In the International Nature Conservation specialisation, you develop into a professional who links nature restoration to societal and economic issues in an international context.
Online Open Day
4 June
Online Open Day
4 June
In the International Nature Conservation specialisation, you develop into a professional who links nature restoration to societal and economic issues in an international context.
Nature worldwide is under significant pressure. Biodiversity is declining, ecosystems are being degraded, and climate change is having direct impacts on the wellbeing and livelihoods of communities. At the same time, awareness is growing that nature restoration and protection are essential for a sustainable future.
Across the world, a fundamental shift is needed in the way we interact with nature. The United Nations has therefore declared the current decade the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. Europe plays an important role in this, partly due to consumption patterns and supply chains that have a major impact on nature in other parts of the world.
New European regulations, such as the EU Deforestation Regulation and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, call for professionals who can place nature management within a broader international and policy context. Organisations are looking for people who not only understand ecosystems, but can also advise on sustainable land use, supply chain responsibility and nature restoration at landscape level.
International Nature Conservation is a specialisation within the International Development Management programme, developed in collaboration with Forest and Nature Management. It focuses on protecting, strengthening and restoring nature and ecosystems worldwide, with particular attention to the interaction between people and nature.
You learn how nature management contributes to biodiversity restoration, climate adaptation and the resilience of societies. In doing so, you look beyond ecology alone. You work with knowledge from different disciplines, such as policy and social sciences, and learn how to collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders, including local communities, governments, businesses and international organisations.
In this specialisation, you develop the knowledge and skills needed to contribute to international nature conservation and restoration. You work on themes such as:
In addition to analysis, you also learn how to design and take action. Practice-based learning, field projects and collaboration with the professional field form an important part of the programme.
Effective nature conservation requires more than technical knowledge. That is why, in this specialisation, you develop a broad range of skills.
This combination prepares you to work in complex socio-ecological systems, where nature, society and the economy are closely interconnected.
This specialisation is intended for students who want to contribute to protecting and restoring nature and who are interested in international issues. You aim to work at the intersection of ecology, society and policy, and are attracted to a practice-oriented, international learning environment.
Graduates of International Nature Conservation go on to work in roles with international NGOs, nature conservation organisations, governments, certification bodies and companies focused on sustainable supply chains and nature restoration. You may work on nature restoration projects, sustainable land use, policy and advisory roles, or international collaborations on biodiversity and climate.
With this specialisation, you develop into a professional who bridges theory and practice and contributes to sustainable future scenarios for people and nature worldwide.