This module will espouse the principles of management to sustainable use of coastal and marine resources. The guidelines for the management of coastal and marine resources and various valuation methodologies will be discussed. Topics to be discussed will include but are not limited to the blue economy, participatory-based coastal and marine resources management and other governance methodologies.
Objectives:
The course seeks to:
- expose students to the diversity and threats of coastal and marine resources and learn how to use management tools;
- explore management regimes, role of stakeholders and environmental challenges;
- identify the various kinds of vegetation and their roles in protecting the coasts;
- identify and quantify ecosystem goods and services and their economic value; and
- examine the processes involved in marine spatial planning, its management and conflict resolution.
Content:
This course will provide students with an understanding of the diversity of coastal and marine resources with an emphasis on the tropical environment. Using geographical (GIS and Remote Sensing) and social sciences research methods and tools (eg. ethnography, observation, etc.), students will assess the spatial and temporal distributions, variations, quantities, value, vulnerability (to anthropogenic and natural stressors) and dynamics in these resources. An understanding of the local and global threats and the use of spatial planning tools in the management of these resources will be provided. Students will be exposed to the complexity of natural resource problems and the need for stakeholder integration and multiscale/multilevel interventions to ensure sustainable use and conservation of resources. Different stakeholder analyses (power-influence-interest matrices) will be undertaken to understand the role of stakeholders in the different resource management regimes
Mode of Delivery
This module will be delivered via lectures, laboratory work, fieldwork, seminars and computer simulations. Assessment will be in the form of quizzes, presentations, assignments and paper reviews.