Admission requirements
This course is for students from MSc Biology, MSc Governance of Sustainability, and MSc Industrial Ecology.
Description
Ecosystem services is a framework that allows analysis, quantification and optimization of the interface between biodiversity/ecosystem functioning and societal demands. This course will provide students with a theoretical knowledge on the concept of ecosystem services, related concepts, and information on practical applications of these concepts.
The first part of the course will focus on basic principles of ecosystem services and their classification. Next, we will discuss the relations between ecosystem functioning and ecosystem services. This part will include key concepts needed to understand and quantify ecosystem functioning, the role of organisms in general and biodiversity in particular therein as well as the impacts of trade-offs and feedbacks on ecosystem processes. The third part of the course will focus on the societal dimension of ecosystem services. Methods, indicators and instruments available to assess the interactions of nature and human society are discussed and applied. We will assess the different ways to calculate the benefits of provided ecosystem services, methods for mapping of ecosystem services, and tools to manage and optimize ecosystem services as dependent on local societal demands.
As part of the course, students will conduct a group research project, within which the ecosystem services of a particular case study will be analysed. Each group will work with a different case study.
Course objectives
After completion of the course, students can:
1. define and discuss important principles, characteristics and instruments related to the provision of ecosystem services;
2. describe and discuss different methods used to quantify, model and value ecosystem services
3. discuss different viewpoints within the biodiversity conservation vs. ecosystem services debate and reflect on them;
4. characterize the relationships between ecosystem functioning, ecosystem services and societal demands;
5. evaluate the impacts of trade-offs, feedbacks, spatiotemporal arrangements and stakeholders’ preferences for perceived ecosystem services;
6. critically evaluate approaches to manage ecosystems and to optimize resources availability in light of ecosystem services concepts;
7. apply ecosystem services concepts within a multidisciplinary setting;
8.critically discuss, debate in a constructive way, and report on issues involved in the concept of and provision of ecosystem services from multiple points of view.
Timetable
The detailed schedule will be published on Brightspace.
In MyTimetable, you can find all course and programme schedules, allowing you to create your personal timetable. Activities for which you have enrolled via MyStudyMap will automatically appear in your timetable.
Additionally, you can easily link MyTimetable to a calendar app on your phone, and schedule changes will be automatically updated in your calendar. You can also choose to receive email notifications about schedule changes. You can enable notifications in Settings after logging in.
Questions? Watch the video, read the instructions, or contact the ISSC helpdesk.
Note: Joint Degree students from Leiden/Delft need to combine information from both the Leiden and Delft MyTimetables to see a complete schedule. This video explains how to do it.
Mode of instruction
A variety of teaching methods will be used. The main mode of instruction will centre around seminar-style/dynamic lectures and include short videos and examples for real life situations that will be discussed during the lectures. Group debates will be organised, aiming at a full engagement of all students. The course also includes several applied sessions.
In addition, students are required to complete a group assignment. To facilitate completion of these assignments, there will be some time set aside before or after the lectures to discuss progress on the group assignment. The remainder of the work is conducted outside class hours and will constitute about half of the time investment for the course.
Attendance is compulsory for students.
Assessment method
Exam (50%)
Poster (group work, 15%)
Final presentation (group work, 35%)
Minimum grade:
Courses require a minimum, unrounded 5.5 grade to complete.
If a course has 2 or more written partial exams, the minimum grade only applies to the weighted average of the exams.
For partial grades from components other than exams (e.g. practicals, seminars, writing assignments), the bottom grade does apply to the individual components.
Please refer to the Student Charter for an overview of regulations.
Reading list
Lectures will be accompanied by 1 or 2 relevant articles each, which are required reading.
Registration
As a student, you are responsible for enrolling on time through MyStudyMap.
In this short video, you can see step-by-step how to enrol for courses in MyStudyMap.
Extensive information about the operation of MyStudyMap can be found here.
There are two enrolment periods per year:
Enrolment for the fall opens in July
Enrolment for the spring opens in December
See this page for more information about deadlines and enrolling for courses and exams.
Note:
It is mandatory to enrol for all activities of a course that you are going to follow.
Your enrolment is only complete when you submit your course planning in the ‘Ready for enrolment’ tab by clicking ‘Send’.
Not being enrolled for an exam/resit means that you are not allowed to participate in the exam/resit.
Exchange and Study Abroad students, please see the Prospective students website for more information on how to apply.
Contact
Coordinator: Roy Remme
Email: Roy Remme
Remarks
Inspection and feedback on the examination to be announced.
Software
Starting from the 2024/2025 academic year, the Faculty of Science will use the software distribution platform Academic Software. Through this platform, you can access the software needed for specific courses in your studies. For some software, your laptop must meet certain system requirements, which will be specified with the software. It is important to install the software before the start of the course. More information about the laptop requirements can be found on the student website.