A view of the east Khasi hills.
In this course students will explore the fields of conservation biology and natural resource management, with a focus on issues and conservation of natural resources and biodiversity in India. We will study conservation of biodiversity based in the principles of ecology and evolution, as well as management of and policy regarding renewable natural resources such as water, soil, and forests. The goals are to understand natural ecological systems in the context of a human dominated world and how resources can be maintained in concert with an exploding human population. By the end of this course, students will: 1) understand the basic ecological and evolutionary principles that underlie the diversity of life on Earth; 2) appreciate the impact of humans on the distribution and abundance of other species and resources on the planet and in India; and 3) be familiar with the solutions to the problem of biodiversity loss and unsustainable resource management in India.
