Integrated Coastal Dune Management

Course manual 2019/2020

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.

The course is based on a combination of different work forms. The first part consists of a series of guest lectures on policy and management, given by professionals and experts working in the coastal dunes, but also on abiotic and biotic aspects such as geology, hydrology, soils, flora and fauna. The second part consists of three excursions to different dune areas, in which different topics related to dune management are discussed. The third part consists of an evaluation of the concept of  Resilience Thinking, which provides a theoretical framework for ecosystem and landscape management. During the course, you will present a poster on resilience thinking, and present a case study on ecology and management of a particular coastal dune area somewhere in the world. The course will end with a written examination. 

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

• summarize the main characteristics and ecosystem functions of the (Dutch) coastal dune ecosystem
• understand the interactions between climate, geology, geomorphological processes, soil formation, plant growth and animals in coastal dune ecosystems, and how they are affected by human interference
• understand the theory of resilience thinking with respect to socio-ecological ecosystems
• apply and communicate this knowledge in case-studies on particular ecosystems and dune areas

Teaching methods

• Lecture
• Seminar
• Fieldwork/excursion
• Presentation/symposium
• Self-study
• Working independently on e.g. a project or thesis

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

This programme does not have requirements concerning attendance (TER part B).

Additional requirements for this course:

The students are required to attend the guest lectures. The students should alo attend at least two of the three excursions.

Assessment

Assessment

Attitude excursions and guest lectures                                 10%

Poster presentation Resilience Thinking                               20%

Oral presentation Mini-Project                                              30%

Final written examination                                                     40%

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

Staff

• dr. L.H. Cammeraat
• dr. J.G.B. Oostermeijer