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Course

Natural Resources Law - LAWS8069

Faculty: Faculty of Law

School: Faculty of Law

Course Outline: See below

Campus: Sydney

Career: Postgraduate

Units of Credit: 6

EFTSL: 0.12500 (more info)

Indicative Contact Hours per Week: 2

Enrolment Requirements:

Prerequisite: Academic Program must be either 9200 or 9210 or 9230 or 5740 or 9220 or 5750 or 8619 or 5499 or 7339

Excluded: JURD7369

CSS Contribution Charge: 3 (more info)

Tuition Fee: See Tuition Fee Schedule

Further Information: See Class Timetable

View course information for previous years.

Description

Improved management of natural resources upon which all life depends will be crucial in coming years if we are to slow the depletion rate of stocks of natural capital and the eco-systems services that they provide. This course explores the role that the legal system can play by examining the legal framework in Australia for managing terrestrial resources (water, soil, native vegetation and forests) and marine resources (fish stocks and marine ecosystems). Key concepts are ecologically sustainable development, integrated natural resources management and resilience. The application of internationally recognised principles will inform the course, namely, the precautionary principle, inter-generational equity, conservation of biological diversity and ecological integrity, and improved valuation, pricing and incentive mechanisms. The role of each level of government will be covered together with legislative and policy-based initiatives introduced within our federal structure of government.

This course is also available to students enrolled in the Master of Environmental Management (8619), Graduate Diploma in Environmental Management (5499) and the Graduate Certificate in Environmental Management (7339).

This course is also available to students undertaking relevant postgraduate non-law degree programs at UNSW provided such enrolment is approved by the appopriate non-law Faculty.


LLM Specialisations

Recommended Prior Knowledge

None

Course Objectives

A candidate who has successfully completed this course should be able to:
  • Acquire conceptual tools for analysis of ongoing debates both nationally and internationally about the best way forward to protect natural resources for future generations;
  • Critically evaluate the fundamental concepts within ecologically sustainable development and appreciate dilemmas that arise in implementation;
  • Understand the components of key management concepts such as strategic planning, bioregional planning and integrated natural resources management;
  • Understand the complexities that arise for natural resources management with Australian federalism;
  • Obtain a working knowledge of the legal framework, legislation and case law that has arisen in natural resources law in Australia.

Main Topics

  • Introduction to issues and concepts in natural resources law;
  • Natural resources law at the national level;
  • State land use planning law and intersections with natural resources law;
  • Environmental impact assessment;
  • Water law;
  • Managing our soils and land use conflict;
  • Native vegetation law and forestry management;
  • Managing marine resources and fisheries.

Assessment

Class participation: 10%
Class presentation and abstract: 15%
Research essay (6000 words): 75%

Course Texts

Prescribed
Course materials will be provided by the lecturer

Recommended
A full reading list will be provided in the detailed course outline.

There are a large number of new and proposed books on the market. Some existing helpful titles include:
Lyster R et al: Environmental and Planning Law in New South Wales

Bates G: Environmental Law in Australia

Fisher DE: Australian Environmental Law

Gullett W: Fisheries Law in Australia

Resources

Refer to the course outline which will be provided by the lecturer at the beginning of the relevant semester.
IN BLOOM

Study Levels

Undergraduate Study Postgraudate Study Postgraduate Research Study Non-Award Study

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