Natural Resource Management, Spring 2007

NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, SPRING 2007

Instructor: Uma Ramakrishnan Room No. B227 Phone: 641-3436 E-mail: [email protected] Lecture time and location: MWF 12:00-12:55; BAC, Rm B200 Office Hours: Monday 1:00-4:00 Tuesday 1:00-3:00

Text: Chiras D. D. and Reganold, J. P. 2005. Natural Resource Conservation: Management for a Sustainable Future. 9th Edition. Pearson Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. 644 Pp.

TEXTBOOK READING ASSIGNMENTS AND TENTETIVE SCHEDULE: Week Subject Friday paper Chapter reading Jan 15 Intro. to NMR Global resources management Chapter1 (video and group discussion) Jan 22 Economics, ethics Mabogunje, A. L. 2002 Chapter2 and critical thinking (presentation and discussion) Jan 29 Human population McFalls, J. A. 2003 Chapter 4 challenge (presentation and discussion) Feb 5 Soil conservation & Guest presentation (James Stewart, Chapter 7 sustainable ag. NRCS) Feb 12 Integrated pest 1st mid-term (Friday, 16th) Chapter 8 management Feb 19 Managing water Halweil, B. 1999 Chapter 10 resources (presentation and discussion) Feb 26 Fisheries Global competition for scarce Chapter 12 conservation resources (video and group discussion) March 12 Rangeland Rosengrant, et al., 2003 Chapter 13 management (presentation and discussion) March 19 Forest management The economics of deforestation Chapter 14 (video and group discussion) March 26 Wildlife management 2nd mid-term (Friday 30th) Chapter 16 April 2 Waste management No Class Chapter 17 April 9 Air pollution Probst & Bierle, 1999 Chapters 19 (presentation and discussion) April 16 Minerals and mining Lecture Chapter 20 April 23 Nonrenewable energy Dunn, S. 2001. Chapter 21 resources (presentation and discussion) April 30 Efficiency and Chapter 22 renewable energy Course Evaluation: 1st Mid-term – February 16th (Friday) 40 points 2nd Mid-term – March 30th (Friday) 50 points Final – May 60 points Paper write-up – 40 points Discussion and class participation- 40 points Total 230 points

Discussion Paper and Paper Write-up– As part of the course, we will discuss 6 papers or essays. Four students will lead the class discussions. These students will provide a summary of the paper/essay at the beginning of the hour. This will be followed by a discussion of the paper – the class will break up into 4 groups, with each of the discussion leaders leading a group. Each group will discuss the paper and submit their discussion at the end of the hour. The discussion leaders will then have to submit a summery of the paper in bullet form (about 3 pages) highlighting the main points of the paper the following Monday. All students should have read the paper and participate in the discussion. Your grade is based not only on your presentation and leading of the discussion, but also on your participation in the discussion when you are not leading the paper. To allow meaningful participation, all students must come to class prepared to discuss the paper in depth.

Required Field Trip – We will be taking a field trip to view Acid Mine Reclamation Programs in Huntingdon County. The tour will be lead by Andy Patterson, District Manager of the Huntingdon County Conservation District. The date of the field trip is March 28th (Wednesday), leaving at 2:00 p.m. and returning at about 6:00 p.m. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU CHECK YOUR SCHEDULE AND RESERVE THAT DATE. If you have problems attending the trip, please contact me as soon as possible and I will provide you with an alternate assignment.

Extra Credit Opportunity: Design 2 potential exam questions for each midterm and final. The first is due on the February 12th; the second on March 26th and the third on April 27th. You need to e-mail your questions to me.