PhD in Biological Sciences and Applied Biotechnologies

Environmental sustainability and biodiversity management

Environmental sustainability and biodiversity management

Academic year 2024/2025

Sommario del corso

• Course objectives
• Program
• Course delivery
• Suggested readings and bibliography
• Notes
• Teaching tools
• Course card

Course objectives

The course "Environmental sustainability and biodiversity management" aims to provide basic notions on biodiversity management in different fields (microorganisms, plants and animals). During the lessons, the ecological roles of different groups of organisms will be described together with possible strategies for their conservation and valorization.

References will be made to the current regulatory framework that regulates access, exchange and conservation of biological resources and their related metadata in different sectors for research and development (R&D)

Program

The course is organized in 4 modules:

Module 1: Convention on Biodiversity and Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing of genetic resources at its 10th anniversary 

(Prof. Valeria Prigione, Dr. Rossana Pennazio 4 - h)

• Introduction to the aims of the Convention on Biodiversity and the Nagoya Protocol
  ● International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources
  ● The European Union Regulation (EU) No 511/2014 (EU ABS Regulation) and its implementation with Regulation EU No 1866/2015
  ● The duties for researchers, Universities and Private companies. First considerations on the impact of the EU Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence (CS3D) on compliance with the Nagoya Protocol and CBD
  ● The tools to comply to these regulations: PIC, MAT, MTA
  ● Case studies

Module 2: Plant pathogen identification and phytosanitary measures (Prof. Vladimiro Guarnaccia - 4h)

• Plant pest categories
  ● The threats posed by alien pests to the economy and native biodiversity
  ● Pathways of pest introduction, establishment and spread
  ● Determinants of pest invasion and correlation with climate change
  ● Conventions, bodies and authorities responsible for plant health: IPPC, EPPO, NPPOs, European Commission, EU Member States, EFSA
  ● New EU plant health rules: Regulation (EU) 2016-2031; registration and use of pesticide
• Overview on pest/commodity risk assessment
  ● Pest eradication and containment measures

Module 3: Regulatory framework and authorizations for research involving the capture, rearing, and manipulation of vertebrates and invertebrates (Prof. Simona Bonelli, Prof. Sandro Bertolino - 4h)

• Definition of animal according to the law: differences among taxa
  ● The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
  ● The European Birds and Habitats Directives: working with protected species
  ● National legislation and regulation to work with homothermous fauna
• National legislation and regulation to work with invertebrates.
• Working with not protected but endangered species (IUCN) guidelines 
• Working with animals in lab 2010/63/UE and 2024/1262/UE
• Working with non-native fauna: the risk of invasions

Module 4: Plant Biodiversity Conservation in the International and Italian Context (Prof. Kyle Dexter, Dr. Ludovica Oddi - 4 h)

• Changing motivations and priorities in biodiversity conservation – moving towards anthropocentric conservation
• Biodiversity – Ecosystem Function Relationships – broadening to multi-functionality and relevance to ecosystem services
• The National Sustainable Development Strategy (NSDS) to promote economic, social and environmental development in Italy.
• Plant conservation and sustainable development in Italy – themes, objectives and indicators.

Course delivery

Teaching will be delivered in person and is obligatory for all PhD students.

Webex streaming will be provided only exceptionally, if requested and certified by the supervisor

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Notes

Teaching period: 19 -20 February 2025 9-13 14-18 Aula B (via Accademia Albertina)

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