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77775-01 - Lecture with practical courses: Ecosystem Services: Concepts, Assessment, and Applications (3 CP)
| Semester | spring semester 2026 |
| Course frequency | Every spring sem. |
| Lecturers | Alejandra Morán Ordóñez (alejandra.moranordonez@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | Ecosystem services are the direct and indirect benefits natural ecosystems provide for societies. Environmental policies worldwide and management interventions are increasingly recognizing the value of accounting and protecting ecosystems services to warrant human well-being in the long term. This course provides advanced understanding and practical skills to identify, quantify, and evaluate ecosystem services using interdisciplinary scientific methods. It emphasizes the integration of ecological, biophysical, and socio-economic approaches for the assessment and valuation of ecosystem services at multiple scales (local to global), supporting decision-making and sustainability practice. The course consists of weekly lectures and practical sessions. In practical sessions, students will get to explore different modelling platforms and tools for ecosystem services, and work on practical case studies. |
| Learning objectives | By the end of this course on Ecosystem Services, students will be able to: - understand the conceptual foundations of the ecosystem services framework and its links to biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and human well-being; - develop methodological competence to assess, quantify, and map ecosystem services using biophysical, ecological, spatial, and statistical approaches; - integrate ecological and social dimensions to analyze trade-offs and synergies among services; - critically evaluate the limitations and uncertainties of ecosystem service evaluation methods; - effectively interpret and communicate results to inform ecosystem management and sustainability planning. |
| Bibliography | Will be provided via ADAM. |
| Comments | MSD students with focus areas in social sciences and in economics: This is a MANDATORY class for your. MSD students with focus areas in natural sciences: This class is OPTIONAL for you. You can either accredit the credit points for the published module or transfer the CP to the FASR module (requires Learning Agreement). This course is offered by the MSD. Prof. Dr. Alejandra Morán Ordóñez is member of the teaching committee MSD and head of the research group Landscape Ecology and Ecosystems Conservation (short: Ecosy)/Dep. Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, and of "Pathways to Sustainability". |
| Admission requirements | Students of the MSD (incl. preparation semester) have a first priority; those of the mentioned fields of study (see list of modules) have a second priority. If you study something different you must do at least a master's degree within the Departement of Enviromental Sciences (Faculty of Sciences) and may attend the course in case of vacancies (third priority). No other students admitted. |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| wöchentlich | Wednesday | 14.15-16.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 119 |
| Comments |
Written exam: 17.06.2026; repeat exam: date to be announced. For details about room allocation: see list of dates. |
Dates
| Date | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday 04.03.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 119 |
| Wednesday 11.03.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 119 |
| Wednesday 18.03.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 119 |
| Wednesday 25.03.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 119 |
| Wednesday 01.04.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 119 |
| Wednesday 08.04.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 119 |
| Wednesday 15.04.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 119 |
| Wednesday 22.04.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 119 |
| Wednesday 29.04.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 119 |
| Wednesday 06.05.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 119 |
| Wednesday 13.05.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 119 |
| Wednesday 20.05.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 119 |
| Wednesday 27.05.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 119 |
| Wednesday 03.06.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 119 |
| Wednesday 17.06.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 119 |
| Modules |
Module: Complementary Knowledge in Natural Sciences (Master's Studies: Sustainable Development) Module: Core Competences in Natural Sciences (Master's Studies: Sustainable Development) |
| Assessment format | record of achievement |
| Assessment details | Compulsory attendance in presence, required readings, presentation, etc. Details according to information of M. Andres. Final written examination/repeat examination (details according to information of lecturer): 60 minutes, during usual lecture time. For details regarding dates and rooms see online course directory/section "dates and rooms". |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration, dereg: cancel course registration |
| Repeat examination | one repetition, best attempt counts |
| Scale | 1-6 0,1 |
| Repeated registration | as often as necessary |
| Responsible faculty | University of Basel |
| Offered by | Departement Umweltwissenschaften |