The course portfolio was elaborated with joint efforts of the following persons, to whom I express my gratitude:

Torbjörn Ebenhard - Swedish Biodiversity Centre - I am very much indebted to your precious advice and suggestions that helped to clarify many questions of the course content, link the topics coherently and opt for most optimal learning methods.

Prof. Ion Toderas, Department of Human and Animal Biology, Moldova State University - I wish to thank you a lot for the input in the course content and contribution to its implementation, which would be impossible without your participation.

Malin Almstedt - Swedish Biodiversity Centre - Many thanks for assisting me while being in Uppsala and for your useful comments regarding the course content and learning methods.

Johnny de Jong - Swedish Biodiversity Centre - Thanks for your helpful comments on course goal and objectives, learning outcomes, course content and learning methods.

Joanna Renc-Roe - (Curriculum Resource Center) - Joanna, thanks for being always around, encouradging, giving support and advice on the development of course portfolio and webpage structure.

Elena Zubcov - (Laboratory of Hydrobiology and Ecotoxicology, Institute of Zoology Moldova Academy of Sciences) - I am grateful for the scientific advice for the elaboration of course materials, course evaluation and your valuable support in course promotion.

Sergiu Andreev (OrangeNet Foundation) - Many thanks for the nice webpage design and helpful tips in content management.

Ion Andreev - (D-asta.com) - Thanks Ion, you did really a good job in the webpage content management system, it gave me opportunity to work creatively. All I needed was just little bit of html plus information.

Lucia Biletchi (Institute of Zoology, Moldova Academy of Sciences) - Lucia, you were so great in editing the Romanian version of course materials and agreeing to evaluate some study sessions.

Vitalie Climenco (Institute of Zoology, Moldova Academy of Sciences) - Vitalie, I believe translation made by you for course reader will be enjoyed by students.

Financial support

Curriculum Resource Centre offered financial support within the grant programs: Course Development Competition and Course Portfolio Project. The grant money by CRC were used for the elaboration of course materials (course syllabi, reader, lecture handouts and their multiplication as well as other necessary instructional materials required for group project presentations, student portfolio etc. Part of the grant was used to procure books in the field of biodiversity and sustainable development that are available for student use at the Department of Human and Animal Biology, Moldova State University (resource room).

IMG TEMPUS grant MOL 1005-2004. During October-November, 2004, within IMG Tempus program a short study visit was carried out at the Swedish Biodiversity Centre, aiming to improve the course materials and assessment methods as well as to design the course evaluation tools. These activities supplements the project carried out within the framework of CRC program and added to the increase in the quality of teaching and learning tools and efficiency of the implementation of current course. Swedish Biodiversity Centre offered me very nice working conditions and opportunity to use library, Internet and information resources during my stay in Uppsala. While building the course content, I have used many of the resources and syllabi of Swedish Biodiversity Centre, which I have collected being a MSc student at this institution (2002-2003).