Dynamics of Rural Areas
Code
711041071
Academic unit
Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas
Department
Geografia e Planeamento Regional
Credits
6
Teacher in charge
Ana Maria Firmino
Weekly hours
4
Teaching language
Portuguese
Objectives
a)To understand the concept of rural areas;
b)To justify the diversity of disciplinary approaches in the study of the complexity existing in the rural areas;
c)To reflect about the importance of the perspectives diversity in order to protect the intrinsic values of the rural areas;
d)To acquire the basic knowledge about the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and articulate them with the real situation in Portugal;
e)To discuss the validity of alternative models of agricultural production and cattle breeding;
f)To recognise strategies able to create dynamics in the rural areas;
g)To evaluate critically different space representations;
h)To analyse the meaning of spatial relations between the city and the countryside;
i)To develop technical reports based on an holistic approach of the rural areas;
j)To demonstrate capacity of analysis and synthesis to apply the acquired knowledge.
Prerequisites
None.
Subject matter
(1)Definition of concepts dealing with rural areas and global landscape.
(2)Multi-functionality of the rural areas.
(3)Soils and climate constraints and potentialities in Portugal for the food production.
(4)Agriculture and land use changes: environmental and landscape impacts.
(5)Agriculture and technological evolution: from the Green Revolution to Biotechnological Revolution;
(6)CAP and the modernisation of agriculture: MEA (Model of European Agriculture) and the Agri-Environmental Measures.
(7)Environmental Ethics: introduction to alternative production systems (integrated pest management, organic farming and permaculture).
(8)Development Policies for the rural areas: instruments to support the development of the rural areas.
Bibliography
De SILGUY, Catherine, Introdução à Agricultura Biológica fundamentos e realidades, Publicações Europa-América, Colecção Euroagro, Mem Martins, 2004, pp. 7-133;
DOWLER, Elizabeth; FINER Catherine Jones, The Welfare of Food rights and responsibilities in a changing world,Oxford, Blackwell Publishing, 2003, pp. 1-69;
DGOT-DU, Paisagem, DGOTDU, Lisboa, 1994, pp. 13-136;
FIRMINO, Ana, Desenvolvimento Sustentável: a aliança entre a Natureza e o bom senso, in GeoInova nº 1 -2000, UNL, Lisboa, 2000, pp.115-127.
WOODS, Michael, Rural Geography, Londres, Sage Publications, 2005, pp. 1-125.
Teaching method
Expositive and participative classes (debate).
Evaluation method
-Written test about a set of selected texts;
-Theoretical and practical concept work and oral presentation.