BIMECS-Ecological Consultancy Skills

Module Provider: School of Biological Sciences
Number of credits: 30 [15 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2021/2

Module Convenor: Dr Jonathan Mitchley
Email: j.mitchley@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module develops key professional skills associated with the office-based elements of ecological consultancy. The module introduces the ecological consultancy industry (how it works, what it does and why it is needed), covers relevant wildlife legislation and planning policy, background data searches, development planning, project management and project tendering.Ìý It explains some of the current biodiversity assessment tools employed by the industry including landscape ecological analysis, ecological impact assessment, biodiversity net gain and ecosystem services.Ìý It also covers practical techniques such as GIS, Remote Sensing and quantitative analysis of ecological data.

Aims:

• To introduce the ecological consultancy industry;


• To describe relevant wildlife legislation (covering what is protected and how it is protected), development planning (how ecology fits into the planning process), records searches, report writing and ecological impact assessment; and


• To introduce consultancy project management and project tendering.


• To explain some of the current biodiversity assessment tools employed by the industry including landscape ecological analysis, ecological impact assessment, biodiversity net gain and ecosystem services.Ìý


• To outline some of the key practical techniques such as GIS, Remote Sensing and quantitative analysis of ecological data.

Assessable learning outcomes:

• Undertake a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal and communicate findings appropriately based on the target audience;


• Identify the possible requirements of an Ecological Appraisal and produce a quote for a client (identifying what surveys are required, why they are required and how much it might cost).

Additional outcomes:

• Knowledge of the ecological consultancy industry, biological recording, wildlife legislation, development planning, ecological impact assessment and biodiversity assessment.


• Working in a team to achieve objectives to a tight deadline.

Outline content:

• Introduction to ecological consultancy.


• Wildlife legislation.


• Preliminary Ecological Appraisal.


• Protected animal species and botanical surveys.


• Invertebrate survey in consultancy.


• Development Planning.


• Tender writing & project management.


• Ecological Impact Assessment.


• Remote sensing and GIS.


• Using R for data exploration, analysis and presentation.


• Landscape ecology and connectivity.


• Biodiversity Net Gain and Ecosystem Services.


• Citizen science - engaging local communities in spatial planning.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Lectures, seminars and workshops, roleplay exercises and a field class.

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

• Tender Assignment (Autumn term); and


• Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (Spring term)

Formative assessment methods:

Class discussion and feedback sessions, peer learning, team work.

Penalties for late submission:

The below information applies to students on taught programmes except those on Postgraduate Flexible programmes. Penalties for late submission, and the associated procedures, which apply to Postgraduate Flexible programmes are specified in the policy 􀀓Penalties for late submission for Postgraduate Flexible programmes􀀔, which can be found here: