Environmental Restoration Project

Course description

This course involves a planning and participating in a real restoration project. The project is usually done in partnership with a community group, government department or industry partner. If you are working in a related field, the project can be based on activities for your job with prior approval from the Academic Director.

Your ER390 project is one of the key components of your Restoration of Natural Systems Diploma. It is an independently led, hands-on restoration project that you will conduct (generally) in close coordination with a community partner over a maximum of three terms. Each ER390 project is uniquely tailored to the needs of the student and partner.

The final project brings together the knowledge and skills you acquired through the program and applies these to a real restoration situation in your area of specialization. It should reinforce and grow what you have learned. The project has three main goals:

1. To demonstrate a positive contribution by you to ecological restoration.
2. To give you a final opportunity to develop a desired professional skill and make professional connections.
3. To provide a written report that provides a record of your work from which future students and the public can learn.

To get project approval, please contact Dr. Nancy Shackelford (nshack@uvic.ca).

You can find sample reports here.

The expected time commitment for this course is approximately 100 hours, spread over 1 year or less. All RNS students must complete a final project to obtain their diploma or certificate. 

Please also see ER400: Seminar in Environmental Restoration. ER400 consists of the ER390 presentation and a portfolio that is a compilation of the major projects from ER311, 312A and 312B plus one elective to be determined in consultation with the RNS Program’s Academic Administrator.