CHALLENGES IN CONSERVATION

This course introduces students to critical debates about managing Africa's national parks.  Tourists want to see high concentrations of Africa's charismatic mega fauna, and they bring in dollars for development.  Yet national parks which rely on fencing in these animals have created environmental problems for the park lands and the animals in them. In Kenya two important national parks (Nairobi and Lake Nakuru) have become hemmed in, or insularized, by the requirements of economic development, to the great detriment of good management of the parks' rangelands and the animal populations. What kind of park management policies could address these conflicting interests? Students will meet with local practitioners, scientists and experts who will introduce the main issues and offer conflicting perspectives on and solutions to the problems. Our analytical, interactive and, solution-oriented approach to learning involves students in the pressing management problems that threaten biodiversity conservation.