BSc Environmental Management

Landscape ecology explores the structure (spatial arrangement and pattern of elements) and function (ecological processes and flows) of landscapes, the dynamics of these systems and how these factors affect the species living within them. It differs from the original study of ecology because of its interest in broader spatial extents than those traditionally studied in ecology, the spatial heterogeneity within these spaces, and a strong focus on the way in which humans shape and impact landscape patterns and process. Landscape ecology operates at a variety of scales, with ‘landscapes’ not being defined by size, but instead characterised by the phenomenon being studied that can operate within a mosaic of elements at almost any scale.

Through this lens, landscape ecologists examine the ways in which the development and management of land influences the structure and function of landscapes and can subsequently impact upon important biodiversity processes such as species’ movements through the landscape mosaic. Concern about the human impacts on biodiversity has grown in recent years as better understanding of species’ requirements has demonstrated that nature conservation policies need to go beyond the site-scale to protect and enhance the environment over much larger geographic areas. Contemporary landscape ecology is therefore concerned with better understanding the interactions between humans, landscapes and the species within them, to create spaces that provide multifunctional benefits where people and wildlife can thrive.

The principles of landscape ecology have highlighted that nature does not thrive if restricted to small, isolated patches and that to reverse biodiversity declines, the connectivity across landscapes need to be enhanced through ecological restoration. These tenets have strong resonance with rewilding, which is a burgeoning area of conservation research and practise. Rewilding is focused on restoring ecosystem dynamics by reducing human intervention and management. However, rewilding has also raised legitimate concerns in landscapes inhabited by people, that history, culture and livelihoods are being erased. As such, landscape ecology has the potential to play an important role in helping us to understand both ecological processes and societal viewpoints about rewilding as a novel approach to ‘transformative conservation’.

Students should be able to: 

*Please note the University cannot be responsible in the event that field visits have to be cancelled for reasons beyond the University's control

• Describe  key theories and concepts in landscape ecology and apply them to real-world situations 
• Recall specific policy instruments that can impact upon and/or implement landscape ecology principles

• Use a variety of data to inform and justify appropriate landscape ecological decision-making 
• Compare, contrast and defend different management options using landscape ecological theory and practice 

• Identify and summarise the appropriate techniques for collecting and analysing data for studying landscape ecology
• Collect, prepare, analyse and interpret data from field work
• Clean, analyse and evaluate data for use in a GIS, and generate and present maps to communicate complex information covering large spatial extents   
• Make use of digital tools to help with the collection and analysis of data  

• Produce and present a technical ‘consultancy report’ in the appropriate format to an expert audience
• Accurately record and transpose information from analogue to digital formats

Feedback will be provided through formal feedback for assessed work and through verbal feedback during the workshop sessions each week as well as through the VLE. 

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