Focusing on the Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs) of the world, this course will introduce the concept and practice of ecosystem-based management. LMEs occupy areas of coastal ocean at least 200 000 km² or greater in size. These coastal waters produce 12.6 trillion USD in ecosystem goods and services annually and are vitally important for billions of people around the globe.
Because LMEs are bounded by ocean features and are globally linked, management of human activities needs to occur in an integrated fashion across political boundaries and economic sectors (e.g. fishing, shipping, energy, tourism, and mining.) This represents a new type of management approached - shifting from single sector-based to multi-sector assessment and management within the spatial domain of the world's 66 Large Marine Ecosystems. There is global high-level support for this new approach and in this course, we will introduce the concepts and tools for assessing and managing LMEs.
Together, leaders and experts in a global movement to recover and sustain the goods and services of LMEs will introduce you to the mechanisms used for assessment (Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis), planning and implementation (Strategic Action Programme). Based on recent activities in implementation and practice of the LME approach in 22 projects around the globe, we will showcase examples of effective management at this scale, and highlight the challenges and issues. By the end of the online course, we hope you will be able to actively use this knowledge to advance sustainable development of the world’s oceans.
The course was created with the support and input of: the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), UNESCO-IOC and IW:LEARN.
Large Marine Ecosystems: Assessment and Management
Offered By
University of Cape Town
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
IW:LEARN
Global Environment Facility (GEF)
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP-The GEF)
UNESCO-IOC
United Nations Environment Programme
University of Cape Town
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
Week
13 hours to complete
What is the Large Marine Ecosystem Approach?
Introducing the Large Marine Ecosystem approach, ecosystem based management principles, and the five modules. There are three topics covered in this first week - ecosystem-based management, the concept of Large Marine Ecosystems, and the 5-module approach to assessment and management. As well as my lectures, there are also summaries of some key readings and links to other resources. We've included practice quizzes to help you recap and test your understanding of the key concepts as we move through the lessons. There is one graded quiz at the end of the week, which carries marks - but you may take the quiz more than once. At the end of this week, and all the other weeks, Dr Kenneth Sherman will share his insights about the topics we have covered.
8 videos (Total 37 min), 8 readings, 4 quizzes
8 videos
Welcome to the course3m
What is marine ecosystem-based management?7m
What are LMEs?4m
Introducing the five module approach2m
A brief introduction to the tools (TDA & SAP)3m
Dr Sherman's perspective on week 111m
Week 1 wrap-up1m
8 readings
Meet the course team5m
How this course works3m
A global collaboration3m
What to expect in Week 13m
Readings and Key Points10m
Readings and Key Points10m
Readings and Key Points10m
Week 1 additional resources10m
4 practice exercises
Ecosystem based management10m
Large Marine Ecosystems10m
Five Module approach10m
Week 1 Graded Quiz20m
Week
24 hours to complete
The Three Natural Science Modules
In this week, we deal with the three natural science modules within the five module approach.
7 videos (Total 33 min), 8 readings, 4 quizzes
7 videos
The productivity module7m
The fish and fisheries module5m
Pollution and ecosystem health6m
Plastic pollution6m
Dr Sherman's perspectives5m
Week 2 wrap up1m
8 readings
What to expect in week 23m
Introducing the videos of the Plankton Chronicles Project2m
Readings and Key Points10m
Resources on fisheries10m
Readings and Key Points10m
Resources on pollution10m
Readings and Key Points10m
Resources and readings10m
3 practice exercises
Productivity quiz10m
Fish and Fisheries quiz8m
Pollution and Ecosystem Health quiz10m
Week
32 hours to complete
The Two Human Dimension Modules
We move onto the two human dimensions of the five module approach.
5 videos (Total 19 min), 5 readings, 4 quizzes
5 videos
Socioeconomics module5m
Governance module4m
Dr Sherman's Perspectives6m
Week three wrap up53s
5 readings
What to expect in week 33m
Readings and Key Points10m
Readings and Key Points10m
Resources and readings10m
Additional readings on the Five Modules10m
4 practice exercises
Socioeconomics module quiz10m
Governance module quiz10m
Week 3 Graded Quiz20m
Week 3 Honors Quiz20m
Week
44 hours to complete
Tools and Actions: the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis and the Strategic Action Programme
This is the heart of the course - delving into the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) and Strategic Action Programme (SAP).
6 videos (Total 23 min), 4 readings, 3 quizzes
6 videos
Transboundary diagnostic analsysis5m
Strategic Action Programme4m
Other tools4m
Dr Sherman's perspectives4m
Week 4 wrap up1m
4 readings
What to expect in week 43m
Reading and Key Points10m
Readings and Key Points10m
Resources and readings10m
2 practice exercises
TDA-SAP approach quiz10m
Tools quiz10m
4.7
13 Reviews50%
got a tangible career benefit from this course
Top Reviews
By TC•Jan 17th 2019
This course deepened my understanding of large marine ecosystems, how they should be assessed and the best practices/strategies that should be implemented in order to successfully manage them.
By DL•Sep 26th 2018
Great course but the volume levels of the videos need to be adjusted. Difficult to hear even at maximum volume.
Instructor
Coleen Moloney
Associate ProfessorMarine Research Institute
About University of Cape Town
The University of Cape Town is the oldest university in South Africa and is one of the leading research universities on the African continent. UCT has over 25 000 students, of whom 30% are postgraduate students. We offer degrees in six faculties: Commerce, Engineering & the Built Environment, Health Sciences, Humanities, Law, and Science. We pride ourself on our diverse student body, which reflects the many cultures and backgrounds of the region. We welcome international students and are currently home to thousands of international students from over 100 countries. UCT has a tradition of academic excellence that is respected world-wide and is privileged to have more than 30 A-rated researchers on our staff, all of whom are recognised as world leaders in their field. Our aim is to ensure that our research contributes to the public good through sharing knowledge for the benefit of society. Past students include five Nobel Laureates – Max Theiler, Alan Cormack, Sir Aaron Klug, Ralph Bunche and, most recently, J M Coetzee.
About National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
NOAA is an agency that enriches life through science. Our reach goes from the surface of the sun to the depths of the ocean floor as we work to keep the public informed of the changing environment around them. NOAA’s dedicated scientists use cutting-edge research and high-tech instrumentation to provide citizens, planners, emergency managers and other decision makers with reliable information they need when they need it.
About IW:LEARN
IW:LEARN is the Global Environment Facility's (GEF) International Waters Learning Exchange and Resource Network. The IW:LEARN project was established to strengthen transboundary water management around the globe by collecting and sharing best practices, lessons learned, and innovative solutions to common problems across the GEF International Waters portfolio. It promotes learning among project managers, country official, implementing agencies, and other partners.
About Global Environment Facility (GEF)
The Global Environment Facility was established on the eve of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit to help tackle our planet’s most pressing environmental problems. Since then, the GEF has provided over $17.9 billion in grants and mobilized an additional $93.2 billion in co-financing for more than 4500 projects in 170 countries. Today, the GEF is an international partnership of 183 countries, international institutions, civil society organizations and the private sector that addresses global environmental issues. To learn more visit https://thegef.org
About United Nations Development Programme (UNDP-The GEF)
UNDP works in about 170 countries and territories, helping to achieve the eradication of poverty, and the reduction of inequalities and exclusion. We help countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities and build resilience in order to sustain development results.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Once you enroll for a Certificate, you’ll have access to all videos, quizzes, and programming assignments (if applicable). Peer review assignments can only be submitted and reviewed once your session has begun. If you choose to explore the course without purchasing, you may not be able to access certain assignments.
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
What is the refund policy?
Is financial aid available?
More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.
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