Conservation and Management of
Natural Resources
BIOL/GEOG 426 Fall 2013, Sections Q90 & 300
Tentative Syllabus
Professor: Dr. Susan Romano
Contact Information
E-mail: s-romano2@wiu.edu
Phone: Cell (309)333-1568; Macomb 309-298-3387; Quad
Cities 309-762-9481(60th Street)
Office Hours:
Tuesday, 9-11:30 am,Macomb,Waggoner Room 347
Wednesday, 1:30 – 2:30 pm, Quad Cities, Room 129, Riverfront
Thursday, 9-10:30 am, Macomb, Waggoner Room 347
Class Time and Location
Wednesdays, 9 to 11:30 am, Quad Cities Riverfront, Room A226 and tele-broadcast to Macomb, Waggoner
Room 271.
Last day to drop this course with a “W”: 10/27/2013
Course Description: Problems in the conservation and management of natural resources including soil, water,
rangeland, forest, wildlife, air, and energy resources. Special attention is given to resource problems of the
United States (WIU Graduate Catalog). Pre-Requisite: GEOG 120 and 121, or consent of instructor
Course Purpose/Objectives:
 Learning through experiential environmental opportunities
 Learning through environmental readings and discussion
 Provide materials so students will be well-versed in a broad range of conservation topics
Required Texts
 Book Title: Natural Resource Conservation: Management for a Sustainable Future (10th Edition)
(Hardcover)
Author: Daniel D. Chiras and John P. Reganold
Publisher: Addison Wesley; 10 edition (March 1, 2009)
ISBN: 9780132251388
 Book Title: Sand County Almanac, Aldo Leopold
Academic Misconduct

If you cheat on an assignment or exam, you will receive a grade of zero (0) for that assignment or exam
and could receive an F in the course. You are to do your own work on course assignments. The rights
and responsibilities of all students are detailed online at
http://www.wiu.edu/policies/acintegrity.php#rnone.


The Official University Policy Manual webpage covers University policies related to student academic
integrity, the course syllabus, grade appeals, oral English proficiency, student absences, and students
participating in university-sanctioned activities.
Web address for student rights and responsibilities http://www.wiu.edu/provost/students.php
Students With Disabilities
“In accordance with University policy and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), academic
accommodations may be made for any student who notifies the instructor of the need for an accommodation.
For the instructor to provide the proper accommodation(s) you must obtain documentation of the need for an
accommodation through Disability Resource Center (DRC) and provide it to the instructor. It is imperative that
you take the initiative to bring such needs to the instructor's attention, as he/she is not legally permitted to
inquire about such particular needs of students. Students who may require special assistance in emergency
evacuations (i.e. fire, tornado, etc.) should contact the instructor as to the most appropriate procedures to follow
in such an emergency. Contact Disability Resource Center (DRC) at 298-2512 for additional services.” WIU
Policy
Course Requirements and Grading
Your grade will be based on the following assignments, exams, and grading scales:
Assignments
 Wilderness Solo Essay
20 pts
 Organic Garden
20 pts
 Green Home Design
20 pts
 Conservation Experience
20 pts
 Carbon Footprint
20 pts
 Aldo Leopold Participation 50 pts
Exams
 Midterm Exam
100 pts
 Final Exam
100 pts
Total Points for Course
350 pts
Grading Scale (Graduate)
Grading Scale (Undergraduate)
92% - 100%
A
84% - 91.99%
B
76% - 83.99%
C
68% - 75.99%
D
67.99% and below
F
99.0% - 100%+
91% - 98.99%
90% - 90.99%
89% - 89.99%
81% - 88.99%
80% - 80.99%
79% - 79.99%
71% - 78.99%
70% - 70.99%
69% - 69.99%
61% - 68.99%
60% - 60.99%
Below 60%
A
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
DF
Tentative Course Schedule
Date
August 21
August 28
September 4
September 11
September 18
September 25
October 2
October 9
October 16
October 23
October 30
November 6
November 13
November 20
November 27
December 4
December 11
Topic
Chapter 1: Natural Resource Conservation and Management: Past, Present, and
Future
Movie: Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring
Leopold Readings: January Thaw, Good Oak
Chapter 2: Economics, Ethics, and Critical Thinking: Tools for Creating a
Sustainable Future
Movie: The 11th Hour
Leopold Readings: The Geese Return, Come High Water
Chapter 4: The Human Population Change
Movie: NOVA: World in Balance
Leopold Readings: Draba, Bur Oak
Chapter 5: World Hunger: Solving the Problem Sustainably
Movie: Food, Inc.
Leopold Readings: Sky Dance, Back from the Argentine
Chapter 7: Soil Conservation and Sustainable Agriculture
Movie: The History Channel : Renewable Energy
Leopold Readings: The Alder Fork, Great Possessions
Chapter 8: Integrated Pest Management
Movie: A&E: Natural Environment Homes
Midterm Exam
Homework Assignments
Wilderness Solo Essay
Due 9/4/11
Organic Garden Design
Due 9/18/11 (now due 9/25)
Green Home Design
Due 10/9/11 (Now due
10/23)
Leopold Readings: Prairie Birthday, The Green Pasture
Chapter 10: Managing Water Resources Sustainably
Chapter 11: Water Pollution
Movie: Tapped
Leopold Readings: The Choral Copse, Smoky Gold
Chapter 14: Forest Management
Leopold Readings: Too Early, Red Lanterns
Chapter 15: Plant and Animal Extinction
NOVA: Extinction!
Leopold Readings: If I Were the Wind, Axe-in-Hand
Chapter 17: Sustainable Waste Management
Movie: Trashed
Leopold Readings: A Mighty Fortress, Home Range
Chapter 18: Air Pollution
Movie: An Inconvenient Truth
Leopold Readings: Pines above the Snow, 65290
Chapter 19: Air Pollution: Global Problems
Leopold Readings: Marshland Elegy, The Land Ethic
Chapter 21: Nonrenewable Energy Resources: Issues and Options
Movie: Energy Crossroads
NO CLASS – THANKSGIVING VACATION
Chapter 22: Creating a Sustainable System of Energy: Efficiency and Renewable
Energy
Movie: NOVA: The Big Energy Gamble
Final Exam
Conservation Experience
Due 11/13/11
Carbon Footprint
Due 12/4/11
Homework Format
Text format: Typed, double spaced, 12 point Times New Romano font, 1 inch margins
Submission: submitted electronically by WesternOnline as an email attachment. All homework assignments
are due electronically by WesternOnline 1 hour before the beginning of class on the due date indicated on the
syllabus. All late assignments will result in an automatic 15% grade reduction for the assignment.
Include:
Title page with
 Assignment title
 Your name
 Date
Report (2 page minimum)
 Introduction, including purpose of the report
 Description of your project/experience
 Conclusion
 Note: pictures are encouraged but should not exceed space limit of 25% of one page. Additional photos
and illustrations may be included if required for the project or if your text exceeds 2 pages. Basically,
don’t use photos or illustrations as “fill”.