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Introduction

Introduction
The prime consideration of man as the most intelligent being on this planet is to utilize and conserve the existing natural resources for sustainable development. The process requires continued understanding by man of the biotic and the abiotic conditions and their interrelationships.

There is no greater long-term need in Kenya today than the conservation and management of her vast arid and semi-arid lands (ASALS), fauna and flora, the natural forests, water-catchment areas, wetlands, and the aquatic life. The pressure on natural resources for fuel and timber and on land in general, for crops and pasture, has led to forest recession, soil erosion, desertification and water-catchment degradation - all of which combine to impair the land and water resources.

Justifications

Justification
Kenya being a small "niche" on the global environmental complex system needs to produce competent natural resource conservationists/managers who will make effort to facilitate utilization and conservation of her natural resources without upsetting the environmental equilibrium. The approach to education and training must accordingly be re-oriented. The emphasis needs to shift from a narrow base to a broad base so as to effect integration. The main objective is to produce resource conservationists and managers who are multi-disciplinary in approach and can view the management of natural resources holistically. The purpose of this degree programme is to offer educational opportunities to students who desire a broad knowledge in the management of renewable and non-renewable natural resources. Emphasis is placed on an ecological approach relative to the conservation and management of natural resources. Increasing opportunities for employment of graduates with background in the management of Forestry and Watershed Resources, Arid and Semi-Arid Lands Resources, Wildlife and Fisheries Resources and Non-Renewable Resources are available in public and private sections. The graduates will be deployed in areas such as resources use planning, environmental monitoring and impact studies, natural resource development, conservation information and education, and regulatory activities.

Objectives

The basic objective of the B.Sc. Programme in Natural Resource Management is to equip the trainees with relevant technical and professional knowledge that will enable them to manage and conserve resources effectively, wherever they are employed. At the end of the programme, students will be able to:

• Apply the acquired knowledge in ecological, sociological, technical and economic concepts to the theory and practice of natural resource conservation, utilization and management.
• Communicate this knowledge and management techniques to the relevant members of the society at large.
• Analyse and evaluate critical issues in natural resource policy, conservation, utilization and management.

Admissions

Candidates must have achieved the minimum entry requirements for the university, at least grade B- in Biology or B in Biological sciences, B- in Geography, C+ in Chemistry or B- in physical science and C+ in mathematics at K.C.S.E. or equivalent examination. An added advantage will be given to candidates who have passed with at least a C grade in Agriculture or Economics at K.C.S.E. or equivalent examination.

Admission will be granted to outstanding Diploma holders who have passed with Distinction, Credit or the equivalent in Range Management, Animal Husbandry, Animal Health, Forestry, Wildlife and other related fields.

• Loading and Duration of Study
• Regular students will take four academic years.
• Part-time students shall be put on a tailor made programme to ensure that they cover all the C.Fs.
• Each Semester shall consist of 15 teaching weeks and 2 examination weeks.
• To graduate from this programme a student must have acquired the CF. of 159.

Course Coding

Coding of the courses offered by the Department of Natural Resources Management is represented by NARE followed by a three digit figure:

The first digit represents the year in which the course is offered to undergraduate students

The second digit represents the nature of the course within the department:
? 0 indicates introductory courses,
? 1 principle courses,
? 2 ecology,
? 3 climate,
? 4 management courses,
? 5 applied courses,
? 6 planning,
? 7 research seminars, and students projects,
? 8 policy, law and administration.

The third digit represents the serial number of the course e.g. NARE 212: Principles of Wildlife Management, taught in the second year is a principle course and second in the series.

Examinations

The general conduct procedures for examinations and grading are as stipulated in the Egerton University Statutes.

Course Description

NARE 101: Introduction to Natural Resources
Definition of natural resources components. Classification and role in natural development. Principles, concepts and philosophies applicable to the management of both biological and physical resources. Factors influencing production growth and depletion. Management principles for productivity, sustainability, adaptability and resilience. The multiple and proper use concept. Y1S1

NARE 110: Invertebrates and Natural Resources Management
Phylogeny of invertbrates. Morphology and physiology of Protozoa, Porifers, Radiata, Mollusca, Annelids, Arthropoda and Echinodermata. Phyla of invertebrates important to natural resource management. Phyla of economic importance. Y2S1

NARE 200: Natural Resource Ecology
Scope of ecology, Concepts of ecosystems, Energy flow and Nutrient cycling. Production ecology, structural and functional aspects of ecosystems. Dynamics of plant and animal populations. Linkage of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, wetlands ecology, animal behavioural ecology, paleoecology. The concept of habitats and their limited resources. The effects of human activities on the environment. Past, present and future population growth and food supply. A field visit to a rich ecosystem. Y2S2

NARE 201: Introductory Geology
History of the development of human knowledge in the Earth Sciences. The abundance and terrestrial distribution of elements and their behaviour during various geological processes; geological analysis and interpretation of sediments. Principles of ground water hydrology. Field trip to functioning mine/quarry. Y2S1

NARE 210: Principles of Forestry
Forestry as an art, science and practice. Historical background. Forestry philosophies, values and uses. Forestry biology; the multiple use concept in forest utilization; the impact of silvicultural operations. Forest conservation in Kenya. Trip to forested areas. Y2S1

NARE 211: Principles of Range Management
Terms used in range management, the range environment, plants, resources products, productivity and nutrition. Multiple and proper use of rangelands. Grazing management and application of range science principles in the management of rangelands. Y2S1

NARE 212: Principles of Wildlife Management
Wildlife and man: Historical highlights in African wildlife conservation; wildlife laws and the land owner, role of social sciences in wildlife management, and effects of environmental pollution on fish and wildlife management. Wildlife management; Ecological background; wildlife populations; habit factors; management techniques; natural areas and natural heritage areas. Field trip to selected area of wildlife interest. Y2S1

NARE 213: Principles of Mineral Resources Management
Mineral resource availability, distribution and exhaustion. World mineral exploration, production and consumption. Geology and environment. Trip to mines and geological department, museum and Bamburi Portland Cement. Y2S2

NARE 220: Principles of Range Management
Terminology in range management, the range environment, plant resources and products. Productivity and nutrition, multiple and proper use concepts. Grazing management and range science principles applications in range management. Taxonomy and autecology of common range plants.Y2S2

NARE 221: Natural Resources Utilization and Conflicts
Sociological perspectives applied to natural resources management. Relationships between natural resources and human social systems. Rural social systems, land tenure social change and development in relation to the natural resources base (wildlife, forests/trees, livestock, fauna and flora). Integration of indigenous knowledge in natural resources utilization, conservation and management. Community social action. Natural resources utilization conflicts; conflict resolution strategies. Y2S2

NARE 222: Wildlife Biology
Natural History of selected African Mammalian Families; Identification classification, distribution and abundance behaviour, courtship, territoriality and migration patterns. Their roles in the ecosystem. Field trip to selected areas of wildlife interest. Y2S2

NARE 223: Dendrology and Plant Taxonomy
The principles of plant taxonomy. Introduction to plant biosystematics, evolutionary trees of the Gymnospermae and Angiospermae. Identification of forest trees using distribution, vegetative and floral characters. Utility of each forest tree species. Trip to natural forest for tree identification. Y2S2

NARE 320: Aquatic Ecology
Distribution of water. Physical and chemical properties of fresh and saline water. Classification of rivers, lakes, estuaries and oceans. Horizontal and vertical stratification of fresh water and marine ecosystems. Primary and secondary production with focus on ecological dynamic of population growth. Adaptations of fauna and flora to characteristics of the aquatic environment. Energy flow through aquatic ecosystems. Y3S1

NARE 330: Climatology
Physical and applied climatology, concepts and principles of sensible heat flux, surface and air temperature, soil heat flux and soil temperature, wind and atmospheric humidity; energy and water budgets. Relationships between climatological elements and natural resources systems, measurement and methods of estimation of climatological parameters, analysis and interpretation of climatological data; modification of the climate near the ground (micro-climate). Y3S1

NARE 335: Mineralogy
Geological processes of mineral formation, Mineral's chemical composition and main properties - physical, chemical, thermal, electrical, optical. Crystals- their structure, symmetry and systems. Occurrence of common ore minerals and rock forming minerals. Identification of main minerals. Laboratory identification using optical microscopes. Y3S1

NARE 340: Fire Control and Use
The principles of fire control and use; prevention, fire danger rating, detection and suppression of wild fires. Role of fires in vegetation management; prescribed burning, planning and burning programmes. Trips to fire control sites. Y3S1



NARE 341: Scientific Report Writing in Natural Resources Disciplines
Techniques of scientific report writing in Natural Resources disciplines. Thematic synthesis of scientific thought; systematic coherence. Structure of a scientific report: Title, Introduction, Methodology/Materials and Results, Conclusions, Summary, References and Acknowledgments! Y3S1

NARE 345: Petrology
Nature, occurrence, distribution and genesis of rocks. Major rock groups/classes. The petrogenetic cycle. Micro and macro-scopic identification of rocks in study and sampling of rocks in the field. Y3S2

NARE 350: Watershed Management
The watershed as a unit of resource oriented planning and development. Principles and objectives of watershed management. Physical description of watershed. Relationships between land use conditions and water delivery character of watersheds. Watershed analysis, including techniques, collection of field data and sources of information. Water policy. Y3S1

NARE 351: Resource Photogrammetry
Basic elements of natural resource assessment. Historical account of photogrammery, aerial photography and remote sensing. Fundamentals of electro-magnetic spectrum. Aerial photographs, films and filters; resolution, types of aerial photographs and topometrics, image displacement; scale, area and height determination. Aerial survey, mapping and map projections; flight planning. Basic image interpretation and qualities of good image analysis. Applications in natural resource management. Y3S1

NARE 371: Research Methodology
Review of basic statistics as they relate to natural resources management research. Principles and procedures of field experimentation. Planning, layout, execution and reporting of an experiment. Common experimental designs; completely randomised, randomised complete block, Latin square and split-plot designs. Factorial experiments. Y3S1

NARE 372: Field Attachment
Students are attached to selected districts in the country. They will work with government ministries and non-governmental organizations and authorities in-charge of rangelands development, wildlife conservation, forestry, water catchment, geological survey and mining enterprises and fisheries. Students will write and submit a report in the department after the completion of the field attachment. Y3S2

NARE 373: Student Projects I
Individual research projects proposal on natural resources conservation and management related topics approved by the supervisor. Y3S2

NARE 421: Range Plant Ecophysiology
Survey of environmental effects upon plant growth and function, morphological and physiological responses of plants to environmental conditions in range terrestrial ecosystems; radiation budgets, carbon assimilation, water relations, temperature and plant nutrition. Visits to Rangelands. Y4S1

NARE 425: Mineral Resources of Kenya
Earth?s internal structure; geological processes: Precampbrian, Palaeozic, Mesozoic, Tertiary, Pleistocene, Recent Deposits, Tectonic Events. Mineral resources associated with the geological formations,: Limestone, gypsum, fluorite, trona, gold, silver, diatomite, carbon dioxide, copper, gemstones, graphite, kyanite, arsenic, titanum, asbestos, barytes. Mineral production statistics; place of production statistics; place of minerals in Kenya?s economy. Y4S2

NARE 427: Ecotourism
Nature based tourism. Growth and economics of tourism, ecotourism Infrastructure. Political, social and ecological impacts of tourism. Participation of local communities in Ecotourism planning development and management of ecotourism. Y4S1

NARE 440: Silviculture
Tree establishment practices, species selection, planting and spacing; silvicultural operations. Tree improvement concepts. Wood properties, primary and secondary wood products. General principles of forest entomology and pathology. Field trips to KEFRI, natural forests and plantations. Y4S1

NARE 446: Forest Management
Management of commercial and government enterprises, personnel management, staffing and structure. Decision making processes; marketing of forest produce. Scientific basis of measurements and estimates required in forest resource management. Log volume formulae and timber measurement. Forest tools and machines. Logging and log transportation. Y4S2

NARE 448: Grazing Management
Concepts, practices, theories of grazing management. Design and application of grazing management systems, plant and animal responses to different management practices; factors in diet selection and intake with particular reference to ungulates. Y4S2

NARE 450: Agroforestry
Introduction to Agroforestry concepts, historical background, role and relevance in national development. Agroforestry land use systems and applicability in food,livestock production, -bio-energy, soil and water management. High Value/ Multi-Purpose Trees, Shrubs and their management; tree-crop interfaces and socio-economic evaluation. Diagnosis/Characterization and Design. Case studies in Agroforestry. Tutorials to supplement practicals. Field trip recommended to emphasize both traditional and scientific agroforestry packages. Y4S1/S2

NARE 451: Dryland Rehabilitation
Systems of classifying bioclimatic aridity; Koppen, Thonthwaite, de Martonne, UNESCO and Plan indicator systems. Adaptive strategies of arid plants. Technology of artificial regelation of plants in arid and semi/arid areas of East Africa; Choice of species, nursery techniques and plantation tending. Visits to arid/semi-arid projects. Y4S2

NARE 453: Wildlife Management and Utilisation
Wildlife and aquatic resources in East Africa. Habitat management and productivity assessment. Sustainable utilisation, game farming/ranching and aquaculture systems production. Conservation versus preservation. Preservation of endangered species. Legislations and policies. Economic values. Consumptive and non-consumptive utilisation. Conflicts in the utilisation of both aquatic and wildlife resources. Integrated management. Cost benefit analysis. Y4S2

NARE 457: Mining and the Environment
Mining methods and systems. Mineral processing principles and techniques; extractive metallurgy and other processes. Rehabilitation of affected lands. Trips to mining and rehabilitated environments. Y4S2

NARE 459: Ecological Surveys and Techniques
Quantitative methods of estimating range forage production. Random sampling techniques. Determination of forage utilization, range condition and trend. Data collection and banking techniques. Y4S1

NARE 460: Resource Planning and Management
Current theories of planning and their relevant application at regional and local levels. Theory in planning, resource survey and regional analysis. Methods of assessing a resource base and its socio-economic relations. Regional profile of physical, human and institutional resources. Techniques of survey, analysis, land classification of physical resources. Y4S2

NARE 480: Natural Resource Policy and Law
Basic natural resource policy, formulation, implementation and administration. Natural resource laws enactment and enforcement. Constraints in natural resource policy implementation and law enforcement. Y4S2