Courses list

Wersja polska

Course code: IPS20249o16
Semester: 2016/2017 winter
Name: The Environmental Assessment and Valuation (with the basics of the environmental economics)
Major: Land Management
Study Type: second cycle
Course type: compulsory
Study Semester: 2
ECTS points: 5
Hours (Lectures / Tutorials / Other): 15 / 28 / 0
Lecturer: dr Zbigniew Piepiora, mgr Marta Sylla
Language of instruction: Polish / English
he course in English will be available if a minimum of 6 students sign up for a group.If less than 6 students sign up for the group, the course will be available in Polish with the possibility of individual support in English. Contact person: mgr Marta Sylla

Learning outcomes: Knowledge The student knows the methods used in the environmental valuation (direct and indirect methods of assessment of value). The student acknowledges the need to include the valuation of the environment in the spatial planning decisions. The student knows where to look for the data sources used in the assessment and valuation of the environment. The student is able to distinguish between different types of value (e.g. market value, intrinsic value, bequest value, optional value, the use and non-use value...). Skills The student can use one of the methods for ecosystem assessment and valuation. He can enumerate and explain the benefits that people obtain from ecosystems. He/she can obtain the data that is necessary to determine the value of the environment. The student can create a simple questionnaire and conduct surveys.

Competences: Social competences (attitudes) The student demonstrates understanding of the need to assess the economic value of contribution of the environment to the man made investments and human well-being. The student understands the environmental contribution in the socio-economic development. The student is able to use different methods of environmental assessment. The student is aware of the valuation’s possibilities and limitations and he/she is aware of the necessity to update methods and his/her knowledge concerning environmental valuation.

Prerequisites: none

Course content: The environment as part of the profit and loss account (as the component of accounting). The Environment as part of the national acounts. The value of the environment. The methods of the environmental valuation – the hedonic pricing method, the contingent valuation method, the travel cost method, the cost-benefit analysis, the method of minimizing costs, the method of inputs preventive and restitution costs, the human capital method, the choice experiment method. The different elements of the environment/ ecosystems/ ecosystem services being valued. Methods, techniques and types of indicators used in the environmental assessment. Evaluation of natural, agricultural, and the urbanized environment. The data in the assessment and valuation of the environment – data types, types of information, data access and need.

Recommended literature: [1] Henk Folmer, Landis Gaber, Frank Opschoor (red.), Principles of environmental and resource economics : a guide for students and decision-makers, Aldershot: Elgar, 1995. [2] Holler Rogall, Nachhaltige Ökonomie. Ökonomische Theorie und Praxis einer Nachhaltigen Entwicklung, 2012. [3] James T. Willpenny, Values for the Environment. A guide to Economic Appraisal, ISBN-10: 0115802576, ISBN-13: 978-0115802577, 1991. [4] Kumar P., Wood M.D. (red.) Valuation of regulating services of ecosystems. Methodology and applications. Routledge. London and New York. 2012. [5] TEEB. Chapter 5, The economics of valuing ecosystem services and biodiversity. The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity: The Ecological and Economic Foundations.2010

Assessment methods: projects’ documentation and presentation (case studies), the test of knowledge acquired during the lectures

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