The Module Area Natural Heritage and Cultural Landscapes deals with the ecological impacts of the relationship between man and nature. It introduces students to basic natural science knowledge. The human perception of nature is use-oriented, although it is not always beneficial in the utilitarian sense. A certain understanding of nature is a prerequisite for its protection. Nature protection can be viewed as a form of human use that does not yield direct economic benefits, but that does profit mankind as a whole. A person’s image of nature can be influenced by religion, philosophy and the natural sciences, which is mostly based on cultural and personal experiences. Accordingly, to protect nature we always must protect cultural landscapes, since landscapes are really only perceived in the eye of the observer.

Modules offered in this area:

Ecology
The objective of this module is to outline the fundamentals of the biodiversity approach and to enable students to reflect on the difference and relationships between ecology, conservation biology, nature conservation and resource management. This will acquaint them with the scientific aspects of biodiversity as a basic ecological concept, and will provide an outline of the guidelines that are needed to protect and manage biodiversity in a sustainable way. The module also provides a worldwide overview of ecological problems in different ecosystem types, and analyses the main determinants of the global distribution of habitats, while also conveying specific knowledge on major terrestrial and aquatic habitat types of the world.

Geological Heritage
One of the great challenges the geoscience community faces in the 21st century is to promote geological heritage and conservation with a view to supporting scientific endeavours and education for all humankind. It is indeed rocks, minerals, fossils, soils, groundwater, landforms, and landscapes that are both the products and the records of the evolution of planet Earth and, as such, they form an integral part of our natural world. Furthermore, how plants and animals are distributed is not only a function of climate, but also of geology and landforms, which have a profound impact on society and civilisation.

Philosophy of Technology and Nature
This module reflects on the origins and development of our concept of nature, a concept that was very different in ancient times, than it is in contemporary cultures nowadays. But how nature is perceived also differs considerably between the different cultures. We need to consciously reflect on how we should approach ecological and cultural problems in terms of their impacts on nature. This challenge requires that we actively exploit and understand the underlying philosophical knowledge and methods. This course will also provide a basic understanding in philosophy of science and technology.

Cultural Landscapes
This module provides an overview of human approaches to landscapes, starting with the development of gardening in antiquity, through to modern aesthetic and scientific conceptions of nature. On the basis of different case studies it will be explained how landscapes are formed, how they were connected to land use systems, and how they will evolve in the face of changing land use realities. Excursions to selected sites will illustrate existing sustainable practices, as well as the threats and opportunities as regards the protection and development of cultural landscapes and historic gardens.