IR3206 The Politics of Postcolonial Forests

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 2

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 9

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Planned timetable

Mon 12pm

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr Y A Collins

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr Ariadne Collins

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

Forests are essential to life on earth. They support biodiversity, mitigate climate change, provide resources for economic activity along with food, homes and medicine for forest dependent communities around the world. However, forests are disappearing at an alarming rate. Their rapid deforestation has turned the attention of the international community towards urging the establishment of sustainable forest use practices in forest-rich countries around the world. Tropical forests are of particular importance for supporting climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation targets. These forests are found in the postcolonial, developing world. This module explores the politics of postcolonial forests at the global, regional and national levels. At the close of this module, students will understand the role of tropical forests in addressing environmental challenges, the threats to their sustainability, and efforts to govern them at varying scales. Concepts indispensable to an understanding of forest politics in postcolonial contexts will also be introduced, such as development, conservation and neoliberalism.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS IR2005 AND PASS IR2006

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

Exam = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1 lecture (x10 weeks) 1 tutorial (x10 weeks)

Scheduled learning hours

20

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

268

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Understand the challenges associated with sustainably utilizing, governing and managing tropical forests
  • Become familiar with the theoretical debates around effective forest governance and management
  • Become familiar with the conceptual debates around effective forest governance and management
  • Understand the specific dynamics and debates underpinning forest politics in postcolonial contexts.