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CORVALLIS - A political snafu between U.S. animal lobbyists and a Zimbabwe wildlife refuge has spawned a new course at Oregon State University.

"Natural Resources Conflict," INTL 407, is part of an international issues seminar series by the Women and International Development Program. Cathy Knott, director of the program, said the course will cover conflicts related to community involvement in the management of international parks and wildlife sanctuaries.

Most earlier parks and reserves were created where there is not a lot of arable land, Knott said. But new reserves are being created in areas already inhabited. That means more conflicts over resources, particularly for people accustomed to using the area for low-level or sustainable use of resources who are suddenly finding those uses restricted, she said.

Among the speakers in the seminar course are Dian Seslar Svensden, World Wildlife Fund, Oct. 8, and Bev Brown, the Jefferson Center in Grants Pass, Oct. 22.

The course is being offered for one credit as INTL 407, Natural Resource Conflicts, but the sessions are open to the public without registration. The class will meet Wednesdays at noon in Snell 448 beginning Oct. 1.