Brazil is the country with the richest biodiversity in the world. Its dimensions and complexity, both marine and terrestrial, mean that it may never be completely described. There are numerous ecosystems, each with unique characteristics, and the conservation of ecotones between them becomes crucial. Brazil has made efforts towards the preservation of its biodiversity, with 15% of its territory legally declared as protected areas. The course will provide an overview of this environmental diversity by exploring the main ecological regions, such as the Amazon rainforest, the wetlands of Pantanal and the massive grasslands or cerrados, through an introduction to the major groups of plants and animals of each region, as well as the natural resources management and environmental policies. Special attention will be given to the human impact on the different regions and how this affects the sociopolitical environment. In this context, students will learn about the history of environmentalism in Brazil, as well as the struggle of the Landless Movement (MST).
Learning outcomes:
By the end of the course students will be able to:
Map and properly describe Brazil’s ecosystems
Understand biodiversity in the context of human ecology
Formulate proposals for a sustainable development of a Brazilian ecological region
Brazil is the country with the richest biodiversity in the world. Its dimensions and complexity, both marine and terrestrial, mean that it may never be completely described. There are numerous ecosystems, each with unique characteristics, and the conservation of ecotones between them becomes crucial. Brazil has made efforts towards the preservation of its biodiversity, with 15% of its territory legally declared as protected areas. The course will provide an overview of this environmental diversity by exploring the main ecological regions, such as the Amazon rainforest, the wetlands of Pantanal and the massive grasslands or cerrados, through an introduction to the major groups of plants and animals of each region, as well as the natural resources management and environmental policies. Special attention will be given to the human impact on the different regions and how this affects the sociopolitical environment. In this context, students will learn about the history of environmentalism in Brazil, as well as the struggle of the Landless Movement (MST).
By the end of the course students will be able to:
Paulo Oliveira and Robert Marquis (eds.), The Cerrados of Brazil. Columbia University Press, 2002.
Kathryn Hochstetler and Margaret Keck, Greening Brazil: Environmental Activism in State and Society. Duke University Press, 2007.
Gomercindo Rodrigues, Walking the Forest with Chico Mendes: Struggle for Justice in the Amazon. University of Texas Press, 2007.
Paul Keddy, Wetland Ecology: Principles and Conservation. Cambridge University Press, 2010.