Environmental management of natural and urban sacred sites
| Title | Περιβαλλοντική διαχείριση φυσικών κι αστικών ιερών τόπων / Environmental management of natural and urban sacred sites |
| Code | Θ368 |
| Faculty | Theology |
| School | Social Theology and Christian Culture |
| Cycle / Level | 1st / Undergraduate |
| Teaching Period | Spring |
| Coordinator | Eleni Antonopoulou |
| Common | Yes |
| Status | Inactive |
| Course ID | 600021648 |
| Academic Year | 2022 – 2023 |
| Class Period | Spring |
| Instructors from Other Categories |
|
| Weekly Hours | 3 |
| Total Hours | 39 |
| Class ID | 600214934
|
Class Schedule
| Building | Θεολογική |
| Floor | Όροφος 4 |
| Hall | ΝΗΣΙΔΑ (383) |
| Calendar | Παρασκευή 08:00 έως 11:00 |
Course Type 2021
Skills Development
Mode of Delivery
- Face to face
Digital Course Content
- e-Study Guide https://qa.auth.gr/en/class/1/600214934
- eLearning (Moodle): https://elearning.auth.gr/course/view.php?id=16867
Learning Outcomes
Upon the successful completion of this course, students will have acquired a general knowledge of environmental problems, their causes and the solution of sustainable development, and will be able to:
1. Relate specific actions and functions of sacred sites to their impacts on the environment and to explain these impacts to those in charge of each site.
2. Explain how the green management of a sacred site could contribute to the sustainability of and area, and how a good relationship with the natural environment is part of orthodox theology.
3. Calculate the ecological footprint of a site and analyze the factor that form and affect this footprint.
4. Compose arguments on the necessity of an environmental management plan and analyze the benefits from the application of such a plan.
5. Define the targets of an environmental management plan and prioritize them according to specific criteria, compose a project timetable and budget, and coordinate the working team.
6. Propose solutions that will combine the conservation of the natural environment with the conservation of the special features of sacred sites.
7. Embrace the uniqueness and traditions of sacred sites in order to form more effective environmental management plans.
General Competences
- Apply knowledge in practice
- Adapt to new situations
- Make decisions
- Work autonomously
- Work in an interdisciplinary team
- Respect natural environment
- Be critical and self-critical
- Advance free, creative and causative thinking
Course Content (Syllabus)
The course aims to familiarize students with environmental management, as well as with the role of sacred sites, both urban and natural, in environmental protection.
1. Current environmental issues – Environmental management and sustainable development: an introduction.
2. Sacred sites: Definition, legal framework, role in environmental protection.
3. Religions and the natural environment. The position of the Orthodox Church.
4. The Green Parish – The part of the minister.
5. The example of monasteries.
6. Designing an environmental management program: (needs, targets, action plan, environmental quality standards).
7. Application and monitoring of the environmental management action plan.
8. Engaging parishioners, visitors, and society.
9. Examples of environmental management of Christian sacred sites: Greece.
10. Examples of environmental management of Christian sacred sites: World.
11. Examples of environmental management of sacred sites: Other religions.
12. Case study.
13. Paper presentation - conclusions.
Keywords
Environmental management, religion and the environment, sustainable development, sacred sites
Educational Material Types
- Slide presentations
Use of Information and Communication Technologies
Use of ICT
- Use of ICT in Course Teaching
- Use of ICT in Communication with Students
Course Organization
| Activities | Workload | ECTS | Individual | Teamwork | Erasmus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures | 39 | 1.6 | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Reading Assigment | 35 | 1.4 | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Written assigments | 25 | 1 | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Exams | 1 | 0.0 | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Total | 100 | 4 |
Student Assessment
Description
For their final assessment, students have to prepare an essay and present it during the last lecture of the semester (100% of the final grade).
Alternatively, those that do not wish to prepare an essay, will have to take an oral exam during the examination period of the School (100% of the final grade).
Student Assessment methods
- Written Assignment (Summative)
- Oral Exams (Summative)
Bibliography
Additional bibliography for study
• Mallarach, J.M. & Papayannis, T. (2007). Reflections on the management of monastic lands and facilities. Proceedings of the Second Workshop of the Delos Initiative ‘The sacred dimension of protected areas’, Ouranoupolis, Greece, 24-27 October, pp. 191-200.
• Mallarch, J.M. and Torcal, L.M. (2009). Initiatives taken by the Cistercian Monastery of Poblet to improve the integration of spiritual, cultural, and environmental values, Catalonia, Spain. In The Sacred Dimension of Protected Areas: Proceedings of the Second Workshop of the Delos Initiative – Ouranoupolis. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN and Athens, Greece: Med-INA, pp. 161-172.
• Mallarach, J.M. (2010). Monastic communities and nature conservation: Overview of positive trends and best practices in Europe and the Middle East. Proceedings of the Third Workshop of the Delos Initiative ‘The diversity of sacred lands in Europe’, Inari/Aanaar, Finland, 1-3 July, pp. 157-200.
• Παπαδόπουλος, Στ. (2002). Ο χώρος ως τόπος άγιος. Μια ανθρωπολογική προσέγγιση. Δελτίον της Χριστιανικής Αρχαιολογικής Εταιρίας, Τόμος ΚΓ’, σελ. 199-204.
• Verschuuren, Β. et al. (2010). Introduction: Sacred Natural Sites the Foundations of Conservation. In Sacred Natural Sites. Conserving Nature and Culture, Routledge.
• Oviedo, G., Jeanrenaud, S. and Otegni, M. (2005). Protecting natural sites of indigenous and traditional peoples: an IUCN perspective. Gland, Switzerland, IUCN.
• Healey, J., Halley, J. and Stara, K. (2018). What sacred sites can teach us about conservation. World Economic Forum.
• Wild, R. and McLeod, C. (Editors) (2008). Sacred Natural Sites: Guidelines for Protected Area Managers. Gland,Switzerland, IUCN.
Last Update
05-03-2023
