Integrated Coastal Dune Management

Course manual 2018/2019

Course content

The Dutch coastal landscape is nationally and internationally of great importance to man and nature for its ecological values, economical values, positive effect on human health and sea defense. Due to the wide variety in ecosystem services, a multidisciplinary approach towards balanced management and policies regarding the coastal landscape is needed. To achieve this, the model of 'integrated coastal management' has been developed, in which current knowledge and insights of many scientific expertise fields are combined.

This course is based on a series of guest lectures, given by professionals and experts working in the coastal dunes, on abiotic and biotic aspects such as geology, hydrology, soils, flora and fauna, but also on policy and management. The coastal landscape will thus be studied in full detail, including coastal protection, drinking water supply and nature management. Management issues will be further evaluated within the concept of Resilience Thinking, which provides a theoretical framework for ecosystem and landscape management.

Study materials

Literature

• 'Resilience Thinking: sustaining ecosystems and people in a changing world’ by Brian Walker and David Salt (2006)

Other

• Guest lectures and information on the excursions are provided on Canvas. For the discussions on Resilience Thinking, the book ‘Resilience Thinking: sustaining ecosystems and people in a changing world’ by Brian Walker and David Salt (2006) is used. This is a book of 2006, but the concepts are still very relevant.

Objectives

At the end of the course, the student is able to:

• Achieve knowledge of the different research and policy fields of integrated management of coastal and dune areas to answer related questions.
• Develop a personal and critical view on current issues concerning integrated management of coastal areas.
• Understand which administrations, NGO's, stakeholders etc. are involved in coastal zone management.
• Contribute on a professional level to planning processes and management activities based on their own analysis of the many expertises involved.

Teaching methods

• Lecture
• Seminar
• Fieldwork/excursion
• Presentation/symposium
• Self-study

The course consists of a series of (guest) lectures, field excursions, discussion meetings on Resilience Thinking with a poster presentation of each student, a Mini-project about integrated coastal dune management of a particular dune area with an oral presentation of each student, and a written final examination about different aspects of coastal dune management treated in (guest) lectures and field excursions.

Learning activities

Attendance

The programme does not have requirements concerning attendance (OER-B).

Assessment

Assignments

Mini-project

• Mini-project about integrated coastal dune management of a particular dune area with a 15-minute oral presentation of each student. The objective of the mini-project is to make a critical analysis of the characteristics, problems and management plans and measures of a particular dune area, and put this is an Resilience Thinking perspective. The dune area may be in the Netherlands, but also abroad. 

   

Poster presentation Resilience Thinking

• Discussion meetings on 5 book chapters of Resilience Thinking with a poster presentation of each student.

Fraud and plagiarism

The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

Course structure

Timetable

The schedule for this course is published on DataNose.

Additional information

Recommended prior knowledge of (dune) ecology, soil sciences and geomorphology.

Contact information

Coordinator

• dr. A.M. Kooijman