Ecosystem management 15 credits

About the course

The course provides broad knowledge of ecosystem management work, and discusses and critically evaluates the scientific basis on which ecosystem management practices rest. Focus is also put on understanding the roles different actors play in management of ecosystems, especially the role of ecologists. The course includes an in-depth assignment in which the students work in groups to analyze some aspect of the restoration and conservation of species and ecosystems, as well as excursions where ecosystem management practices are studied in the field.

The course is divided into the following modules:

Module 1, Theory, 8 credits

The module covers the following areas:

Social dimensions of ecosystem management. The goals and implementation of ecosystem management is affected by views and attitudes that do not have its roots in ecological science, but which ecologists must deal with. The section deals with how conflicts of interest, attitudes and human values influence the management of nature.

Landscape ecology. The course provides an overview of the principles and concepts that form the basis of landscape planning. The students get an introduction to how landscapes can be described and quantified, as well as to the effects of land use on landscape structure (e.g., fragmentation and edge effects).

Management and restoration of populations and ecosystems. Various methods aimed at conserving species and protecting or restoring ecosystems are covered, including compensatory measures in case of permanent exploitation, restoration of ecosystems, and different types of management and conservation with examples from several ecosystems, such as rivers, forests and agricultural lands.

Module 2, Group project, 6 credits.

The module consists of an in-depth assignment where the students analyze some aspect of the management or conservation of species and ecosystems. Special emphasis is placed on scientifically evaluating ecosystem management practices and the scientific evidence that various management practices have the desired results. The students are expected to search for information themselves using e.g., scientific literature and interviews with ecosystem management actors, and the progress of the work is continuously followed by the group's supervisor. The work results in a written report and the results are presented in an oral seminar. The students then do an individual assignment, where they compare and reflect on similarities and differences in ecosystem management conditions and practices among ecosystem types and organism groups.

Module 3, Excursions and field assignments, 1 credit

The module consists of excursions where the students get to see examples of different conservation, restoration and compensatory practices in for example boreal forest, streams and rivers and agricultural landscapes

Show syllabus

Apply

Spring 2026
- Ecosystem management
  
  Second admissions round for EU/EEA citizens
  
  Spring 2026 / Umeå / English / On site
  
  Application opens 15 September 2025
  
  Save education at universityadmissions.se
  
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  Starts
  24 March 2026
  
  Ends
  7 June 2026
  
  Number of credits
  15 credits
  
  Type of studies
  On site
  
  Study pace
  100%
  
  Teaching hours
  Daytime
  
  Study location
  Umeå
  
  Language
  English
  
  Application code
  UMU-50212
  
  Eligibility Univ: 120 ECTS including 60 ECTS Biology of which 30 ECTS Ecology or 60 ECTS earth science/ natural geography or environmental science and 30 ECTS ecology or equivalent knowledge. Proficiency in English equivalent to Swedish upper secondary course English 6/level 2.
  
  Selection
  Academic credits
  
  Application
  The online application opens 15 September 2025 at 09:00 CET. Application deadline is 15 October 2025. Please note: This second application round is intended only for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens.
  
  Application and tuition fees
  As a citizen of a country outside the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, you are required to pay application and tuition fees for studies at Umeå University.
  
  Application fee: SEK 900
  
  Tuition fee, first instalment: SEK 38,075
  
  Total fee: SEK 38,075
  
  Details about tuition, fees and funding

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