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Conservation and Sustainable Development

University of Michigan via Coursera

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Overview

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Protecting biodiversity and supporting local and Indigenous people are too often treated as competing goals. In "Conservation and Sustainable Development," you'll explore where those goals conflict, overlap, and evolve together, drawing on real-world case studies from around the globe. You will learn about the complex, intertwined relationship between global conservation efforts and human development. Rather than viewing environmental protection and human progress as separate or competing goals, you’ll examine their overlap, conflict, and evolution together on a global scale. This is the first course in the "Climate Solutions series," a three-course series on addressing climate change with innovative, community-centered strategies that protect biodiversity for the benefit of all.

Syllabus

What is Conservation and Sustainable Development?

This module introduces the foundations of conservation and sustainable development by exploring their historical roots, connections to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and contemporary challenges. We will critically examine the roles that race, power, and exclusion have played in shaping the field, while engaging with Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) perspectives that challenge dominant narratives and offer pathways toward more just and inclusive approaches.

Early Ideas of Nature and Wilderness

In this module, we’ll explore how ideas about “nature” and “wilderness” have changed over time and shaped conservation efforts. You’ll learn about the history of protected areas, the people affected by them, and reflect on your own experiences with nature.

Practicing Conservation and Sustainable Development

In this module, we’ll examine how conservation efforts intersect with questions of social justice, knowledge systems, and development. We’ll explore how gender and power shape environmental outcomes, discuss the importance of indigenous and local knowledge, and consider the challenges and possibilities of balancing biodiversity conservation with poverty alleviation.

Conservation and Development in Specific Areas

In this module, we turn our attention to the specific places where conservation and development intersect—oceans, cities, and forests—and the complex challenges that arise within them. These environments, though distinct, all illuminate the tensions between ecological protection, human well-being, and questions of governance, justice, and power.

The Future of Conservation and Sustainable Development

In this module, we’ll examine how climate impacts vary across communities and ecosystems, and how adaptation strategies are reshaping responses to environmental change. Through a real-world case study on anti-poaching efforts in Kenya, we’ll analyze the complexities of conservation enforcement and the tensions it can create. Finally, we’ll critically evaluate “rewilding” as a potential path forward, considering who benefits, who is left out, and whether this approach offers a just and sustainable future.