GEOG-CAST-ERST 333H-ON : FIELD WILDERNESS RESOURCES

Two week course, mandatory 3-day field trip to Algonquin Park.

INSTRUCTOR: Al MacPherson
email: Al_Macpherson@sympatico.ca

INTRODUCTION: Wilderness may be defined as a large area with a relatively natural environment largely free of cultural and technological impacts. Wilderness has been and continues to be a major component of Canada's landscape mosaic. Wilderness is frequently considered central to Canadian identity and a major resource for our ecological, recreational, psychological and economic wellbeing. Given the importance of this multi-purpose resource, its rapid decline in quantity and quality has provoked research, debate, legislation, planning, management and courses such as this one relating to it

AIM: The aim of this field course is to investigate various aspects of wilderness resources. These aspects are examined in both a theoretical and practical fashion, with an emphasis on the Canadian situation and parks, and field work in protected areas. 

CONTENT: The course addresses questions such as:
- What is wilderness?
- How and why have attitudes and responses to wilderness changed?
- What are the values and uses of wilderness today?
- What legislation and agencies deal with wilderness?
- How are designated wilderness areas selected and planned?
- Why and how are wilderness areas managed?
- What are the characteristics of wilderness recreation?
- What issues were and are involved in protecting wilderness?
- What is happening to wilderness in other countries?
- What is the future of wilderness?
- How is wilderness perceived, planned, used and managed in Algonquin Park? 

LEARNING METHODS
- Lectures and exercises.
- Visits to park agency offices.
- Field work in Trent University Nature Areas and around Peterborough. 

A key element, and graded part of the course is a 3 day field trip to Algonquin Park.