Overview
PLAN545 introduces students to ecosystem services, climate change adaptation and land use planning in Costa Rica. The course includes a policy analysis component, the framework for which is structured decision making (a conceptual and practical tool for generating effective public policy response). Course content is relevant to Latin America in general.
PLAN545 is open to graduate students from relevant UBC programs and faculties (e.g. SCARP, IRES, Forestry) or from similar programs at other Canadian universities. It is a 3-credit course.
PLAN545 is open to graduate students from relevant UBC programs and faculties (e.g. SCARP, IRES, Forestry) or from similar programs at other Canadian universities. It is a 3-credit course.
The course combines classroom learning with field visits to communities and institutions who work with CATIE to address local environmental issues. Classroom lectures will be given by experts in a range of fields (e.g. climate change modeling, ecosystem services, climate change adaptation, structured decision making). The field visits will give the students a chance to hear directly about these issues from community and institutional stakeholders and to observe firsthand how these issues can be address in practice.
Students will be introduced to CATIE's work in watershed management and ecosystem service maintenance and restoration. Near CATIE, the group will visit a watershed in which farmers and downstream water users seek common solutions to erosion and meet representatives of key institutions behind these efforts. In addition, the group will visit the La Selva Biological Reserve. The group will also travel to both coasts. On the Caribbean coast, the group will visit indigenous communities, who partner with CATIE to promote community development and environmental preservation. On the Pacific side, the group will visit the Nicoya peninsula to learn about local efforts to address conflicts over water allocations to tourism development. The group will also possibly have the opportunity spend some time with urban and regional planners in Costa Rica's central valley, who face issues of rapid growth and aging undersized infrastructures.
Group size is limited to a maximum of 14 students.
Students will be introduced to CATIE's work in watershed management and ecosystem service maintenance and restoration. Near CATIE, the group will visit a watershed in which farmers and downstream water users seek common solutions to erosion and meet representatives of key institutions behind these efforts. In addition, the group will visit the La Selva Biological Reserve. The group will also travel to both coasts. On the Caribbean coast, the group will visit indigenous communities, who partner with CATIE to promote community development and environmental preservation. On the Pacific side, the group will visit the Nicoya peninsula to learn about local efforts to address conflicts over water allocations to tourism development. The group will also possibly have the opportunity spend some time with urban and regional planners in Costa Rica's central valley, who face issues of rapid growth and aging undersized infrastructures.
Group size is limited to a maximum of 14 students.
Requirements and assignments
Students are expected to:
- Attend two 90-minute evening classes in March as preparation for the course;
- Complete a series of background readings prior to course commencement;
- Participate in and complete two to three group exercises during the course; and
- Write a final term paper, due June 1.