SECOA: Solutions for Environmental Contrasts in Coastal Areas
Objectives
Coastal areas are under intense pressure from both continuing high levels of human mobility and urbanization and climate related changes, notably from sea level movements and intensified salt water intrusions. In response to these challenges, the European Union’s Framework 7 programme has commissioned a major international study of the impacts of human mobility and urbanization on coastal environmental systems. Case studies will be will be undertaken in two coastal zones in each of 8 countries, in order to produce robust analytical models, comprehensive policy guidelines and best practice recommendations.
The UK case studies are Thames Gateway and the Portsmouth urban area
SECOA aims to:
- identify the conflicts between different land uses, especially their negative externalities
- analyse the impacts of human mobility (migration, tourism and other forms of temporary mobility) and urbanization on the environment
- create models to synthesize the complexity of the different social, economic and environmental systems
- examine changes in these impacts under different future scenarios
- recommend policies and identify best practices to manage these impacts.
Integrated databases will be created for each case study city utilizing state of the art GIS techniques. These will be analysed to identify the key relationships between different land uses, competing resource needs, and the impacts of human activity on environmental systems. Working with local stakeholders in each case, the project will focus particularly on effective management of conflicts, efficient use of resources, innovative forms of institutional arrangements, capacity building, and policy and practice recommendations.
The project will produce:
- databases, including sea level inundation maps
- resource use reports, including sustainable resource use maps
- handbook for best practice integrated coastal zone management
- toolkits on innovative institutions
- scenario reports
- conflict solving and management support guide
Funding
FP7
Collaborations
London Metropolitan University, Free University Brussels (Belgium), Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Israel), University of Lisbon (Portugal), La Sapienza University (Italy), University of Gottenborg (Sweden), University of Pune (India), Institute of Marine Resources and Environment (Vietnam).
Total funding of 6.1 million Euro, Surrey share is 120,000 Euros.
