M.Phil Biodiversity, Conservation and Management

The objective of the M.Phil program in Biodiversity, Conservation and Management is to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of biodiversity science, as well as the various social, economic, political, cultural, and institutional factors that influence management and policy decisions in this field. 

The M.Phil program spans over a period of two years. During the first year, students will engage in coursework that is associated with the M.Sc program in Biodiversity Conservation and Management. The curriculum is built upon our expertise in conservation bio-geography, governance and planning, global change, and research design. Additionally, the program has been designed to address the growing importance of market-based conservation approaches, including the utilization of enterprise and the transformative potential of emerging technologies.

The course has some specific objectives which include-

• examine and analyze concepts and theories in the field of biodiversity science and management, taking into consideration various interdisciplinary perspectives.
• describe by whom and by what space and territory is designated and governed for conservation over time.
• assessing the ways in which conservation establishes and expands influence, while also describing the factors that contribute to the development and effectiveness of various forms of governance.
• recognizing the significance of ethics, values, and societal norms is crucial in developing conservation interventions that are both culturally sensitive and impactful.
• examine the potential consequences of emerging technologies on the future of biodiversity science and management.
• to establish connections between the hypothesis, theory, methods, data, and field work in order to formulate and refine complex research inquiries and designs.

The objectives of the program are evaluated based on three main themes: Biodiversity science, Conservation ethics and values, and Biodiversity policy and management. These themes are covered in eight core modules, which include conservation landscapes, conservation biogeography, conservation governance, species responses to climate change, conservation and society, economics of the environment, global change and the biosphere, and biodiversity technologies.