Course Code: C198

Course Title: Biodiversity utilization

College: SOAS CEDEP

Course Director: Peter Buckley

Course Description: The exponential increase in the human population over the last century, coupled with careless exploitation of the Earth's natural resources, has resulted in severe degradation and loss of biological diversity at all levelsgenes, species and ecosystems. Yet, the survival of humankind is dependent on biodiversity to provide us with food, medicines, utilities, clean air and water, not to mention a sense of well-being; therefore, we need to conserve biodiversity so that it is available for our continued use.
 
We continue to over-exploit biodiversity and struggle to conserve it, either because we do not have the tools, resources or capacity, or because national priorities stand in the way. Because of the imperative to use biodiversity and the conservation-use conflict, sustainable use has been recognized as a fundamental way forward for biodiversity conservation; yet, this approach does not provide any easy fixes either, as you will learn in this module. The widespread degradation of wild biodiversity has gone hand in hand with a gradual erosion of the genetic diversity of our domesticated animals and plants. As advanced and fast methods of breeding to improve livestock and crops have become available, breeds and varieties have become more homogeneous to meet the demand for uniformity and with this, we have lost countless genetically valuable traditional' varieties. Yet, ironically, it is the genetically diverse plant and animal domesticates that we are becoming increasingly reliant upon because of our changing environment.

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

• recall the wide range of uses of biodiversity by humankind, both wild and domesticated and explain to the person sitting next to you why we depend on biodiversity for our survival

• illustrate, with examples, how biodiversity is being negatively impacted through human exploitation and conversely, how sustainable use can benefit biodiversity

• describe the vital role of plant and animal genetic diversity for food security and the ways in which agricultural production systems have affected this diversity

• outline the different ways that livestock and crops can be improved and comment on the important differences between modern and traditional breeds and varieties, as well as the methods used to produce them

• explain the complex issues surrounding resource ownership and benefit-sharing in the context of biodiversity use.

Assessment: Exam 100%

Course Credit: All SOAS CeDEP short course students receive a certificate of completion. Students of SOAS CeDEP Short Courses who may wish to transfer credit to Certificate, Diploma or Masters-level programmes are advised to select short courses which also act as Core Modules on CeDEP's various programmes.

Course Study Hours/Duration: 240 hrs over 35 weeks

Schedule of Availability: Feb - Oct (Enrolment deadline prior to Feb start - 30th November)

Delivery Mechanisms: Print; CD-Rom; Online Discussion

Cost: £960

How to apply: To enquire about applying for this course, or for any other information, please contact the Course Administrator using the online Enquiry Form below