| Course ID: | ECOL 4570/6570. 4 hours. |
| Course Title: | Comparative Biodiversity and Land Conservation Policy: Costa Rica and the United States |
Course
Description: | Comparision of the land conservation and biodiversity policies
of Costa Rica and the United States. Seven of Costa Rica's
leading attorneys, policy developers, and economists in the
field of biodiversity and land conservation policy will give
lectures to students throughout the course. |
| Oasis Title: | COMP BIODIV & CONS |
| Nontraditional Format: | An intensive, two-week study abroad course in Costa Rica taught
in late July every year. Students will have 3-4 hours of
lecture/discussion per day and 3-4 hours of other learning
content with professors per day (e.g., guided tours and hikes). |
Semester Course
Offered: | Offered summer semester every year. |
| Grading System: | A-F (Traditional) |
|
| Course Objectives: | Students enrolled in the course will gain an in-depth
understanding of the legal system and land conservation
policies
of the United States through a comparison to the conservation
laws and policies of another nation and culture. In addition,
students will closely interact with some of Costa Rica's top
leaders in the fields of conservation policy, environmental and
land use law, and land protection, providing them with a
valuable cross-cultural experience. Students will return to UGA
with new ideas for effective conservation policy in the United
States and invaluable international contacts. |
| Topical Outline: | I. Retreat (Athens, GA)
A. Global Biodiversity & Issues (Dr. Ron Carroll)
B. Primer on Policy Analysis (Dr. Dan Dunning)
C. Establishment of U.S. Biological Service (Dr. Ron Pulliam)
D. Leadership (Dr. Rob Williams)
II. Costa Rica
A. Biodiversity Protection in Costa Rica
- Introduction to Costa Rican Biodiversity and
Establishment
of InBio (Dr. Rodrigo Gamez, Director of InBio)
- Tour of InBio
B. Introduction to Costa Rica
- Overview of Costa Rica's Legal System (Laurie Fowler)
- Introduction to San Luis & the UGA Costa Rica campus
(Resident Naturalist)
C. Introduction to Conservation Policy
- Overview of Biodiversity Protection and Land
Conservation
in Costa Rica (Carlos Manuel Rodriguez Echandi)
- U.S. and Georgia response (Laurie Fowler)
D. Land & Water Conservation: Costa Rica
- Land Tenure in Costa Rica, The Role of Land Trusts and
Conservation Easements in Biodiversity Protection in
Costa
Rica (Andrea Meza, Director of CEDERENA Land Trust)
- Innovations in Water Quality/Supply Protection
(Rolando
Castro, CEDERENA)
- Meeting with local activists regarding water quality
and
quantity issues in Monteverde, Costa Rica
- Guided hike & tour of Santa Elena Cloud Forest Preserve
E. Land and Water Conservation: the United States
- The federal Endangered Species Act and QWICs (Laurie
Fowler)
- The Increasing Role of Land Trusts in the U.S., U.S.
Federal Income Tax Laws and State Tax Laws Related to
Conservation Easements (Laurie Fowler)
- U.S. and Georgia Response to Biodiversity Issues related
to
Water quality and supply (Laurie Fowler)
F. Issues in Private Land Conservation
- The Role of Biological Corridors and Strategies for
Protecting Them(Carlos Chacon, The Nature Conservancy)
- U.S. and Florida response (Laurie Fowler)
- Payment for Environmental Services (Franz Tattenbach
Capra, Executive Director of FUNDECOR)
G. Conclusion
- Lessons Learned and Prospects for the Future (Mario Boza)
- Bringing it home to Georgia (Laurie Fowler) |