Conserving Nature in Protected Areas unit (KGA529)

Hobart, Online

Introduction

This unit is essential for those working towards a career managing natural environments and people in protected areas. While protected areas are essential for conserving biodiversity, key threats to biodiversity - fire, weeds, and ferals - operate at landscape scale. The conservation of nature must therefore occur at the landscape scale as well as within protected areas. Fire, weed, feral and people management require the biophysical knowledge that this unit provides. They also require an understanding of planning, administrative and management systems, all of which can facilitate or impede the achievement of conservation outcomes. We develop this broad understanding of factors relevant to the conservation management of ecosystems and species in protected areas, and train students in the formulation of natural environment management plans. Field work is used to familiarise students with the management problems of a protected area and to collect data relevant to the formulation of the management plan. The plans we produce are usually used by the protected area managers. We further explore how to move plans at landscape scale considering policy and funding.

Summary

Unit name	Conserving Nature in Protected Areas
Unit code	KGA529
Credit points	25
College/School	Sciences and Engineering School of Geography, Planning, and Spatial Sciences
Discipline	Geography, Planning, and Spatial Sciences
Coordinator	Doctor Kerry Bridle
Delivered By	University of Tasmania
Level	Postgraduate

Availability

Location	Study period	Attendance options		Available to
Hobart	Semester 1
Online	Semester 1

Note

Please check that your computer meets the minimum System Requirements if you are attending via Distance/Off-Campus.

Units are offered in attending mode unless otherwise indicated (that is attendance is required at the campus identified). A unit identified as offered by distance, that is there is no requirement for attendance, is identified with a nominal enrolment campus. A unit offered to both attending students and by distance from the same campus is identified as having both modes of study.

Key Dates

Study Period	Start date	Census date	WW date	End date
Semester 1	22/2/2026	16/3/2026	19/4/2026	13/6/2026

* The Final WW Date is the final date from which you can withdraw from the unit without academic penalty, however you will still incur a financial liability (refer to How do I withdraw from a unit? for more information).

Unit census dates currently displaying for 2026 are indicative and subject to change. Finalised census dates for 2026 will be available from the 1st October 2025. Note census date cutoff is 11.59pm AEST (AEDT during October to March).

About Census Dates

Learning Outcomes

• Examine biodiversity conservation management requirements
• Develop biodiversity conservation policies for protected areas
• Create a comprehensive biodiversity management plan for a protected area
• Collaborate in multi-disciplinary groups to produce policies and plans for protected areas

Fee Information

Field of Education	Commencing Student Contribution 1,3	Grandfathered Student Contribution 1,3	Approved Pathway Course Student Contribution 2,3	Domestic Full Fee 4
050901	$2,384.00	$2,384.00	not applicable	$6,764.00

• Available as a Commonwealth Supported Place
• HECS-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility³
• FEE-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility⁴

¹ Please refer to more information on student contribution amounts.
² Please refer to more information on eligibility and Approved Pathway courses.
³ Please refer to more information on eligibility for HECS-HELP.
⁴ Please refer to more information on eligibility for FEE-HELP.

If you have any questions in relation to the fees, please contact UniConnect or more information is available on StudyAssist.

Please note: international students should refer to What is an indicative Fee? to get an indicative course cost.

Requisites

Mutual Exclusions

You cannot enrol in this unit as well as the following:

KGA331

Teaching

Teaching Pattern	On campus students are expected to attend the on-campus workshops. Self-guided learning materials are provided to asynchronous distance students. The field trip may be attended by both on campus and distance students. Where students cannot attend, a virtual field trip and digital data collection (via remotely-sensed data production and digitisation) will be completed.
Assessment	Group management plan (10%)|Plan logic - map and results chain presentation (10%)|Plan objective and action (10%)|Management plan map (15%)|Grant application (20%)|Management plan (35%)
Timetable	View the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable

Textbooks

Required	Required Readings are those provided by your Unit Coordinator.
Recommended	Recommended Readings will be provided by your Unit Coordinator.

The University reserves the right to amend or remove courses and unit availabilities, as appropriate.