Sheep in the Land of Fire and Ice
Land use without adequate management can drive environmental degradation. Grazing management is an example of such land use and represents a common problem in many regions of the world. The aim of this short course is to raise awareness of the environmental risks associated with unsustainable management of natural resources. This course uses Iceland as a case study because here traditional sheep grazing has been associated with extensive environmental degradation. We examine the sustainability of sheep grazing in Iceland and explore how history, socioeconomic factors and environmental conditions have influenced the management of grazing resources. The development of sustainable management practices needs to take into account ecological, as well as economic and social aspects. We can devise general rules and guiding principles for management based on our current understanding of the socio-ecological systems, but fine-tuning of specific management decisions, for example regarding stocking rates or the duration of the grazing season will have to be site-specific. A better understanding of the consequences of these practices and how their ecological impacts vary under different environmental conditions will improve management decisions and increase the sustainability of management practices in the face of ongoing environmental changes.
What you'll learn
- In this course you will learn about:
- The cultural, historical and economic relevance of sheep grazing in Iceland
- Current issues, initiatives and approaches to sheep grazing management in Iceland
- Basic ecological principles that govern grazing systems, their complexity and dynamics
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| Rating | 5.0★ based on 5 ratings |
|---|---|
| Length | 3 weeks |
| Effort | 3 weeks, 1–2 hours per week |
| Starts | On Demand (Start anytime) |
| Cost | $50 |
| From | UIcelandX, The University of Iceland via edX |
| Instructors | Isabel C Barrio, David S Hik, Ingibjörg Svala Jónsdóttir, Ólafur Arnalds, Egill Erlendsson, Þórunn Pétursdóttir, Jóhann Þórisson, Björn Helgi Barkarsson, Bryndís Marteinsdóttir, Tara Mulloy, Unnsteinn Snorri Snorrason, Anja Mager |
| Download Videos | On all desktop and mobile devices |
| Language | English |
| Subjects | Humanities Social Sciences Science |
| Tags | History Environmental Studies |
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What people are saying
efforts towards sustainable management
It posed questions that I had not considered, and educated me on efforts towards sustainable management.
land type before settlement
There was a fascinating unpacking of archaeological evidence of the land type before settlement, and plenty of food for thought about the mess we humans seem to make of everything, and what can be done about it, and how to get the 'powers' to connect with the workers to try to solve the problem to the advantage of all concerned.
mess we humans seem
reinforce some theoretical knowledge
Good case of study where i reinforce some theoretical knowledge aplied to a real case.
computer science major from
I thought it was a very nice course, and the information was very easy to keep track of and was presented in a way I (a Computer Science major from the suburbs of the USA) could understand on a base level.
wherever you live pertaining
I think it's valuable information wherever you live pertaining to sustainability.
a-level equivalent diplomas
I am not degree educated, I have done only a couple of A-level equivalent diplomas, and I found this course to be at a perfect level for me.
it posed questions
cost my less
Like i have previous knowledge it cost my less than expected to end it.
less than expected
option - though
Thank you so much for providing this as a free course option - though I have to confess, as daunting as I might have found the final quiz, I was disappointed that I didn't have to take it (on the free, audit version), and was sorely tempted to upgrade to verified just so I could!!
vet student daughter
I found this course, which I took because of an interest in Iceland in general, and having a vet student daughter who is doing lambing as we speak, really interesting.
Careers
An overview of related careers and their average salaries in the US. Bars indicate income percentile.
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| Rating | 5.0★ based on 5 ratings |
|---|---|
| Length | 3 weeks |
| Effort | 3 weeks, 1–2 hours per week |
| Starts | On Demand (Start anytime) |
| Cost | $50 |
| From | UIcelandX, The University of Iceland via edX |
| Instructors | Isabel C Barrio, David S Hik, Ingibjörg Svala Jónsdóttir, Ólafur Arnalds, Egill Erlendsson, Þórunn Pétursdóttir, Jóhann Þórisson, Björn Helgi Barkarsson, Bryndís Marteinsdóttir, Tara Mulloy, Unnsteinn Snorri Snorrason, Anja Mager |
| Download Videos | On all desktop and mobile devices |
| Language | English |
| Subjects | Humanities Social Sciences Science |
| Tags | History Environmental Studies |
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