Land Resources and Management

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2015:

170 hours in total

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

Students will develop an understanding of land resources and factors impacting on their management, including principles of sustainable land use, the processes of land degradation (physical, chemical and biological) control of land degradation and practical development of land management plans. A feature of this course is the examination of environmental, economic and social consequences of the use of land for agriculture and other purposes.

Students will gain an ability to understand, assess and manage issues relating to:

• Australian geology and soil types, and the impact of climate and weather;
• A systems approach to regional land management affecting soil and water;
• Use and conservation of natural resources;
• The application of science to evaluate and manage ecosystems;
• Implications for national and regional biodiversity;
• Management of conflicting values relation to natural resource production systems with catchment areas;
• Analysis of physical and socio-economic implications for catchment management;
• Maintaining and improving the productivity of land resource based industries.

Field trip report - 1000 words (due approximately week 6 - 15%), practical report - 1000 words (due approximately week 8 - 15%), group task - 1000 words (due approximately week 10 - 20%) , 2 hour examination (end of semester exam period - 50%)

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

This subject encompasses particular generic skills so that on completion of the subject students should have developed skills relating to:

• An ability to utilise a systems approach to analysing natural systems;
• The use of electronic forms of communication;
• The student's flexibility and level of transferable skills should be enhanced through improved time management;
• Working collaboratively with other students; and
• Enhanced ability to communicate their ideas effectively in both written and verbal formats;
• Accessing information from the library via both electronic and traditional means;
• Problem solving and critical thinking.