Landscape Leadership: Catalyse Sustainable Development in Landscapes from edX

Achieving sustainable and productive landscapes and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) calls for bold and innovative leadership. Governments, the global private sector, universities and international NGOs are seeking landscape leaders to stimulate and facilitate change.

If you're reading this page, there's a strong chance that you see challenges in the society and region around you. There's also a strong chance that you have the energy and ability to impact change for the better. The MOOC Landscape Leadership: Catalyse Sustainable Development in Landscapes, is your key to unlocking the knowledge and skills you need to kick-off and lead the changes you want to see in your landscape and work.

You will learn what true leadership in a landscape really is. You will learn from real-life leaders how they designed and facilitated change to better their landscape. You will be taken through challenging global cases and build your skills to lead change in landscapes. You will interact with other emerging landscape leaders who want to share and learn how change at the landscape level can be achieved. After this course, you will be ready to look at your landscape and know how to lead the way forward.

After signing up for this course, you will straight away be brought to the landscape. You'll see leaders in action and be quizzed on what you would do in their situation. Through highly interactive activities, you'll learn about stakeholder dynamics and how those dynamics and competing claims often lead to conflict. But, you'll learn how to facilitate and inspire stakeholders and develop a repertoire of tools and methods to manage and resolve conflict toward sustainable change.

Sustainable and Inclusive Landscapes

This course is also part of the Sustainable and Inclusive Landscapes Professional Certificate Programme. Following the complete programme lets you harness the power of place and advance your career as a landscape leader. The programme consists of the following courses, which can be taken in any given order:

Landscape Leadership: Catalyse sustainable development in landscapes (this course)
Landscape Finance: Investing in Innovation for Sustainable Landscapes
Landscape Governance: Collaborating Across Sectors and Scales
Climate Action in Biodiverse Landscapes

Collaboration

This course has been co-designed by Wageningen Centre for Development Innovation, Eco-Agriculture Partners, ICRAF, and African Model Forest Network. It has been financed by the Netherlands Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Understand the relation between landscapes and leadership
Understand the requirements of distributed landscape leadership
Prioritse leadership skills needed for facilitating change in your landscape

Decide what to do when leadership gets difficult
Manageconflicts and get to negotiated solutions
Cultivate innovation in your landscape

Understand the relation between landscapes and leadership
Understand the requirements of distributed landscape leadership
Prioritse leadership skills needed for facilitating change in your landscape
Decide what to do when leadership gets difficult
Manageconflicts and get to negotiated solutions
Cultivate innovation in your landscape

Syllabus

1. Introduction to Landscape LeadershipYou'll start the course by looking at yourself as a potential leader and from thereyou'll meet fellow learners, instructors and landscape leaders

2. Distributed LeadershipIn this module, you'll explore the multi-stakeholder and shared nature of landscapeleadership as well as how to encourage collaboration and promote collective decisionmakingfor shared benefits.

3. Facilitation of LeadershipHere, you'll learn about the facilitative function of leadership and the art of facilitationof complex processes in landscapes. You'll hear from experts who'll share their tipsand tricks.

4. When Leadership Gets DifficultThis module will prepare you for the inevitable challenge of competing claims andconflict. You'll learn about key principles of negotiation and how to move from conflictto collaboration and shared decision-making.

5.Innovation in LandscapeThis module will centralise innovation in your thinking on leadership. It will help you cultivate and nurture innovation in your landscape and show that stimulating innovation is the key to landscape transformation.

6.Put Your Knowledge into ActionHere, you'll apply your newly-acquired knowledge and skills to your own landscape challenge. You'll share and learn with fellow course participants and reveal your leadership.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Provides an advanced study in landscape leadership and ecological development

Develops leadership skills, such as facilitation, conflict resolution, and innovation

Teaches distributed leadership and stakeholder engagement

Facilitates understanding of innovative solutions for sustainable development in landscapes

Explores real-world cases of landscape leadership

Requires extensive background knowledge in landscape management or related fields

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 Landscape Leadership: Catalyse Sustainable Development in Landscapes with these activities:

Review Key Principles of Sustainable Development and Landscape Management

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Refresh your foundational knowledge in sustainability and landscape management to strengthen your understanding of the course concepts.

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Revisit basic principles and concepts
Review key theories and frameworks
Explore recent developments and trends

Read 'Landscape Ecology: Principles in Landscape Architecture and Land-Use Planning'

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This book offers insightful perspectives and practical applications in landscape ecology, giving you a stronger foundation for comprehending the course materials.

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Identify the key concepts and principles of landscape ecology
Explore the applications of landscape ecology in land-use planning
Analyze real-world case studies to understand the practical implications

Explore Case Studies of Successful Landscape Leadership Initiatives

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Investigate real-world examples of effective landscape leadership to gain insights and inspiration for your own initiatives.

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Review case studies from various regions and contexts
Identify commonalities and key success factors
Analyze the challenges and lessons learned

Five other activities

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Practice Stakeholder Management Techniques

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Engage in exercises that simulate real-world stakeholder scenarios, allowing you to hone your abilities in managing diverse perspectives.

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Analyze stakeholder interests and objectives
Develop strategies for engaging with stakeholders
Simulate negotiations and conflict resolution processes

Compile a Resource Kit on Landscape Leadership Tools and Frameworks

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Gather and organize a collection of valuable resources, such as tools, frameworks, and case studies, to support your ongoing learning.

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Identify and gather relevant resources
Categorize and organize the resources
Create a user-friendly format for sharing

Join Study Groups for Collaborative Learning

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Connect with fellow learners through study groups to exchange ideas, clarify concepts, and enhance your understanding.

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Find or create study groups with diverse perspectives
Organize regular meetings to discuss course materials
Engage in peer-to-peer teaching and learning

Create a Visual Presentation on Landscape Transformation Strategies

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Express your understanding of landscape transformation strategies by crafting a visually engaging presentation that showcases your insights.

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Identify key strategies and approaches
Design slides using visually appealing graphics
Develop a clear and concise narrative
Practice your presentation delivery

Develop a Landscape Leadership Action Plan

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Apply your acquired knowledge by creating a comprehensive action plan that outlines your strategies for implementing landscape leadership principles.

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Define specific goals and objectives for your leadership initiative
Identify key stakeholders and their roles
Develop a timeline and budget for your plan
Outline strategies for monitoring and evaluating progress

Career center

Learners who complete Landscape Leadership: Catalyse Sustainable Development in Landscapes will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Sustainability Consultant

A Sustainability Consultant provides advice and guidance to businesses and organizations on how to reduce their environmental impact. They may work in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, construction, and energy. This course teaches about climate action in biodiverse landscapes, which would be helpful for Sustainability Consultants who work in environmental sustainability.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sustainability Consultant

Environmental Consultant

An Environmental Consultant provides advice and guidance to businesses and organizations on how to reduce their environmental impact. They may work in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, construction, and energy. This course teaches about climate action in biodiverse landscapes, which would be helpful for Environmental Consultants who work in environmental sustainability.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Consultant

Forest Ecologist

A Forest Ecologist studies the interactions between trees and other organisms in a forest ecosystem. They may work in academia, government, or the private sector. This course teaches about climate action in biodiverse landscapes, which would be helpful for Forest Ecologists who work in forestry or conservation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Forest Ecologist

Wildlife Biologist

A Wildlife Biologist studies the biology and behavior of wildlife. They may work in academia, government, or the private sector. This course teaches about climate action in biodiverse landscapes, which would be helpful for Wildlife Biologists who work in wildlife conservation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Wildlife Biologist

Conservation Scientist

A Conservation Scientist conducts research and develops plans to solve environmental problems. They may work in the field, in a laboratory, or in an office setting. This course teaches about climate action in biodiverse landscapes, which will be useful for Conservation Scientists who work in environmental protection.

See salaries and explore the career path for Conservation Scientist

Environmental Scientist

An Environmental Scientist conducts research and develops plans to solve environmental problems. They may work in a variety of settings, including government agencies, universities, and private companies. This course teaches about climate action in biodiverse landscapes, which would be useful for Environmental Scientists who work in environmental research.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Scientist

Development Field Officer

A Development Field Officer works with communities to improve their quality of life. They may work in areas such as health, education, or agriculture. This course teaches about sustainable and inclusive landscapes, which would be helpful for Development Field Officers who work in international development.

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Agricultural and Food Science Technician

An Agricultural and Food Science Technician plans, conducts, and analyzes experiments to develop, test, and implement new and improved ways to produce, process, and market agricultural products, including crops and livestock products. This course teaches agricultural development and economics, and covers the principles of negotiation. Those skills can be valuable to Agricultural and Food Science Technicians who work in the food industry.

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Program Manager

A Program Manager plans, implements, and evaluates programs and projects. They may work for government agencies, non-profit organizations, or private companies. This course may be helpful for Program Managers who want to learn more about climate action in biodiverse landscapes.

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Natural Resources Manager

A Natural Resources Manager plans and manages the use of natural resources, such as forests, water, and minerals. They may work for government agencies, private companies, or non-profit organizations. This course may be helpful for Natural Resources Managers who want to learn more about sustainable and inclusive landscapes.

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Policy Analyst

A Policy Analyst researches and analyzes public policy issues. They may work for government agencies, think tanks, or advocacy organizations. This course may be helpful for Policy Analysts who want to learn more about sustainable and inclusive landscapes.

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Water Resources Manager

A Water Resources Manager plans and manages the use of water resources, such as rivers, lakes, and aquifers. They may work for government agencies, private companies, or non-profit organizations. This course may be helpful for Water Resources Managers who want to learn more about climate action in biodiverse landscapes.

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Park Ranger

A Park Ranger protects and manages natural resources in parks and other protected areas. They may work for government agencies or non-profit organizations. This course may be helpful for Park Rangers who want to learn more about climate action in biodiverse landscapes.

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Writer

A Writer creates written content, such as articles, books, and speeches. They may work for a variety of employers, including newspapers, magazines, and websites. This course teaches about climate action in biodiverse landscapes, which would be helpful for Writers who write about environmental issues.

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Landscape Architect

A Landscape Architect designs and plans outdoor spaces, such as parks, gardens, and campuses. They may work for government agencies, private companies, or non-profit organizations. This course may be helpful for Landscape Architects who want to learn more about sustainable and inclusive landscapes.

See salaries and explore the career path for Landscape Architect