GBL 203 US: FLORIDA, MIAMI: ECOLOGY AND SUSTAINABILITY
Modern American life demands significant resources and creates tremendous amounts of waste. And yet, the preservation of healthy ecosystems and the services they provide are also crucial to a healthy and productive human existence. This Winter Term Study USA course examines 1) where resources come from, 2) how waste is processed, and 3) how local, state, and national parks maintain ecological integrity in a world dominated by humans. We will use the operation of the City of Miami, Florida to understand behind-the-scenes logistics, and the natural resources of South Florida to learn about sustainable land management practices. More specifically, topics covered will include modern forestry methods, water treatment, floodwater management, solid waste disposal, recycling, state and national park management practices, ecosystem services, invasive species, ecological research, the role of zoos and aquaria in conservation, and conservation practices on public and private lands. This course will include service projects in Everglades NP, Biscayne Bay NP, and/or Big Cypress National Preserve. As a city surrounded on three sides by ecologically sensitive areas, Miami is an ideal location to study the balance between modern human life and the maintenance of healthy ecosystems.