed.) Functions and values of Mediterranean Wetlands: 19-21. Arles: Tour du Valat
UNEP-MAP RAC/SPA 2010. The Mediterranean Sea Biodiversity: state of the ecosystems, pressures, impacts and future priorities. By Bazairi, H., Ben Haj, S., Boero, F., Cebrian, D., De Juan, S., Limam, A., Lleonart, J., Torchia, G., and Rais, C., Ed. RAC/SPA, Tunis; pp 16-37. Available: http://www.rac-spa.org/sites/default/files/doc_cop/biodiversity.pdf
Venetoulis, J., D. Chazan and C. Gaudet. (2004). Ecological Footprint of Nations 2004. Redefining Progress. Available: http://www.rprogress.org.
WWF (2006). Drought in the Mediterranean: WWF Policy Proposals: 1-17. Available: http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/where_we_work/europe/what_we_do/mediterra...