Natural resources underpin societies need for food, fiber, shelter and technology. As such the economies and lifestyles that humans have constructed depend on the long-term sustainable management of these natural resources; land, water, vegetation. The aim of this course is to provide an understanding of the complex land management issues associated with the biophysical drivers of historic and contemporary land management issues, the social and political stakeholders invested in Australian land management and critiques current management tools and strategies. This investigation is set within a natural resource management framework.
Topics will include: the complex components of rangeland management; mine site rehabilitation; conservation lands and national parks; coastal zone management. The course emphasises the interdisciplinarity of land resource management and examines content by investigating the physical, economic, social and institutional components of a problem.
This course is co-taught with undergraduate students but assessed separately.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Describe the natural and anthropogenic drivers of land degradation, past, present and future, at continental, regional and local scales
- Explain and critique how land management strategies have been informed by (and continues to be shaped by) institutional perspectives, historical development, policy and social drivers
- Demonstrate an understanding of tools used to measure, monitor and inform resource management decision-making
- Critically assess the relationship between data and the interpretation(s) that stem from it, and how a lack of knowledge or uncertain knowledge influences resource management decision-making
- Demonstrate a capacity to develop and effectively communicate land management strategies to a scientific/management community.
Work Integrated Learning
Projects
All students engage with WIL partners (internal/external) as a minor component of the course
Other Information
Field-based teaching and learning activity forms an integral and important part of many courses delivered by the Fenner School of Environment & Society. Fieldwork activities are designed to allow you put the skills you’ve learned in the classroom into practice in new environments and provide powerful enrichment to student learning.
There will be multiple field learning opportunities in this course.
- In class time near Canberra field learning. These activities will occur within the workshop time using the School's minibus fleet. No additional fees apply.
- A optional overnight field trip in the Canberra surrounds in the early part of the semester. An additional fee of approximately $150 (payment to ANU Science Shop ). Students will be asked to register their intention to participate in the field trip via the course LMS site.
- An optional 4 day field trip. During first week of mid semester break. An additional fee of approximately $260 (payment to ANU Science Shop ). Students will be asked to register their intention to participate in the field trip via the course LMS site.
Students should contact the Course Convenor if they have any questions.
If you do not meet the requisites for this course, it may be possible to receive a permission code. If you are prompted for a permission code on ISIS, please request one online via the website.
Indicative Assessment
- Research seminar (25) [LO 1,2,5]
- Research essay (25) [LO 2,3,5]
- Stakeholder Conversation Piece (25) [LO 3,4,5]
- Discussion paper (25) [LO 1,2,3,4,5]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
The expected workload will consist of approximately 130 hours throughout the semester including:
- Face-to face component which may consist of 2 hours lecture plus 1 x 3 hour workshops or equivalent field work activities per week.
- Weekly at home study of 1 hour of pre-recorded lectures and associated activities such as readings.
- Approximately 70 hours of self-directed study which will include preparation for lectures, presentations and assessment tasks.
Students are expected to actively participate and contribute towards discussions.
In-class time field trips (during workshops), while not compulsory, do provide important learning enrichment opportunities. Students that are unable to attend will have access to supporting literature. It is expected that non-attendees will allocate equivalent time to these readings.
There may also be two optional field trips:
- An overnight field trip in the Canberra surrounds in the early part of the semester.
- A 4 day field trip to the marginal rangelands of NSW is held in September semester break.
See "other information" for details.
Inherent Requirements
This course includes field work and optional field trips.
For general information on field trips please visit: https://students.science.anu.edu.au/program-admin/college-science-field-trips
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
No prescribed texts
Preliminary Reading
Students are either directed to relevant readings or provided them via the course LMS page throughout the semester.
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 2
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
Second Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7664 | 27 Jul 2026 | 03 Aug 2026 | 31 Aug 2026 | 30 Oct 2026 | In Person | N/A |