MSc in Wildlife Conservation & Management
| Duration: 12 months |
A unique M.Sc. programme in Ireland dealing with principles of population management, zoonotic diseases and conflict-resolution. |
| Schedule: Full Time | |
| Starting: September 2013 | |
| Contact Name: Barry McMahon | |
| Contact Number: +353 1 716 7739 | |
| Fees: Fees Information |
Who is the in UCD MSc in Wildlife Conservation & Management for?
Applicants must hold a second class degree or higher in a biological, environmental or related science.
Applicants from other disciplines may be considered if they include strong evaluation, analytical and communication skills AND have experience of working in the area.
What will I learn from the UCD MSc in Wildlife Conservation & Management?
•Wildlife management and appropriate field skills
•Resolution of human-wildlife conflict
•Irish and EU wildlife policy and legislation
•Integration of human health, wildlife health and wildlife ecology
How will I benefit from the UCD MSc in Wildlife Conservation & Management?
The UCD MSc in Wildlife Conservation & Management programme enables students to develop an integrated judgement and analysis of problems associated with wildlife management and conservation both nationally and internationally.
Transferable skills such as quantitative analysis, communications, conflict resolution and remote sensing will be acquired.
Students will benefit from network national and international research collaboration.
What is the UCD MSc in Wildlife Conservation & Management programme about?
To date there is no M.Sc. offered in the Republic of Ireland that deals with the practical management and conservation of vertebrate populations. It is quite clear that situation is, in large part, responsible for the clear lack of national capacity in effective wildlife and habitat management. This is demonstrated by Ireland’s poor implementation of the European Birds (79/409/EEC) and Habitats Directives (92/43/EEC). Ireland’s record is so poor that the European court has ruled that the Government has broken EU law by failing to protect habitats and birds on a number of occasions. Although the Government is keen to address its short-comings in the last number of years there is no evidence that the lack of capacity in personnel and expertise is being addressed. In addition, there are likely to be further European prosecutions in the coming years.
Another instrument for the protection of international biodiversity is The Convention on Biological Diversity. Ireland’s response to this is a new and revised draft "Actions for Biodiversity 2011-2016", which sets out actions to conserve biodiversity and associated habitats. The majority of the key actions, e.g. preparation of Species Action Plans for selected species, will require expertise in the area of wildlife conservation and management which at present is clearly lacking.
The M.Sc. in Wildlife Conservation and Management will aim to fill the expertise gap that exists in practical understanding and management and in doing so, will assist in meeting international obligations relating to the conservation of habitats and associated species. The applied and specific nature of this M.Sc. makes it unique in Ireland.
