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Tropical Forest Landscapes 101: Conservation & Restoration
  • Level Foundation
  • Duration 20 hours
  • Course by Yale University
  • Offered by

About

Conserving and restoring tropical forest landscapes offers an opportunity to address pressing environmental and social challenges. Effective conservation and restoration initiatives support multiple objectives, including ecosystem functioning, climate change mitigation and adaptation, food security, and economic growth. This seven-week course explores the technical, social, and funding aspects of this timely topic. You will learn: 1. The importance of tropical forest landscapes and the actors and motivations driving restoration and conservation efforts. 2. How tropical forest ecosystems work, and how they relate to climate change and biodiversity. 3. Fundamental human dimensions to consider in any project, including human livelihoods and local property rights. 4. Conservation theory and dynamic aspects of conserving species and landscapes. 5. A spectrum of restoration strategies and key considerations for restoration, such as species selection and planting design. 6. How agroforestry systems can integrate trees and production to meet different goals. 7. Basic financial concepts and potential sources of conservation and restoration funding. The materials in this course offer a selection of key content from the Yale School of the Environment and Yale Environmental Leadership & Training Initiative's yearlong Tropical Forest Landscapes: Conservation, Restoration & Sustainable Use online certificate program.

Modules

Introduction to the course

    • 1 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
Show info about module content

1 Discussions

  • Meet and greet

1 Videos

  • Welcome!

2 Readings

  • Course structure
  • Pre-course Survey

Tropical forest landscapes: importance, threats, and opportunities

    • 3 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Importance, threats, and opportunities

3 Videos

  • The important role of tropical forest landscapes
  • Threats to tropical forests and degradation drivers
  • Opportunities and priorities for conservation and restoration

2 Readings

  • Speaker introduction: Eva Garen
  • Forest and landscape restoration

Motivations for conservation and restoration

    • 3 Videos
    • 3 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Motivations for conservation and restoration

1 Discussions

  • Forest management perspectives

3 Videos

  • Defining "forests"
  • How definitions and values shape management
  • Who conserves and restores, and why?

3 Readings

  • Speaker introduction: Alicia Calle
  • What is a forest?
  • Conclusion and what's next

Characteristics of tropical forests

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Characteristics of tropical forests

1 Videos

  • Climate, history, and nutrients of tropical forests

1 Readings

  • Speaker introduction: Liza Comita

Biodiversity in tropical forests

    • 3 Videos
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Biodiversity in tropical forests

3 Videos

  • What causes biological diversity?
  • Quantifying biodiversity
  • Theories on species coexistence

Tropical forests and climate

    • 2 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Tropical forests and climate

2 Videos

  • How forests influence climate
  • How climate change influences forests

1 Readings

  • Climate change solutions

Forest disturbance and degradation

    • 3 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Forest disturbance and degradation

3 Videos

  • Disturbance and equilibrium in forests
  • Documenting forest change - determing the baseline
  • Interactions between human and natural disturbances

2 Readings

  • Drivers of degradation
  • Conclusion and what's next

The importance of social considerations

    • 1 Readings
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1 Readings

  • Introduction to social considerations

Livelihoods and conservation

    • 4 Videos
    • 1 Readings
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4 Videos

  • Forests and livelihoods
  • Defining livelihoods
  • Competition for resources and decision-making
  • Perspectives on livelihoods and conservation

1 Readings

  • Speaker introduction

Community forest management

    • 2 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Livelihoods and conservation

1 Discussions

  • Share your experience with livelihoods and conservation

2 Videos

  • Community forest management
  • Take home messages on livelihood considerations

1 Readings

  • Community forest management examples

Property rights basics

    • 4 Videos
    • 1 Readings
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4 Videos

  • Property rights vs. land tenure
  • Property rights as windows into society
  • Types of property
  • Key distinctions in different property rights

1 Readings

  • Speaker introduction: Amity Doolittle

Complex and overlapping property relations

    • 3 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Property rights

3 Videos

  • Hybrid systems of land tenure
  • Decoding multiple property relations in a landscape
  • Tenure security

2 Readings

  • More on land tenure
  • Conclusion and what's next

Conservation fundamentals

    • 1 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Conservation fundamentals

1 Videos

  • Prioritizing areas to protect species

2 Readings

  • Speaker introduction: Oswald Schmitz
  • Conservation practices

Conserving biodiveristy

    • 3 Videos
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Conserving biodiversity

3 Videos

  • Biodiversity metrics
  • Species rarity
  • Diversity across landscapes

Conservation and changing landscapes

    • 2 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Conservation and landscapes

2 Videos

  • Dynamism across landscapes
  • Climate change and conservation

1 Readings

  • Climate and conservation

Conserving ecosystem function

    • 2 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Functional diversity and ecosystem services

2 Videos

  • Conserving functional diversity
  • Animals and ecosystem services

1 Readings

  • Conclusion and what's next

Restoration basics and key concepts

    • 3 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Restoration basics

3 Videos

  • Definitions of restoration
  • Degradation levels and restoration treatments
  • Natural processes as the foundation for restoration

2 Readings

  • Speaker introduction: Mark Ashton
  • Speaker introduction: Gillian Bloomfield

Assisted natural regeneration (ANR)

    • 3 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • All about ANR

3 Videos

  • ANR: Reducing disturbance and competition
  • ANR: Facilitating growth and enrichment planting
  • ANR: Putting it all together

1 Readings

  • More on ANR

Reforestation, species selection, and planting design

    • 3 Videos
    • 1 Readings
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3 Videos

  • Definitions of reforestation
  • Species selection
  • Tree planting design

1 Readings

  • Resources for species selction

Putting it all together: restoration in practice

    • 3 Videos
    • 3 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Restoration in practice

3 Videos

  • Other approaches and putting it all together
  • Farm-scale restoration
  • Landscape-scale restoration

3 Readings

  • Applied nucleation
  • Speaker introduction: Zoraida Calle
  • Conclusion and what's next

Intro to agroforestry and agroecology

    • 2 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Agroforestry: basic concepts

2 Videos

  • Agroforestry systems
  • Ideal characteristics of MPTS

1 Readings

  • Speaker introduction: Florencia Montagnini

Classification of agroforestry systems

    • 4 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Classification of agroforestry systems

4 Videos

  • Classification of AFS
  • Permanent crops with tree shade
  • Temporal systems
  • Agrosilvopastoral systems

1 Readings

  • Agroforestry guides

Roles of agroforestry

    • 2 Videos
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2 Videos

  • Roles of agroforestry
  • Agroforestry and ecosystem services

Adoption and monitoring of agroforestry systems

    • 3 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Roles, adoption, and monitoring of AF systems

1 Discussions

  • Selecting a strategy

3 Videos

  • Adoption of agroforestry systems
  • Monitoring and evaluation of agroforestry systems
  • Conclusions on agroforestry

2 Readings

  • Agroforestry adoption
  • Conclusion and what's next

Key considerations for funding

    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
Show info about module content

1 Discussions

  • Types of funding

2 Readings

  • Introduction to this module
  • Current state of conservation financing

Financial tools and concepts

    • 4 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Using financial tools

4 Videos

  • Using financial tools
  • The time value of money
  • Net present value (NPV)
  • Investment example with scenarios

2 Readings

  • Speaker introduction: Dominick Grant
  • Additional tools for financial assessments

Foundations and philanthropic support

    • 5 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Foundations and philanthropic support

5 Videos

  • Introduction to foundations
  • Types of philanthropic support
  • Theory of change
  • Submitting a successful proposal
  • Limitations of foundation support

1 Readings

  • Speaker introduction: Marina Campos

Public finance

    • 3 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Public finance for nature

3 Videos

  • The importance and role of public finance
  • Subsidies, donors, and specialized funds
  • Blended finance

2 Readings

  • Speaker introduction: David Meyers
  • Conservation Finance Guide

Conclusion

    • 1 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
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1 Discussions

  • Networking for more learning

1 Videos

  • Conclusion

2 Readings

  • Congratulations and additional learning
  • Post-course survey

Auto Summary

Embark on a journey through the pivotal role of tropical forest conservation and restoration with "Tropical Forest Landscapes 101: Conservation & Restoration." This engaging course delves into the critical environmental and social issues addressed by effective conservation and restoration strategies, including ecosystem health, climate change mitigation, food security, and economic development. Over seven weeks, learners will explore the multifaceted aspects of tropical forest landscapes, guided by expert insights from the Yale School of the Environment and the Yale Environmental Leadership & Training Initiative. The curriculum covers: 1. The significance of tropical forest landscapes and the diverse motivations behind conservation efforts. 2. The functioning of tropical forest ecosystems and their connection to climate change and biodiversity. 3. Essential human dimensions such as livelihoods and property rights crucial for project success. 4. Theories and practices in conserving species and landscapes. 5. Various restoration strategies, including species selection and planting design. 6. Agroforestry systems that balance tree integration with production goals. 7. Financial fundamentals and funding avenues for conservation and restoration projects. This foundational course, offered by Coursera, is ideal for individuals passionate about environmental science and engineering, aiming to make a tangible impact through conservation and restoration. With flexible subscription options—Starter and Professional—learners can engage with the material at a comfortable pace, making it a perfect fit for both beginners and professionals seeking to enhance their understanding of tropical forest landscapes.

Eva Garen
Instructor

Eva Garen