From the Ground Up

Examine our reliance on the Earth’s resources –and vice versa – and you will discover a stunning tapestry of complex interactions between ecosystems and human life. From preventing the extinction of species (from plants to animals) to mitigating the effects of long-term environmental shifts, how do we ensure that our interaction with the world around us doesn’t leave it destroyed?

In this course, you’ll learn the science behind the capacities of various ecosystems including extinction rates, desertification and how their physical makeup has evolved with environmental shifts. You’ll experience the lives of local populations dependent upon these resources, from their economic activities to their societal norms.

After taking this course, you will be equipped with an understanding of diverse ecosystems and how responsible use of these resources is imperative to our planet’s survival.

This course is for:

Graduate students and advanced undergraduate students studying ecosystem management, forestry, sustainable development, economics, sustainable business and related fields

Practitioners in forestry, ecosystem management, conservation and related fields who are interested in current science and research around use and preservation

Sustainable development practitioners – as well as private-sector actors, such as those who work in corporate sustainability and responsibility, land development or tourism – who need to understand responsible consumption and interaction with our ecosystems

What you'll learn

• The factors that determine the resilience of an ecosystem, its susceptibility to human activities and climate change, and more
• What events will fundamentally alter an ecosystem and its ability to support extant life?
• Use, preservation and management in the Brazilian Amazon, Bhutan and other regions
• How communities and policymakers can preserve local ecosystems