The following four sets of topics were developed from the 'Jacobs Model for
Youth Links with
Rangers', an education/training pilot to evaluate the principles required to promote environmental
literacy. Cultural ecology is a mind map within which to build these principles into a personal
body
of knowledge.
1 Awareness of international/national designations, and of wider
environmental ethics
and sustainable resource management, including the history of national parks and other
protected areas.
Global dimensions
- International
Protected Area Management Categories (according to IUCN/WCPA) and
International Conventions: their implementation in Europe. Differentiation between
management categories II-V and knowledge about regional peculiarities (e.g. German
Naturparke, English National Parks, French Parques regionales)
- Category
II national parks: their roots in the USA (roles of philosophers, writers, painters,
researchers and politicians in the designation of the first game reserves and national
parks, development of the US National Park Service), wilderness ethics and early
protected areas in Europe
- Behaviour
and the environment: careful treatment of nature, inspired by the awe of the
living. (A. Schweitzer), thinking and acting in the sense of sustainability;
- Defining
and defending green heritage assets against adverse impacts.
Local dimensions
- National
history of nature and landscape conservation.
- Nature
conservation and society.
- Aims,
objectives and tasks of nature conservation.
- Categories
of organisations tasked with nature conservation.
- Conflicts
of aims within nature conservation and solutions, conservation of cultural
landscapes vs. free space for natural processes.
- Instruments
of nature conservation.
- Basics
in nature conservation law.
- Legal
authorities and duties of staff in nature conservation agencies.
2 Understanding of the dynamics of, and relationships between, local
landscape,
biodiversity and culture, and the resulting conflicts of use.
Global dimensions
- Interpretation
of basic ecological concepts and terms.
- Biosphere
(e.g. changes in atmosphere and climate, ozone problems, storage of
environmentally hazard substances, function and endangering the world’s habitats).
- Photosynthesis
(autotrophy), energy flux, nutrient cycles, food chains and food webs, self
purification of waters.
- Biodiversity,
origin of species and subspecies, value of variety as genetic potential for the
future, stability by diversity.
- Sustainability
- principles of success of nature.s balance (e.g. recycling, cascades of
utilization, economical balance of energy and water, diversity instead of monostructures,
self-limiting of natural systems, regionalization, examples of green technologies (e.g. in
construction, agriculture, sewage treatment, energy and drinking water supply).
- Natural
resources and their benefits for human beings as non-commercial goods.
- Relationships
with local communities and other stakeholders; skills in involving and
integrating the communities in issues of managing the protected area; ability to listen
effectively and engage in facilitation, conflict resolution and problem solving.
Local dimensions
- History
of landscapes; natural and cultural landscapes.
- Dynamics
of, and relationships between, local landscape, biodiversity and culture.
- Conflicts
of use in different landscapes (e.g. agriculture, forestry, outdoor recreation,
settlement, traffic, nature conservation), forms of nature friendly land-use.
- Development
of cultural habitats and landscapes with minimal intervention.
- Programmes
for financial support of measures in nature conservation and landscape
management
- Knowledge
of who the neighbours are and what knowledge and expectations they have.
- Knowledge
of local political agendas and .key players. in the
- communities.
- Ability
to demonstrate political, social and cultural sensitivity and tolerance.
3 Ability to survey, monitor and report on the natural resources
Global dimensions
- Principles
of the Linnaean system
- Use
of identification guides
- Principles
of mapping species, habitats, natural resources and damages to the landscape;
how to interpret maps; how to report to the organization
- Instruments
for environmental monitoring
Local dimensions
- Organisation
of and co-operation in nature conservation and landscape management
- Obtaining
knowledge about conspicuous, regionally important, endangered and/or
protected species of plants and animals
- Obtaining
knowledge about regionally typical habitat types (origin, development,
distribution, utilization, threats, conservation)
- Use
of survey data in planning
4 Knowledge of habitat and operational techniques, with skill in such
techniques as an
optional specialism
Global dimensions
- Relationships
between strategic and operational conservation plans.
- Methods
and measures in landscape, habitat and species management,
- Creation
and restoration of destroyed habitats.
- Relief
measures for endangered species.
- General
administration and financial planning.
Local dimensions
- Estimation
of damages to habitats and planning of necessary remedial measures.
- How
to use materials and fuels in an environmentally friendly way.
- How
to avoid waste and how to treat waste environmentally friendly.
- How
to implement precautionary measures for the avoidance of environmental damages.
Optional practical specialisms
- Description,
calculation, advertisement, awarding, inspection and approval, financial
costing of habitat, landscape and facility management works.
- Principles
of legislation on work, social welfare, contracts and assurance.
- Knowledge
and ability to deal with visitor safety and countryside emergencies.
- Interpretation
services and visitor management.
- Producing
seed and seed stock.
- Seeding
and planting techniques.
- Pruning
woody plants.
- Use
of machines and tools for landscape management.
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