Natural Systems Management

- Know the regulations and strategies for the planning and management of protected areas (PA).
- Ability to design, write and put into practice the different PA planning and management documents.
- Ability to apply multi-criteria decision-making techniques in PA planning and management.
- Know the possibilities of custody of the territory as an element to manage natural spaces.

The title master document contemplates for this subject the following contents:

- Concept, types and need for protected areas (PA).
- Regulations and organizations related to the management of PA at a global, European, Spanish and Galician level.
- PA planning and management documents (Master Plan, PORN, PRUG, Sector Plan, Monitoring Plan, etc.).
- Multi-criteria decision making in PA planning and management.
- Land trust.

These contents will be developed according to the following program, which includes both theoretical presentations and related practices, grouped into 10 expository hours and 12 interactive ones, with 2 tutorials.

Lectures hours program (10 hours):

- Topic 1: Introduction and definitions: Concept of management of protected areas (PA). Definition and purposes of a PA. Types and categories of protection of the PA. Current perception of the PA. The millennium (development) goals. 2 hours.
- Topic 2: Legislation and international "actors" of AP management: Main international "actors" of AP management: IUCN, UNESCO (Biosphere Reserves, World Heritage Sites, Geoparks, Ramsar Convention), UNEP (ZEPIM ). Main European “actors” in AP management and related legislation: OSPAR (AMP), European Union (Natura 2000 Network, Bird and Habitats Directives), Council of Europe (Biogenetic Reserves), Europarc Federation. 4 h.
- Topic 3: Legislation and national "actors" of PA management: Main Spanish "actors" of AP management and related legislation: Europarc Spain, Ministry for Ecological Transition (Autonomous National Parks Organization, OAPN), Ministry of Culture and Sport (BICs). Main Galician “actors” in the management of PA and related legislation: Regional Ministry of the Environment and Territorial Planning, Xunta de Galicia. 4 h.

Interactive hours program (12 hours):

- Topic 4: PA management plans: Fundamental elements for management. Participatory planning. Cascade planning: Master Plans, Natural Resources Management Plans (PORN), Management Plans, Master Plans for Use and Management (PRUG), Sectoral Plans or Programs. Preparation of management plans: Common deficiencies in management plans. Methodology for the elaboration of a management plan: Identification of long-term objectives (general objectives); Diagnosis; Formulation of operational objectives; Definition of measures and results to be obtained; Assessment. Questions that a management plan should answer. 2 hours.
- Topic 5: Design of monitoring plans: The need to evaluate PA. Definition and basic content of a monitoring plan. Methodology for the design of a monitoring plan: Identification of objectives; Definition of an operating model of the system; Selection of indicators; Establishment of protocols for the measurement of the indicators, the acquisition of data and its treatment. 2 h.
- Topic 6: Land trust as an element for the conservation of nature: Definition of land trust. Custody agreements. Public and private custody entities. National and Galician examples. 1 h.
- Topic 7: Decision making in PA planning and management: The AHP method (Analytic Hierarchy Process). 4 h.
- Criteria and scheme for the critical analysis of an PA management plan. 1 h.
- Presentation, discussion and debate of the analysis work of an PA management plan. 2 h.

Field practices (voluntary, outside official hours):

The possibility of making a field visit (outside official hours and on a voluntary basis) to a Protected Area is raised, as a complement to the knowledge imparted.

Basic bibliography

EUROPARC-España (2021). Anuario 2020 del estado de las áreas protegidas en España. Ed. Fundación Fernando González Bernáldez. Madrid. 131 p. Available in:
https://redeuroparc.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/anuario2020finalweb…

MINISTERIO DE AGRICULTURA Y PESCA, ALIMENTACIÓN Y MEDIO AMBIENTE. Recopilación de legislación en materia de naturaleza de aplicación a nivel nacional, europea e internacional. Available in: http://www.mapama.gob.es/es/biodiversidad/legislacion/

BASORA ROCA X., SABATÉ I ROTÉS X. 2006. Custodia del territorio en la práctica. Fundació Territori i Paisatge, Obra Social Caixa Catalunya, Xarxa de Custòdia del Territori. Available in:
https://www.custodia-territorio.es/manual-de-custodia-del-territorio-en…

Complementary bibliography

EUROPARC-España (2002). Plan de Acción para los espacios naturales protegidos del Estado Español. Ed. Fundación Fernando González Bernáldez. Madrid 168 p. Available in:
http://www.redeuroparc.org/system/files/shared/planaccion.pdf

EUROPARC-España (2005). Diseño de planes de seguimiento en espacios naturales protegidos. Manual para gestores y técnicos. Serie manuales EUROPARC-España nº 2. Ed. Fundación Fernando González Bernáldez. Madrid. 176 p. Available in:
http://www.redeuroparc.org/system/files/shared/manual_2.pdf

EUROPARC-España (2008). Planificar para gestionar los espacios naturales protegidos. Serie manuales EUROPARC-España nº 7. Ed. Fundación Fernando González Bernáldez. Madrid. 120 p. Available in:
http://www.redeuroparc.org/system/files/shared/manual_7.pdf

EUROPARC-España (2010). Herramientas para la evaluación de las áreas protegidas: modelo de memoria de gestión. Serie manuales EUROPARC-España nº 8. Ed. Fundación Fernando González Bernáldez. Madrid. 121 p. Available in:
http://www.redeuroparc.org/system/files/shared/manual8.pdf

EUROPARC-España (2013). Proyectos de ordenación de montes. Herramientas para la conservación en los espacios protegidos. Serie manuales EUROPARC-España nº 11. Ed. Fundación Interuniversitaria Fernando González Bernáldez. Madrid. 80 p. Available in:
http://www.redeuroparc.org/system/files/shared/manual11.pdf

Lausche B. (2012). Directrices para la legislación relativa a áreas protegidas. UICN, Gland, Suiza. Available in: http://data.iucn.org/dbtw-wpd/edocs/EPLP-081-Es.pdf

Leverington F., Lemos Costa K., Courrau J., Pavese H., Nolte C., Marr M., Coad L., Burgess N.D., Bomhard B., & Hockings M. (2010). Management effectiveness evaluation in protected areas: a global study: second edition. IUCN, Gland; Switzerland. Available in:
http://data.iucn.org/dbtw-wpd/edocs/2010-092.pdf

MMAM (1999). Estrategia española para la conservación y el uso sostenible de la diversidad biológica. Ministerio de Medio Ambiente. Madrid.

UICN (1994). Guidelines for Protected Area Management categories. CNPPA and WCMC. UICN, Gland, Suiza y Cambridge, UK. Available in:
http://www.wild.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/IUCN-Protected-Area-Cata…

Basic and General Competences:

- CG1: Identify and state environmental problems.
- CG2: Being able to predict and control the evolution of complex situations through the development of innovative work methodologies adapted to the specific scientific/research, technological or professional field, generally multidisciplinary, in which their activity is carried out.
- CG4: Apply knowledge of mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology and other natural sciences, obtained through study, experience, and practice, with critical reasoning to establish economically viable solutions to technical problems.
- CB6: Possess and understand knowledge that provides a basis or opportunity to be original in the development and/or application of ideas, often in a research context.
- CB7: That students know how to apply the acquired knowledge and their ability to solve problems in new or little-known environments within broader (or multidisciplinary) contexts related to their area of study.
- CB8: That students are able to integrate knowledge and face the complexity of making judgments based on information that, being incomplete or limited, includes reflections on the social and ethical responsibilities linked to the application of their knowledge and judgments.
- CB9: That students know how to communicate their conclusions and the ultimate knowledge and reasons that support them to specialized and non-specialized audiences in a clear and unambiguous way.
- CB10: That students have the learning skills that allow them to continue studying in a way that will have to be largely self-directed or autonomous.

Transversal Competences:

- CT4: Demonstrate critical and self-critical reasoning, analytical and synthesis capacity.
- CT5: Prepare, write and publicly defend scientific and technical reports and projects.
- CT6: Appreciate the value of quality and continuous improvement, acting with rigor, responsibility and professional ethics within the framework of commitment to sustainable development.

Specific Competences:

- CE2: Know in depth the technologies, tools and techniques in the field of environmental engineering to be able to compare and select technical alternatives and emerging technologies.
- CE3: Develop sufficient autonomy to participate in research projects and scientific or technological collaborations within the thematic area of Environmental Engineering, in interdisciplinary contexts and, where appropriate, with a high component of knowledge transfer.
- CE5: Conceptualize engineering models, apply innovative methods in solving problems and appropriate computer applications for the design, simulation, optimization and control of processes and systems.
- CE8: Address a real Environmental Engineering problem from a scientific-technical perspective, recognizing the importance of searching for and managing existing information and applicable legislation.

All the teaching of this elective subject will be taught electronically and synchronously through the USC corporate tool MS Teams (all students with cameras and open microphones during classes), but is contemplated the possibility that some classes will be taught dual form if a large number of students express their desire to participate in the ETSE in person (maintaining the teaching by MS Teams for the rest).

In addition to the lecture classes, of a magisterial nature, interactive, practical and participatory classes will be added, which will consist of the application of the AHP multi-criteria decision-making methodology to a practical case, and the holding of seminars by specialists in land trust. In addition, students must carry out a work of critical analysis of a management document of a protected area (after the classes on the typology and elaboration of the same), and present it on the last day of classes of the subject, discussing and debating the results obtained and highlighting the main conclusions. The report and presentation of this course work will be used for the partial evaluation of the subject.

As a complement, the possibility of making a field visit (voluntary and outside official hours) to a protected area is contemplated, to learn about the application of the knowledge imparted to reality.

In the tutorials, students will be assisted to comment and clarify specific issues in relation to their tasks within the subject (information gathering, data analysis, work preparation and presentation...).

The dynamics of the activities to be developed are detailed below:

1st Week: Lectures; Content: Presentation of the teaching staff and the subject, which includes a detailed description of the teaching guide and the work philosophy of the subject + Topic 1. Introduction and definitions.
2nd Week: Lectures; Content: Topic 2. Legislation and international "actors" of protected areas (PA) management.
3rd Week: Lectures; Content: Topic 3. Legislation and national "actors" of PA management.
3rd Week: Interactive Classes; Content: Topic 4. PA management plans.
4th Week: Interactive Classes; Content: Topic 5. Design of monitoring plans + Topic 6. Land trust as an element for the conservation of nature + Criteria and scheme for the critical analysis of an AP management plan.
5th Week: Interactive Classes; Content: Topic 7: Application to a practical case of the AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) decision-making methodology.
5th Week: Interactive Classes; Content: Presentation (and submit) of the practical work consisting of the critical analysis of an PA management document, discussing and debating the results obtained and highlighting the main conclusions.

The evaluation system will consist, both in the first and in the second opportunity, of the following elements or activities, along with their weighting percentages in the final grade for the subject:

- Continuous evaluation (50%): as progress is made in the development of the subject, a practical work will be proposed consisting of the analysis and critical evaluation of the management document of a protected area (selected by the students themselves), which must be be carried out individually throughout the course and delivered electronically within the period specified (at the latest the last day of classes for the subject).
- Presentation of the work (20%): it will consist of the presentation of the work carried out during the course. It will be carried out electronically by MS Teams on the last day of classes for the subject (and for the second opportunity, the day set for the exam by the center management). The possibility of doing it dually is contemplated for students who wish to do the exhibition face-to-face at ETSE (maintaining the exhibition through MS Teams for the rest).
- Student participation in classes (30%). The note of this part will be kept until the second opportunity.

Both the work carried out in the continuous evaluation and its presentation are mandatory to pass the subject, and it will be necessary to obtain at least 4 points out of 10 in both to average with the other part. Attendance at possible field visits is voluntary.

The positive evaluation of any activity will not be kept in the following academic years, so the same evaluation system will be applied to all students (even if they repeat or have been granted attendance dispensation).

The relationship between assessment activities and competencies is detailed below:

(Competence; Continuous evaluation (work submitted)*; Work presentation*; Participation in classes*)*Compulsory activities

CG1 X X X
CB6 X X X
CB7 X X
CB8 X X X
CB9 X X
CB10 X X X
CT4 X X X
CT5 X X
CT6 X X
CE2 X X
CE3 X
CE8 X

In cases of fraudulent completion of exercises or tests, the provisions of the "Regulations for evaluating student academic performance and grade review" will apply (article 16 of the Resolution of 06/15/2011 of the USC, DOG of 07/21/2011).

This subject is worth 3 ECTS, corresponding to 26 hours: 10 hours of lecture, 12 of interactive and 2 hours of tutorials (2x2G). It is estimated that 50 hours of study and personal work by the students will be needed, including the preparation of the course work and its presentation, which will be used for the partial evaluation of the subject.

Active participation in lectures and interactive classes. Order and assimilate the information received (notes, supplementary material, etc.). Complete the information received with the recommended bibliography. Take advantage of the tutorials to clarify concepts and reflect these clarifications in the documentation (notes, etc.).

The USC Virtual Campus will be used, which offers teaching resources on the Internet (documentation repository, platform for the development of online activities and teacher/student communication medium).

In addition, the VSElephas Academy© computer program will be used for interactive classes on the application of the AHP decision-making methodology, which will be provided to students through the Virtual Campus.

The subject will be taught in Spanish.