PhD in Biological Sciences and Applied Biotechnologies

Environmental sustainability and biodiversity management

Environmental sustainability and biodiversity management

Academic year 2023/2024

Sommario del corso

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

Course objectives

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

With this in mind, references will be made to the current regulatory framework that regulates the 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 (Prof.ssa Giovanna Cristina Varese 2 h – dr. Rossana Pennazio 2 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
● 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
● 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
● Overview on pest/commodity risk assessment
● Pest eradication and containment measures

Module 3: Viral Biodiversity and Ecological role of Viruses (Dott. Massimo Turina - 4h)

● Viral Biodiversity: origin of viruses, viral classification, description of the main viral groups, taxonomy of viruses
● Ecological role of viruses in the oceans: description of the specific viral diversity; their role on biogeochemical cycles and predicted effects on climate
● Ecological role of viruses in the soil: methodological approaches, and preliminary results
● The viral component in holobionts: three case studies: humans, insects and plants
● Theoretical risk assessment for the use of viruses in biocontrol
● Regulatory framework for the use of virus infectious clones.

Module 4: Regulatory framework and authorizations for research involving the capture, rearing, and manipulation of vertebrates and invertebrates (Prof.ssa 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
● Working with not protected but endangered species (IUCN) guidelines
● Working with non-native fauna: the risk of invasions

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

This intensive course will be held in the Aula Magna in Viale Mattioli 25 (c/o Botanical garden). The course timetable is the following:

Monday 19th February

from 9:00 to 13:00
from 14:00 to 18:00

Tuesday 20th February

from 9:00 to 13:00
from 14:00 to 18:00

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