Accessibility statement

Land Use Change & Management: perspectives from agriculture & forestry - ENV00040H

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  • Department: Environment and Geography
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: H
  • Academic year of delivery: 2022-23

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Autumn Term 2022-23 to Spring Term 2022-23

Module aims

The Land Use Change and Management course aims to integrate ecological, historical, social, political and economic factors affecting land use, with a focus on agriculture and forest management. The field trips will provide a range of information of the issues being balanced in the management of an arable farm (Manor Farm near York) and a forest (Dalby forest on the North York Moors). The lectures review different aspects of land use management elsewhere in the world by reference to specific topics and a series of case studies.

Module learning outcomes

  • Demonstrate a detailed understanding of the key issues faced by today's land use managers, in particular the balance between environmental sustainability, economic production and provision of socially valuable goods and services.
  • Be able to understand time and space horizons in agriculture and forestry.
  • Understand the fundamentals of autotrophic production (e.g. processes and associated environmental limits) and how these form the basis of the varied agricultural and forest systems in evidence today.
  • Demonstrate a detailed and contextual understanding of the issues related to modern day agricultural and forest land use with reference to the future sustainability across the globe.
  • Understand the driving forces for agriculture and forestry (both social, political and economic) and how these can realise different land use management systems and impacts on the environment and society.
  • Develop the ability to individually prepare a land use management plan that takes into account the costs, benefits, opportunities and constraints of a set of management actions. This can focus either on agriculture or forestry and can be based in a developed or developing country context.

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 40
Online Exam - 24 hrs (Centrally scheduled) 60

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Module feedback

Verbal feedback during a timetabled feedback session. Written feedback on formative assessment via the VLE. Written feedback on summative assessment.

Indicative reading

  • Bruenig, E.F. 1996. Conservation and Management of Tropical Rainforests. CAB International, Wallingford
  • Smedshaug, C.A. (2010) Feeding the World in the 21st Century: A historical analysis of agriculture and society. Anthem press, UK.
  • FAO (2015) The state of food insecurity in the World in 2015. FAO.
  • Hunter, M.L. 1999. Maintaining biodiversity in forest ecosystems. Cambridge University Press.
  • Lang, T., Barling, D. and Caraher, M. (2009) Food Policy: Integrating health, environment and society. Oxford University Press.
  • Rackham, O. 1993. Trees and woodland in the British landscape. Dent.
  • Wilson, B. et al. 1999. Forest Policy: International Case Studies. CAB International.
  • The World Food Economy. (2011) 2nd edition. John Wiley & Sons


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.