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A program offered by the Department of Resource
Development, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources,
arranged through the Office of Study Abroad, Michigan State University
WINTER BREAK 2007-2008 (Dec. 15, 2007 - Jan. 6, 2008)
THE SETTING: New Zealand is a nation with tremendous natural resources and great, unspoiled beauty. It represents diverse farming systems and agroecological settings - from alpine merino wool production to extensive fruit belts and vineyards, as well as large forest areas with volcanic activity, geysers, unspoiled rivers and unique coastal environments. Most of its unspoiled beauty can be found on the South Island and includes the Fjordland National park - the fifth largest in the world. New Zealand's environmental policies are designed to pro-actively preserve natural and social-cultural values, thereby safeguarding and respecting the interests of the Maori population.
THE CONTEXT: New Zealand established treaty rights with the Maori population, safeguarding extensive land holdings and property rights, providing an example of balancing resource access, utilization and impacts - within a multi-ethnic society. The enactment of the innovative Natural Resource Management Act provides an example of how a democratic, industrialized society may seek to pro-actively balance economic development with environmental preservation and the enhancement of quality of life.
This study abroad program includes visits to leading universities, government agencies, and resource management authorities, including the U.S. Antarctic Program and leading Antarctic research programs at the University of Wellington and Christchurch. The program will address key environmental issues and concerns, the role of resource planning, management and public policy formulation, and review selected sites, including resource and ecosystem preservation and restoration, water and land management, and land use planning and applications.
As part of the program, various national parks and Department of Conservation sites are visited. Some of these visits require multiple hour hikes on rough terrain. Therefore, a moderate level of physical fitness is desirable and appropriate footwear is required.
INFO FOR THIS YEAR'S PARTICIPANTS
-For those with fast connections this file contains all of the information student's may need during the program. For those without fast connections or who want to view the information on the web please click the link above.
