ENVS 831; Current Issues in Land
Reclamation and Remediation
Global area for various land use and
vegetation types.
Area of each rectangle is representative of
actual area. Urban land use approximately
0.25 million km2. Total land area (including
water bodies) is 135 million km2.
Graphic is created from data posted to
Earthtrends database
(http://earthtrends.wri.org, accessed Jan
2012)
ENVS 831 Learning Outcomes*
1. Understand geo-physical and chemical
processes of land degradation;
2. Gain basic understanding of land degradation
issues of: erosion, salinization, sodic soils,
acidification, compaction, and desertification;
3. Realize the extent of these issues within the
Prairies, Canada, and globally;
4. Be able to utilize tools for assessing occurrence
and seriousness of these issues;
5. Recognize technological and management
practices that prevent degradation and reclaim
damaged lands; and
6. Appreciate economic and social aspects that
lead to and resolve land degradation.
*Learning outcomes and activities may change slightly by Jan 2015
Activities*
1. Terminology essay 10%, 2
weeks after start.
2. Review (report &
presentation), 15%, 4-6
weeks after start.
3. Group Project (report &
presentation), 30%, 7-12
weeks.
4. Participation (discussion),
all term, 15%.
5. Final Exam, 30%.
For more information contact
charles.maule@usask.ca