This course introduces the broad variety of conflicts that arise in projects focusing on sustainable management of natural resources. It explores case studies of ecosystem management approaches and considers their practicability, their achievements and possible barriers to their uptake.

The objective of this course is to analyse a concrete conflict in the context of species conservation. It is based on concepts from social sciences and natural sciences. The conflict will be examined from the perspectives of all affected stakeholders. The aim is to demonstrate how conflicts among stakeholders can be resolved to achieve a mutually agreed consensus.

The course focuses on developing system dynamic models for socio-technical transitions. With the practical case of upscaling the use of wood for construction, students will interact with stakeholders of the wood supply chain and model 1) their relations, 2) emerging non-linear dynamics (e.g., feedbacks and tipping points), and 3) trade-offs between economic, societal, and environmental benefits.

Tropical rain forests, the world's most biodiverse habits, suffer from habitat loss, fragmentation, and climate change. Their continued degradation will impact future climate, global biodiversity, and livelihoods of billions of people. We will explore the structure, dynamics, and ecological functions of rain forests to provide the scientific foundation for their conservation and restoration.

The course will focus on integrated landscape approaches for the management of tropical forest landscapes, by addressing the complex interactions between ecological processes, stakeholders´ strategies and public policies. Dedicated tools such as games and simulation models to improve knowledge and foster collective decision-making processes will be explored.