Endangered Species

This course contains two distinct but integrated modules. The Swahili language module offers listening, oral, and written practice of the Swahili language, at a basic level of proficiency, to increase students’ communication and comprehension skills. The sociocultural aspects of Kenyan tribe’s module emphasize understanding of, and direct contact and interaction with, the native communities with which SFS works, primarily the Maasai. This exposure to culture and language is reviewed and processed through lectures, field exercises, and classroom discussion. The sociocultural module is designed to help students engage in the culture and be therefore more adept at working effectively in their Directed Research efforts.

The Endangered Species Conservation course aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the historical context and principles of conservation and management, particularly in resource management. It explores the utilitarian approach that advocates for sustainable management of renewable resources to prevent their exhaustion. The course emphasizes the urgent need for efficient utilization of available resources to address the contemporary challenges of species extinction, ecosystem degradation, and fragmentation of indigenous vegetation. Students will learn about the decision-making processes involved in determining the threatened status of species, selecting appropriate management strategies, and allocating resources effectively. The course specifically focuses on the landscape dynamics of East Africa Savanna Ecosystems and their impact on the vulnerability of wildlife species. It examines regional and Kenyan conservation efforts and provides hands-on training in field techniques for assessing and monitoring vulnerable species. The course also employs a comparative approach to evaluate the effectiveness of different management systems at local, regional, and global scales. Overall, students will gain practical knowledge and skills that will be applied to meet the objectives of the Directed Research component of the course.  

This course explores the concept of biodiversity and its significance in sustaining human life on Earth. Biodiversity encompasses various living organisms, including plants, animals, fungi, and microbes, as well as the diversity of ecosystems and genetic variation. It provides numerous values, both intrinsic and utilitarian, such as fuel, medicine, food, and ecological services like water purification and climate regulation. Biodiversity also holds cultural and recreational values and profoundly shapes human societies. However, human activities have caused a rapid decline in biodiversity, with many species facing extinction. The IUCN Red List highlights the alarming number of species at risk, primarily due to habitat loss, overexploitation, pollution, climate change, and invasive species. Conservation efforts have had mixed success, and the course will examine strategies and resources used to mitigate species vulnerability. The IUCN Red List serves as a vital tool for monitoring and informing conservation decisions globally, categorizing species based on their risk of extinction. Understanding the status and conservation of biodiversity is crucial for developing effective policies and initiatives to address the ongoing biodiversity crisis.

This academic course focuses on the crucial role of biodiversity and its diverse values, both intrinsic and utilitarian, in sustaining human life on Earth. It explores the interconnectedness between humans and the natural world, emphasizing the need for meaningful cross-country collaboration, participation of local communities, and respect for human rights and cultural diversity in conservation efforts. The course delves into the human dimensions of conservation, drawing upon concepts from social sciences such as Anthropology and Political Ecology. It examines the relationships between people, endangered species, and their environment, investigating how human behavior, values, and knowledge influence and are impacted by decisions regarding the management of endangered species. The course seeks to achieve a balanced interaction between politics, economics, cultures, and technology to conserve and restore populations of endangered species while considering human well-being. By incorporating societal values into conservation planning and decision-making, students will gain a comprehensive understanding of the human dimensions of conservation and develop the necessary tools and methods for conservation research.

This course prepares students to distinguish hidden assumptions in scientific approaches and separate fact from interpretation, cause from correlation, and advocacy from objectivity. Students learn specific tools including: experimental design; field techniques; basic descriptive statistics; and parametric and non-parametric quantitative analysis. Emphasis is placed on succinct scientific writing, graphic and tabular presentation of results, and effective delivery of oral presentations.