The Land Crisis for Food, Climate and Wildlife

To provide food and wood, people have plowed up, cut-down and otherwise heavily altered forests, savannas and grasslands that occupy 75% of the world's land. These actions have caused one third of the world's greenhouse gas emissions and most of the world's loss of biodiversity. The world is also on course to demand more than 50% more food and wood by 2050. This course will explore the challenges these human demands pose to climate and ecosystems and possible solutions. Students will contribute to the class with oral presentations, including a major presentation linked to a final class paper.