A Business Approach to Sustainable Landscape Restoration from Coursera

Integrated landscape management and large-scale landscape restoration should be in every company’s business strategy because in order to reach the Sustainable Development Goal on Land Degradation Neutrality (SDG Number 15.3) scaling up and acceleration of business-driven landscape restoration is urgently needed.

This requires business professionals with a vision, the right knowledge and skills. This MOOC aims to train the next generation of business professionals and developers to acknowledge business’ interdependency with healthy landscapes and understand the value of ecosystem resources.

“Historically, we have found countless ways to justify our continued exploitation of the environment: discovery, tradition, Manifest Destiny, even Chinese hoax. But we’re all out of excuses now. Each passing day swells the data on greenhouse gases and extreme weather, shrinking reservoirs and rising sea levels, and diminishing biodiversity. Our resources are finite, the window for change if not firmly shut, is certainly closing, and all life must adapt or be doomed.”

Téa Obreht,

The New Yorker, Dec. 19&26, 2016, p. 106.

It is a frightening prospect indeed – that all life on Earth must either adapt or be doomed. This course is about landscape degradation – a global and wicked problem that is contributing to the dooming prospect of depletion of Earth’s finite resources. But this course is also about the solutions to this problem – business driven landscape restoration.

So rather than leaving you powerless with the prospect Obreht puts fowards above, it is our hope that you learn how you can be part of the solution to making sure that Planet Earth still provides a safe and habitable home for future generations.

We must act big and we must act now.

With this course we want to pass on valuable knowledge and teach you useful skills that you can apply in your professional life that will enable you to tackle the issue of landscape degradation and restoration.

The issue is urgent, so let’s dive right into it.

This MOOC is developed by the ENABLE partnership, which is co-funded by the ERASMUS+ programme of the European Commission and involves a diverse, international group of organizations including Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University, Commonland, United Nations University Land Restoration Training Programme, the Spanish National Research Council and Estoril Global Conferences.

What's inside

Syllabus

The business potential for Integrated Landscape Management and Restoration

This course is developed by ENABLE – which stands for European Network for Advancement of Business and Landscape Education. The objective of this course is to educate you about the role of business in landscape management and restoration and, vice versa, about the role of healthy landscapes for sustainable businesses. To accelerate integrated landscape management and large-scale business driven landscape restoration we need passionate professionals and practitioners. We will challenge you to become a professional who is not afraid to work as a game-changer in transformative collaboration aiming at landscape management and restoration. In this first video Simon Moolenaar from Commonland will give you an overview of the content and skills you can expect to learn about in each week, and what you can aim to take away at the end of the course. Simon will introduce you to one of the principal concepts of this course; landscape degradation and the scale of this problem globally. He will then show you the many dimensions there are to the relation between landscapes and businesses. Specifically, he will illustrate how there is both an economic cause for landscape degradation but also an economic logic to the solution – business-driven landscape restoration. You will be introduced to the Land Degradation Neutrality target which is one of seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations. Simon will explain how the SDGs can be used to raise awareness and mobilise the private and public sector for action. Another tool for landscape restoration you will learn about is the 4 returns framework developed by Commonland. This framework is about large-scale landscape restoration with 4 returns on investment: return of inspiration, return of natural capital, return of social capital and return of financial capital. We will then return to this framework and explore it in greater depth in the fourth week of the course. Let's get started!

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Suitable for professionals, as it provides essential knowledge and skills to tackle landscape degradation and restoration

Taught by experts in their respective fields like Rob van Tulder, Simon W. Moolenaar, Nicola Favretto, ensuring high-quality instruction

Practical insights through real-life Commonland projects in diverse locations like South Africa, Spain, Australia, and the Netherlands

The multi-modal format with videos, readings, and discussions keeps the learning process engaging and varied

Addresses the pressing issue of landscape degradation and restoration, making it highly relevant to current global challenges

Introduces tools and frameworks like Total Economic Valuation, the 4 returns approach, and business model canvas, making it applicable in real-world scenarios

A comprehensive course that covers ecological, economic, and business aspects of landscape management and restoration

Collaborative capstone project allows you to apply your knowledge to solve real-world problems alongside peers

Requires learners to have a basic understanding of landscape ecology and economics, which may be a barrier for some

Reviews summary

Business approach to landscape restoration

According to learners, this course provides a unique and valuable interdisciplinary perspective, effectively linking business strategies with landscape restoration. Students particularly appreciate the practical tools and frameworks introduced, such as the 4 Returns approach and business model canvases, finding them applicable to real-world projects. The inclusion of case studies from Commonland projects is frequently highlighted as making complex concepts tangible and relatable. While the course is comprehensive in its breadth, covering economics, ecology, and business models, some learners might find that the depth in specific technical areas could be further expanded. The capstone project is generally seen as a beneficial opportunity to apply the learned material.

Allows applying concepts to a case.

"The capstone project was a great way to consolidate everything I learned and practice applying the tools."

"Applying the methods to a real case study felt challenging but ultimately very rewarding."

"I felt like the project gave me a tangible way to contribute to thinking about a real-world problem."

Offers useful frameworks and real cases.

"The 4 Returns framework introduced is something I can actually use and apply in my work."

"Seeing the Commonland projects case studies made the concepts very concrete and inspiring."

"The business model canvases were explained clearly and adapted well for this specific context."

Effectively bridges business and ecology.

"I really appreciate how the course links business strategy with ecological restoration in a practical way."

"It's valuable to see how these two fields intersect and how business can be a force for environmental good."

"This course gave me a new perspective on the environmental role and potential of business."

Covers many topics, may lack deep dives.

"While broad and comprehensive, I wish some topics went into a bit more detail or offered resources for deeper dives."

"It felt introductory in certain areas, especially some of the ecological or complex economic models."

"Some concepts, like partnership complexities, could have used more advanced or nuanced treatment."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in A Business Approach to Sustainable Landscape Restoration with these activities:

Brush up on your math skills

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This activity will help you refresh your math skills, which are essential for many business concepts.

Browse courses on Math

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Review your notes from previous math courses.
Take practice problems.
Attend a math workshop.

Review landscape ecological processes

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Sharpen your knowledge of landscape ecological processes to better grasp the course materials.

Browse courses on Landscape Ecology

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Review the key concepts of landscape ecology, such as landscape structure, function, and change.
Read scientific articles or book chapters on landscape ecological processes.
Attend a workshop or seminar on landscape ecology.

Review economic principles

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Strengthen your understanding of economic principles to better comprehend the course materials.

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Review the basic concepts of microeconomics and macroeconomics.
Read articles or book chapters on economic principles.
Attend a lecture or workshop on economic principles.

Eight other activities

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Practice reading comprehension

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This activity will help you improve your reading comprehension skills, which are essential for understanding the course material.

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Read a variety of texts, such as articles, news stories, and blog posts.
Identify the main idea and supporting details of each text.
Summarize each text in your own words.
Answer questions about the texts.

Watch a video tutorial on how to create a business plan

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This activity will help you learn the basics of business planning.

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Search for a video tutorial on how to create a business plan.
Watch the video tutorial.
Take notes on the key steps involved in creating a business plan.

Read 'The Lean Startup' by Eric Ries

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This book will help you learn about the principles of lean startup methodology, which can be applied to any type of business.

View Partire leggeri. Il metodo Lean Startup:... on Amazon

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Read the book.
Take notes on the key concepts.
Apply the concepts to your own business.

Complete landscape restoration calculations

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Practice calculating the costs and benefits of landscape restoration projects to enhance your analytical skills.

Browse courses on Landscape Restoration

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Use online calculators or spreadsheets to estimate the costs and benefits of landscape restoration projects.
Work through practice problems related to landscape restoration calculations.
Attend a workshop or training session on landscape restoration calculations.

Explore GIS tools for landscape analysis

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Gain proficiency in using GIS tools to analyze landscapes, improving your ability to identify and plan restoration projects.

Browse courses on GIS

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Follow online tutorials or training materials on GIS software.
Complete hands-on exercises using GIS data and tools.
Attend a workshop or training session on GIS for landscape analysis.

Write a blog post about a business you admire

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This activity will help you apply the concepts you learn in this course to a real-world business.

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Choose a business that you admire.
Research the business's history, mission, and values.
Identify the business's key strengths and weaknesses.
Write a blog post about the business, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses.

Volunteer with a local non-profit organization

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This activity will help you gain practical experience in business and learn about the challenges facing non-profit organizations.

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Find a local non-profit organization that you would like to volunteer with.
Contact the organization and inquire about volunteer opportunities.
Attend a volunteer orientation.
Volunteer with the organization on a regular basis.

Attend a networking event for business professionals

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This activity will help you expand your network and connect with potential mentors and partners.

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Find a networking event for business professionals.
Register for the event.
Attend the event and introduce yourself to other attendees.
Follow up with any potential contacts you make.

Career center

Learners who complete A Business Approach to Sustainable Landscape Restoration will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Environmental Scientist

An environmental scientist uses scientific research to develop solutions to environmental problems. They may work with businesses to help them minimize their environmental impact or restore degraded ecosystems. This course, with its focus on business-driven landscape restoration, would help an environmental scientist understand the business case for sustainability and how to work with businesses to achieve environmental goals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Scientist

Sustainability Manager

A sustainability manager is responsible for developing and implementing sustainability strategies for an organization. This course, which introduces the concepts of integrated landscape management and large-scale landscape restoration, would help a sustainability manager understand how to develop and implement sustainability strategies that benefit both the environment and the economy.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sustainability Manager

Conservation Scientist

A conservation scientist uses scientific research to develop and implement strategies to conserve natural resources. This course, which covers the topics of land degradation and restoration, would help a conservation scientist understand the causes of land degradation and how to develop and implement strategies to restore degraded ecosystems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Conservation Scientist

Environmental Consultant

An environmental consultant provides advice to businesses on how to minimize their environmental impact. This course, with its focus on the business potential for integrated landscape management and restoration, would help an environmental consultant understand how to advise businesses on how to make their operations more sustainable.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Consultant

Landscape Architect

A landscape architect designs and plans landscapes. This course, with its focus on the role of healthy landscapes for sustainable businesses, would help a landscape architect understand how to design and plan landscapes that benefit both the environment and the economy.

See salaries and explore the career path for Landscape Architect

Environmental Economist

An environmental economist uses economic principles to analyze environmental issues. This course, with its focus on the economics of land degradation, would help an environmental economist understand the economic costs of land degradation and the economic benefits of landscape restoration.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Economist

Urban Planner

An urban planner develops plans for the development and use of land in urban areas. This course, with its focus on integrated landscape management, would help an urban planner understand how to develop plans that promote sustainable development and minimize the environmental impact of urban development.

See salaries and explore the career path for Urban Planner

Environmental Policy Analyst

An environmental policy analyst develops and analyzes policies to protect the environment. This course, with its focus on the role of partnerships in landscape restoration, would help an environmental policy analyst understand how to develop and analyze policies that promote collaboration between businesses, government, and civil society organizations to achieve environmental goals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Policy Analyst

Climate Change Analyst

A climate change analyst studies the causes and effects of climate change. This course, with its focus on the impacts of land degradation on climate change, would help a climate change analyst understand the role of land restoration in mitigating climate change.

See salaries and explore the career path for Climate Change Analyst

Investment Analyst

An investment analyst provides advice to investors on which investments to make. This course, with its focus on the business potential for landscape restoration, would help an investment analyst understand how to identify and evaluate investments in landscape restoration projects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Investment Analyst

Nonprofit Manager

A nonprofit manager leads a nonprofit organization. This course, with its focus on the role of partnerships in landscape restoration, would help a nonprofit manager understand how to develop and manage partnerships with businesses, government, and civil society organizations to achieve environmental goals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Nonprofit Manager

Philanthropy Advisor

A philanthropy advisor provides advice to philanthropists on how to donate their money to charitable causes. This course, with its focus on the economics of land degradation, would help a philanthropy advisor understand the environmental impact of land degradation and how to identify and support organizations that are working to restore degraded landscapes.

See salaries and explore the career path for Philanthropy Advisor

Corporate Social Responsibility Manager

A corporate social responsibility manager is responsible for developing and implementing a company's corporate social responsibility strategy. This course, with its focus on the business potential for landscape restoration, would help a corporate social responsibility manager understand how to develop and implement a corporate social responsibility strategy that benefits both the company and the environment.

See salaries and explore the career path for Corporate Social Responsibility Manager

Project Manager

A project manager plans, organizes, and executes projects. This course, with its focus on the process of designing and implementing sustainable business models, would help a project manager understand how to plan, organize, and execute projects that are both sustainable and profitable.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Business Analyst

A business analyst helps businesses to improve their operations. This course, with its focus on the business potential for landscape restoration, would help a business analyst understand how to identify and evaluate opportunities for businesses to improve their operations and reduce their environmental impact.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst