Protecting Park Values

This field, lecture and discussion-based course examines the evolving concepts of park values, revealing the actions and compromises protected area managers face in preserving ecological integrity, providing visitor experiences, and maintaining aesthetics. Local field trips allow students to practice mapping recreational impacts within urban greenspaces and develop their own plans to protect natural and cultural values. Case studies examine the impacts of climate change on parks, considering adaptive measures and protecting areas as natural solutions to the climate crises. Students will learn about park management plans and discover how managers are directed to respond to issues like insect outbreaks, tree pathology, wildfire, and managing visitor impacts. Finally, students will work through the rapidly evolving processes of creating new protected areas and appreciate the challenges and opportunities of parks in the context of reconciliation and other contemporary issues.