87172 - ECONOMIA DELL'AMBIENTE

Learning outcomes

The aim of the course is to provide the students the foundations of the environmental economics and its methods. At the end of the course the students will be able to know a good terminology, methodologies and to discuss the main environmental economic topics.

Course contents

Module 1. Overview on Conservation Finance and the financial instruments for nature conservation. Overview of the different financing methods and opportunities. Examples.

Module 2. European funding. European funding for projects in the environment and nature sector, with focus on LIFE programme. Results of European projects for the protection of nature and the environment in Europe and in Italy, the main rules of the funds, the lifecycle of a project financed by the EU. Case studies and exercises.

Module 3. Payments for Ecosystem Services. Operating modes, critical issues and examples.

Module 4. Fiscal and financial measures to encourage the conservation of nature and other forms of public-private support: Green bonds, Habitat/Biodiversity banking, Lotteries, Conservation easements.

Module 5. Private financing and sponsorships. Crowdfunding, Corporate social responsability, Ecotourism, Carbon compensation, sponsorships.

Module 6. Procedures for the design of nature conservation initiatives to be financed with external funds through the logical framework approach, the technical-scientific and the economic aspects. Exercises.

Readings/Bibliography

The pdf of the lessons held are released to the students during the course of the course as an aid for the preparation of the exam. They contain numerous in-depth suggestions (scientific articles) divided by subject. The following texts are also suggested:

Picchi S., 2018. “Panoramica sugli strumenti di finanziamento per la conservazione della natura”, in RETICULA n. 17/2018, ISPRA.

Disselhoff, T., 2015. Alternative Ways to Support Private Land Conservation. Report to the European Commission. Ref. No: E.3-PO/07.020300/2015/ENV. Berlin/Germany. 

Formez, 2002. Project Cycle Management. Manuale per la formazione, Strumenti Formez, Roma.

Teaching methods

The course of Conservation Finance runs from October to May with 11 sessions. There are 10 interactive lessons lasting 4 hours each, with two breaks, and one full-day study visit to a park to observe European project achievements. The lessons will involve frontal teaching with PowerPoint presentations, case studies presentation and discussion, individual and group exercises on European project documentation, and discussion of the exercises.

 

Assessment methods

Written exam. Evaluation of the project work.

Teaching tools

Power point presentations, documents coming from projects financed in the nature conservation sector, calls for proposals, case studies.

Links to further information

http://europanatura.blogspot.com/

Office hours

See the website of Stefano Picchi