Resource Economics And Sustainability Training Course: Managing Resources For A Sustainable Future

Introduction:

Our planet's natural resources are finite, yet they are the foundation of our economies and societies. This Resource Economics and Sustainability training course equips you with the economic frameworks and tools to understand the complex relationship between resource use, economic development, and environmental sustainability. You'll explore the economic principles of resource management, learn how to value natural resources, and analyze the design and effectiveness of policies for sustainable resource use. From fisheries and forests to minerals and energy, this course empowers you to contribute to solutions that balance economic prosperity with environmental stewardship.

Target Audience:

This course is designed for professionals and individuals interested in the economic and policy aspects of natural resource management and sustainability. The target audience includes:

• Economists working in academia, government, and the private sector
• Environmental scientists and professionals
• Policy analysts and researchers
• Business leaders and sustainability managers
• NGO staff working on resource management issues
• Anyone seeking to understand the economics of sustainable resource use

Course Objectives:

Upon completion of this Resource Economics and Sustainability training course, participants will be able to:

• Understand core economic concepts related to natural resource management, such as scarcity, rent, and discounting.
• Analyze the economic drivers of resource depletion and environmental degradation.
• Value natural resources using various valuation techniques.
• Evaluate different policy instruments for sustainable resource management, including regulations, taxes, and property rights.
• Assess the costs and benefits of resource conservation and sustainable use.
• Understand the principles of sustainable development and the green economy.
• Analyze the economic dimensions of specific resources, such as forests, fisheries, minerals, and energy.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of resource management policies.
• Contribute to informed decision-making on resource use and sustainability.
• Understand the interplay between economic growth, resource use, and environmental sustainability.

Duration

5 Days

Course Content

Here's a detailed 12-module course content outline for a Resource Economics and Sustainability training course:

Module 1: Introduction to Resource Economics and Sustainability

• What is resource economics? Defining the field and its scope.
• The relationship between resource use, economic development, and environmental sustainability.
• Key concepts: Scarcity, rent, discounting, and intergenerational equity.
• Course overview: Structure, learning objectives, and assessment methods.

Module 2: Principles of Resource Management

• Resource scarcity and economic growth.
• Optimal resource allocation over time: The Hotelling rule.
• Market failures in resource management: Externalities, public goods, and common pool resources.
• Property rights and resource management.

Module 3: Valuing Natural Resources

• Why value natural resources? Importance for decision-making.
• Valuation methods: Revealed preference methods (travel cost method, hedonic pricing) and stated preference methods (contingent valuation, choice experiments).
• Challenges and limitations of resource valuation.
• Applications of resource valuation.

Module 4: Renewable Resources I: Forests

• Forest ecology and management.
• Economic models of forest management: Timber harvesting, reforestation, and conservation.
• Valuing forest ecosystem services: Carbon sequestration, watershed protection, and biodiversity.
• Forest policy and sustainable forestry.

Module 5: Renewable Resources II: Fisheries

• Fishery dynamics and stock assessment.
• Economic models of fisheries management: Maximum sustainable yield and economic optimum.
• Overfishing and its consequences.
• Fisheries policy and sustainable fisheries management.

Module 6: Renewable Resources III: Water

• The water cycle and water resources.
• Economic models of water allocation: Water pricing and water markets.
• Water scarcity and drought management.
• Water pollution and water quality.

Module 7: Non-Renewable Resources I: Minerals

• Mineral extraction and processing.
• Economic models of mineral depletion: The Hotelling rule and its implications.
• Resource scarcity and price dynamics.
• Mineral policy and sustainable mining practices.

Module 8: Non-Renewable Resources II: Energy

• Fossil fuels: Coal, oil, and natural gas.
• The economics of energy production and consumption.
• Energy security and diversification.
• Transition to a low-carbon energy system.

Module 9: Common Pool Resources

• The tragedy of the commons: Overuse and depletion of common pool resources.
• Institutions for managing common pool resources: Property rights, community-based management.
• Case studies of common pool resource management.

Module 10: Sustainable Development and the Green Economy

• The concept of sustainable development: Intergenerational equity and environmental stewardship.
• The green economy: Economic activities that contribute to environmental sustainability.
• Sustainable consumption and production.
• Indicators of sustainability.

Module 11: Resource Policy and Governance

• Environmental policy instruments for resource management: Regulations, taxes, subsidies, and market-based mechanisms.
• Resource governance: Institutions and decision-making processes.
• International cooperation on resource management.

Module 12: Advanced Topics and Current Issues in Resource Economics and Sustainability

• Ecological economics: Integrating ecological and economic perspectives.
• Behavioral economics and resource management: The role of psychology in resource use decisions.
• Circular economy: Minimizing waste and maximizing resource efficiency.
• The future of resource economics and sustainability.

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 7 working days before commencement of the training.