Subject: Environment and Rural Development

Scientific area:

Environment Sciences

Contact hours:

57 Hours

Number of ECTS:

4,5 ECTS

Language:

Portuguese

General Objectives:

Understand the concept of sustainable development and the importance of organic agriculture and livestock farming as guarantors of such development and as environmentally respectful practices;

Understand the meaning of rural development and its integration into development strategies at the community, national, and regional levels;

Understand the foundations of rural development as tools for enhancing community resilience and diversifying the rural economy;

Be familiar with regional, national, EU, and international legislation and programs regarding rural development;

Understand the importance of balancing agricultural activity with the environment, nature, and biodiversity;

Identify key human practices that affect the environment and their consequences.

Contents / Syllabus:

1. Rural development; Available resources; Factors of rural development; Relationship between agriculture and the environment; Services provided by agriculture.

2. Rural development and sustainability; Sustainable agricultural and livestock production; Practices and technology; Sustainable Development Goals; Sustainability indicators.

3. Environmental issues; Environmental impacts of agricultural and livestock activities; Soil erosion, invasive species, pollution, and environmental health.

4. Biodiversity and agriculture; Protected and classified areas in Madeira: Natural parks and reserves, natural monuments, protected landscapes; Biogenetic reserves; Biosphere reserves; World Heritage sites; presence and role of agriculture in protected areas.

5. Local rural development programs and strategies; PRODERAM; Rural extension; Rural development associations; Rural innovation center; Community centers (*Casas do Povo*).

6. Rural development case studies and projects; Links to environmental protection; Agritourism; Gastronomic tourism; Agricultural, cultural, and ethnographic activities on farms.

Bibliography / Information Sources:

Fátima Calouro, 2005. ACTIVIDADES AGRÍCOLAS E AMBIENTE. 2005. SPI. Porto.
Hélder Spínola. (2000). Biodiversidade no Arquipélago da Madeira. Edição Câmara Municipal de Machico.
Hélder Spínola, Idalina Perestrelo Luís, Filipa Alves, Sandra Oliveira e Vanda Marques. (2011). Ambiente para Jovens: Aprender e Aplicar. Editora Educação Nacional, Vila Nova de Gaia. ISBN: 978-972-659-564-9.
James Robertson. (2007). Transformar a Economia. Desafio para o Terceiro Milénio. Cadernos Schumacher para a Sustentabilidade. Edições Sempre-em-Pé. Águas Santas.
Jorge Manuel Agostinho & Mariana Pimentel, 2005. ESTUDO DE CASOS DE BOAS PRÁTICAS AMBIENTAIS NA AGRICULTURA. SPI. Porto.
Marta Lopes, Érica Castanheira & António Dinis Ferreira, 2005. GESTÃO AMBIENTAL E ECONOMIA DE RECURSOS. SPI. Porto.
Manuel Duarte Pinheiro, 2007. AMBIENTE E CONSTRUÇÃO SUSTENTÁVEL. Instituto do Ambiente. Lisboa.
Plano de Desenvolvimento Rural para a Região Autónoma da Madeira 2007-2013.
Parque Natural da Madeira - localização, 2008. Serviço do Parque Natural da Madeira. Madeira.
Plantas e Usos Tradicionais nas Memórias de Hoje, Freguesia da Ilha, 2006. Casa do Povo da Ilha / Parque Natural da Madeira, Região Autónoma da Madeira.
CLIMAAT-II, Clima e Meteorologia dos Arquipélagos Atlânticos, 2006. Direção Regional do Ambiente da Madeira.
Flora e Fauna Terrestre Invasora na Macaronésia - TOP 100 nos Açores, Madeira e Canárias, 2008. Agência Regional da Energia e Ambiente da Região Autónoma dos Açores.
Olhar o / Looking at Porto Santo, 2009. Edição do CEM.
Madeira Paraíso Natural / Madeira Natural Paradise, 2011. Serviço do Parque Natural da Madeira. Madeira.

Assessment Methods and Criteria:

Attendance/Tests (written test) 45%

Class participation 5%

Assignment 25%

Seminar 25%