Environmental Management

Subject

• Principles of environmental systems
• Energy and material resources – Concepts and Forms
• The agro-ecosystem and its operation
• Pollution and protection of soil and water resources in agriculture
• Sustainable management of the agro-ecosystem
• Economy and environment
• Alternative energy resources – Energy crops
• Environmental management systems
• Sustainable Development and Environment

Educational Aims

The course introduces students to the concept of the environment and especially to the agro-system management procedures. The structure of teaching material aims at introducing students to the basic concepts of environment, linking the concept of agricultural production and the agro- ecosystem. The aim is to better understand meanings such as:

• Biogeochemical cycle of elements
• Classification of agroecosystems
• Alternative Energy Sources, Energy Crops
• Environmental management systems
• Environmental footprint of agricultural products

Finally, the main objective of the course is to better understand the importance of the environmental management as a mean to the sustainable development of the agricultural holdings.

By the successful completion of the course students will be able to:

• Gather advanced knowledge, through the critical understanding of the environment’s theories and principles, the biogeochemical element cycle, biodiversity, agro-system and environmental pollutants.
• Assess and classify the main pollutants in an environmental case study.
• To study and use the Environmental Science as an “Interdisciplinary study” that combines knowledge and information from natural sciences such as agriculture, biology and soil science and social sciences such as economics, politics and ethics, to give a big picture of how nature works and to show that everything is intertwined.
• Analyze and use scientific rules, principles, models and opinions which help the better understanding of the environmental problems and their possible solutions and how this opinions, problems and solutions are linked. This book is a single study of environmental problems, relationships and solutions.
• Cooperate with fellow students to create and present a case study of environmental problems and their impacts including a single study of environmental problems, relationships and solutions. 

Student Evaluation

Student’s evaluation is mainly based on the final written exams performance given at the end of the semester (70%). The final exams contain Short Response Questions or Multiple-Choice questions. Solving problems related to environmental management. Comparative evaluation of the theory.

Presentation of teamwork (30%). Delivering written works and public -presentation by Working Groups. 

Bibliography

1. G. TylerMiller «Βιώνοντας στο Περιβάλλον ΙΙ». εκδ. Ιων (in Greek).
2. Σ. Καρβούνης, Δ. Γεωργακέλλος «Διαχείριση Περιβάλλοντος» εκδ. Σταμούλη (in Greek).