Nature Conservation

The study programme of Nature Conservation provides education, where students gain theoretical and practical experiences in applied ecology and nature protection and skills for field research and interpretation of scientific data on topics related to (1) ecology of species, (2) biological monitoring and (3) legislative in nature conservation.

After successfully completing his/her studies the graduate is able to:

• Be well informed about population ecology, community ecology and macroecology
• Understand to interspecific associations in communities and to define possible conflicts in nature protection related to time-change
• Propose suitable collection of biological data in different contexts, analyze such data and deduce conclusions relevant for appropriate management of endangered localities or species
• Evaluate the importance and biological value of selected locality
• Develop biological assessments, management plans, plant and animal inventarisations of biologicall important parts of the nature
• Identify problems and propose solutions of interdisciplinary conflicts between nature protection and forestry, fishery, water resources, or mining
• Know legislative related to nature conservation and landscape protection
• Contract, apply for, or manage orders in nature conservation
• Act within proffesional knowledge in english

The aim of this programme is to prepare graduates for research positions at Ministry of Environment, municipalities, state institutes, agencies of nature conservation and environmental management, private companies conducting surveys in nature conservation, natural history museums, zoos, etc.

Field education is held by four mandatory field courses. The first courses is realised in one of landscape protected area in the Czech Republic, where students will be also introduced in the administrative agenda. Students may complete practical training in external organisation in extend of 80 hours. Even though practical training won't be an obligatory part of the study plan, most of the diploma theses will be inherently practical and they will be carried out in cooperation with the institutes of the Czech Academy of Sciences and Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic.

A standard scope of a Master thesis ranges from 50 to 80 pages. Student completes prevailed part of data collection, determination, analysis and synthesis independently and he will understand to the theoretical bachkground of all parts of Master's thesis. The final state examination includes the defence of the Master's thesis and an oral exam. Students have to prove their knowledge and demonstrate their ability to participate in a scientific discussion. The examination covers three mandatory fields: ecology, methods of biological monitoring, and legislative in nature conservation, and one optional field depending on study specialisation: Botany and conservation of plants, or Zoology and conservation of animals.

After completion of the Master's study programme, it is possible to continue further studies in any doctoral study programme (after satisfying the admission requirements). At the Faculty of Science, students can particularly apply for admission to doctoral study programmes of Botany and Ecology.