Nature conservation in high mountain ecosystems presents serious challenge as they are fragile and highly exposed to contamination from human activities. In addition to this problem there is also the issue of ongoing climatic change and its impact on these precious ecosystems.
Applicant for this project- Institute of High Mountain Biology (IHMB) works on studying high mountain ecosystems and addresses the questions of impact of human activities and climatic change. Institute is dealing with various tasks in applied research connected to effective management of high mountain vegetation zones in the High Tatras, Low Tatras, High Fatra, Low Fatra, Mountains of Choč and Babia Mountain. It also conducts research in Bulgarian Rila and Kyrgyz Tian Shan.
The aim of the project is to use scientific knowledge of the Institute and its experience in teaching the courses about nature conservation in the bachelor degree study program “Nature protection“, in cooperation with its partner institution University college of Southeast Norway (HSN) to organize short time mobilities of students and academic staff. These mobilities would be organized to teach practical courses related to assessment of environmental health of high mountain ecosystems, analysis of data and plans in nature conservation. The emphasis would be put on management strategies that could lead to sustainable use, conservation and restoration of natural resources in high mountain areas.
The goals of the project are to organize two summer schools dedicated to Alpine Ecology in Lichtenstein and Iceland for students from Institute of High Mountain Biology at University of Žilina (IHMB) and students from University college of Southeast Norway (HSN), and to create online database for purpose of e-learning. Summer schools will be prepared for selected students of bachelor degree program “Nature protection” and selected students of environmental management at TUC. Selected members of academic staff from IHMB and TUC will accompany students. Summer schools will serve as a preparation for planned joint master degree “Alpine Ecology” between IHMB and TUC (degree is already in the process of accreditation). Successful participants of courses at summer schools would be given ECTS credits that would be counted to their studies at home university. Selected academic staff of IHMB and TUC would join these summer schools in Lichtenstein and Iceland to teach relevant courses, to interchange scientific knowledge and experiences and to cooperate together on scientific research along with external experts. Thus the main aim of this project is an increase of bilateral inter-institutional cooperation between IHMB and TUC to support and improve planned joint master degree “Alpine Ecology”.
Beside that the project is unique with its contents and students will be provided with complex overview of environmental problems in the alpine ecosystems on European and global scale. Students will be able to apply obtained geological, climatic, cultural but mainly biological and ecological knowledge in the process of biodiversity conservation in alpine ecosystems that are now largely affected by environmental stress. By absolving these summer schools students will also be able to work independently on creating new strategies in conservation of alpine areas and will be effective in the process of active rational management of spatial and species conservation. Participant may apply provided knowledge on natural resources, biodiversity and socio-economic sphere to resolve actual problems about carrying capacity limits of landscapes in the hard challenges of reaching sustainability through writing and leading their own projects.
This project is a great opportunity to apply experiences of IHMB in studying alpine ecosystems and teaching the subjects connected to nature conservation and scientific research. Norwegian partner is also active in these fields and has experience with Scandinavian alpine milieu. Due to different natural environments and different management approaches in the countries of partners this project would help to broaden the knowledge of both involved sides on the matter of different management strategies used in resolving environmental problems and conservation of alpine ecosystem.
Target groups of the projects thus are the students and academic staff of IHMB and TUC. However this project might indirectly help public and environmental health due to the fact that many of participants will one day likely work in the field of nature conservation. All activities will be conducted in English language.
This project is co-funded by the EEA Grants and the state budget of the Slovak Republic from the EEA Scholarship Programme Slovakia.
Institute of High Mountain Biology
