Course: Sustainable Biodiversity of Plants

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Course title Sustainable Biodiversity of Plants
Course code BOT/UBR
Organizational form of instruction Lecture + Exercise
Level of course Master
Year of study 1
Semester Summer
Number of ECTS credits 5
Language of instruction Czech
Status of course Compulsory-optional
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
  • Majeský Luboš, RNDr. Ph.D.
  • Ondřej Vladan, doc. RNDr. Ph.D.
  • Kitner Miloslav, RNDr. Ph.D.
Course content
- Introduction to sustainable plant biodiversity (concepts, principles, relationship to climate change and SDGs). - Importance and functions of plant biodiversity (ecological, economic, cultural value, ecosystem services). - Threats to plant biodiversity (habitat loss, invasions, climate change, eutrophication). - Pollinator issues (ecological role, pollinator decline, conservation strategies, legal framework). - National framework for nature conservation (Act 114/1992 Coll., AOPK, national strategy). - European biodiversity protection (EU Directives, Natura 2000, Green Deal). - International conservation framework (CBD, CITES, IUCN, FAO, IPBES, global strategy). - Genetic resources and their conservation (importance, gene banks, ex situ/in situ conservation). - Biotechnology in sustainable agriculture and conservation (in vitro, molecular markers, NBT, ethical issues). - Agrobiodiversity and sustainable use of plants (traditional crops, local varieties, organic farming). - Biodiversity databases and monitoring (GBIF, Pladias, Red List, GIS applications). - Society and citizen science (popularisation, education, citizen science, public participation).

Learning activities and teaching methods
Lecture, Monologic Lecture(Interpretation, Training), Dialogic Lecture (Discussion, Dialog, Brainstorming), Projection (static, dynamic), Group work
Learning outcomes
The course introduces the sustainable use of plant biodiversity in the national, European, and global context. Students will be acquainted with the value of plant biodiversity, threats of its loss, and the legislative framework of its protection. Students will be informed about modern access to sustainable utilization of genetic resources, biotechnology use, and the role of pollinators. The emphasis is put on the practical and interactive forms of teaching, work with real data, and active participation of students in team projects with applicable outcomes.
After course completion, students should be able to: - understand ecological, genetic, and societal aspects of sustainable biodiversity - be familiar with the basic national and international legislative frameworks (zákon 114/1992 Sb., směrnice EU, CBD, CITES) - understand the importance of pollinators for the agronomy and stability of ecosystems - be familiar with the basic principles of biodiversity protection and utilization of modern biotechnological tools - know how to work with the central databases and critically analyze practical issues - can work in a team and know how to prepare a project or presentation on biodiversity protection
Prerequisites
unspecified

Assessment methods and criteria
Written exam, Final project

Active participation in lectures - 20 %. Team project + presentation - 40 %. Final test - 40 %.
Recommended literature
  • Filip Kolář. (2012). Ochrana přírody z pohledu biologa. Praha : Dokořán.
  • Groom, M. J., Meffe, G. K., & Carroll, C. R. (2006). Principles of conservation biology (3rd ed). Sinauer Associates.
  • Lubomír Nátr. (2006). Rozvoj trvale neudržitelný. Praha : Karolinum, 2005.
  • Ministerstvo životního prostředí. Startegie ochrany biologické rozmanitosti ČR. .
  • Richard B. Primack, Pavel Kindlmann, Jana Jersáková. (2011). Úvod do biologie ochrany přírody2. Praha : Portál, 2011.


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester
Faculty: Faculty of Science Study plan (Version): Botany (2021) Category: Biology courses 1 Recommended year of study:1, Recommended semester: Summer