AIMS AND CONTENT

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Active participation in the proposed training activities (lectures, technical visits, and fieldwork), combined with individual study, will enable students to: 

- Understand the main European, national, and regional regulations concerning wildlife impact assessments. 

- Learn the different definitions and applications of mitigation and compensation measures for wildlife. 

- Apply knowledge derived from wildlife studies to impact assessments. 

- Understand the key biological and conservation characteristics (objectives, types, degree of connectivity) of the Ecological Network. 

- Apply acquired knowledge in preparing the cartographic and textual materials required for the exam. 

TEACHING METHODS

The module consists of approximately 40 hours of lectures and 12–14 hours of fieldwork. Attendance at lectures and practical activities is not mandatory but highly recommended. Field exercises and technical visits are always led by the assigned instructor. 

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Lectures 

- Course introduction (structure and content; Aul@web resources; importance of technical visits; exam format). 

- Definitions under the Habitat Directive. 

- In-depth study on management (Art. 6, Habitat Directive). 

- In-depth study on impact assessment (Art. 6, Habitat Directive). 

- Analysis of impact studies and their evaluation. 

- Examination of mitigation measures (Art. 6, Habitat Directive). 

- Study of species persistence/resilience. 

- Overview of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). 

- Design and impact of wildlife mitigation measures. 

- Case studies: Fish mitigation measures. 

- Case studies: Amphibian mitigation measures. 

- Case studies: Mitigation for wind farms. 

- Case studies: Mitigation for photovoltaic plants. 

- Introduction to the Ecological Network. 

- Mapping potential ecological connections. 

- Examples of best practices in design and/or mitigation. 

Technical Visits and Fieldwork 

- Visit to artificial amphibian ponds. 

- Visit to a managed Protected area

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

All presentations shown in class are available to students on Aul@web, along with additional teaching materials not subject to copyright. 

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Students, working in pairs, select a study area (an SCI or SPA) and prepare a written report, including a description and cartographic materials, assessing its environmental impact. The report must fully integrate botanical, floristic, and faunal components. 

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Exam preparation guidelines are provided in the introductory lecture, available on Aul@web along with all other lectures. The instructor-corrected report is presented by students in class. The instructor evaluates students' critical assessment skills and their ability to propose improvements.