Information on studying
Those who study Nature Conservation and Landscape Planning are concerned with safeguarding the natural foundations of human life. Those who are already committed to nature conservation, have knowledge of flora and fauna and are generally attracted to nature have good prerequisites for this.
Nature Conservation and Landscape Planning is a diverse and challenging task. It begins with the scientific analysis of ecological contexts, includes the planning and management of protected areas and extends to the development, networking and maintenance of biotopes, the implementation of species protection examinations, the development of species assistance programs, environmental education and environmental information.
Anyone who wants to make this job their profession first and foremost needs sound ecological knowledge. This is the basis for being able to deal competently with issues relevant to nature conservation and is therefore an important part of this complex degree program. At the same time, students learn to assess the current situation in nature using suitable, scientifically sound methods. They acquire the necessary knowledge to competently assess interventions in existing ecosystems with regard to their consequences. They develop the necessary skills to plan and implement measures for the protection, development and restoration of nature. Last but not least, they learn how to deal with the legal framework for nature conservation and how to use modern technologies such as geographical information systems.
In view of the increased demands for efficient nature conservation strategies, there is a considerable need for specialized professionals in the field of Nature Conservation and Landscape Planning. Nature conservation planning and the implementation of effective protection, maintenance and development measures to fulfill the state's task (Article 20a of the Basic Law) of safeguarding the natural foundations of life require qualified actors who are able to cope with the complex tasks of protecting nature and landscape on the basis of sound ecological knowledge in the context of social requirements, also in view of increased international requirements (e.g. EU framework legislation).
The concept and objectives of the Bachelor's degree program in Nature Conservation and Landscape Planning are fundamentally oriented towards the action steps and requirements of nature conservation. The prerequisites for effective action in nature conservation are first of all the scientific analysis of ecological contexts. The teaching of appropriate recording methods and extensive knowledge of species and habitats as well as the individual landscape factors (soil, water, climate, landscape) and the entire landscape structure therefore form an initial focus of the course.
The data obtained must be subjected to an integrative evaluation and nature conservation credits in order to define the specific nature conservation and landscape management objectives (including biotope development, networking and maintenance, protected area planning, designation and management as well as species protection) for the respective area and to be able to implement them in planning.
Impact regulation, recreational provision as well as environmental education and information are also part of the tasks of comprehensive nature conservation as defined by § 1 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act and are therefore also essential study contents. In order to realize these quite heterogeneous nature conservation goals, targeted strategies and concretely implementable measures must be developed with regard to the necessary social acceptance. To this end, sound knowledge of the legal, planning and official instruments of nature conservation implementation is of decisive importance and thus forms a further focus of the course.
Today, nature conservation can be seen as a growth factor with a promising future. In particular, it has received significant impetus in recent years due to demanding EU legal requirements (e.g. Habitats Directive, Water Framework Directive). Thanks to the broad ecological, floristic-vegetation and faunistic training in combination with knowledge of landscape planning instruments, legal principles and the processing of data with the help of modern information systems, graduates of the degree program are able to apply nature conservation instruments in a targeted manner. This provides graduates with excellent employment opportunities in Germany and abroad.
The central contents of the course are
- sound ecological knowledge,
- recording methods and extensive knowledge of species,
- the ability to evaluate, make nature conservation credits and (landscape) planning skills,
- (nature conservation) legal knowledge and
- the ability to work with geographic information systems.
Students are enabled to independently solve the following tasks, among others:
- Nature conservation mapping, analyses and credits,
- Landscape planning tasks (landscape program, landscape framework plan, landscape plan, green structure plan, impact regulation, EIA, SEA, FFH management planning and impact assessment, etc.),
- Biotope network and connectivity planning,
- Protected area planning and designation procedures,
- landscape management,
- species and biotope protection programs,
- nature conservation monitoring and
- nature conservation and environmental education.
When drawing up the examination and (degree) program regulations, attention was paid to a balanced concept that familiarizes students with different types of study and examinations.
In addition to the classic types of instruction such as lectures, seminars and labs, botanical and zoological identification exercises, vegetation field exercises, complex field practicals and excursions play a central role. In addition, there is extensive training in the PC pool, particularly with the aim of enabling students to work with geographic information systems.
Student project work serves both to qualify students to solve problems independently using the knowledge and skills acquired during their studies and to enable them to work in a team. The number of participants in projects should be between three and five students.
Graduates of our Bachelor's degree program have excellent employment opportunities in Germany and abroad. The practice-oriented training ensures constant feedback on the expectations and requirements of the job market and enables the timely adaptation of the course content to the demands of practice.
The alumni survey of the degree program revealed a very broad field of application for graduates. Fields of activity after graduation include
- Federal and state nature conservation administrations,
- environmental agencies,
- nature conservation associations,
- expert, planning and engineering offices,
- national and international environmental and nature conservation organizations,
- consulting firms/environmental departments of various companies and
- large protected areas (e.g. national parks, biosphere reserves).
Through practical or research contacts, there are regular guest lectures during the semester, which are open to students and are particularly well attended by higher semesters. Colloquiums on research problems, continuing education seminars and the regular Research Day provide good preparation for final theses, especially for higher semesters.
National cooperation partners with whom there is particularly intensive collaboration include
- State Office for Environmental Protection LSA (Halle),
- State Office for Environment and Geology Free State of Saxony (Dresden),
- Harz National Park,
- Saxon Switzerland National Park,
- Elbe River Landscape Biosphere Reserve,
- Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, in particular the Leipzig branch office with the Landscape Planning Department,
- Federal Environmental Foundation,
- Bundesverband Beruflicher Naturschutz e.V., in particular the Landscape Planning Working Group, Naturschutzbund Deutschland e.V,
- NABU
- BUND
and numerous other large protected area administrations, lower nature conservation authorities, landscape conservation associations, etc.
