MOOC on Planning and Management of Marine and Coastal Areas

About the course

This course aims to provide participants with an overall knowledge of planning and management of marine and coastal areas, the principles, and approaches that can be adopted for its effective elaboration and implementation. Specific focus will be addressed on available stakeholder engagement approaches and communication strategies to support planning and management of marine and coastal areas.

In a nutshell the course will provide participants with:

  • fundamental knowledge to understand how terrestrial planning deeply influences marine and coastal areas and vice-versa;
  • further an understanding on the main aspects of marine and coastal planning and management and the main challenges and potential solutions for its effective implementation;
  • knowledge on the main aspects and strategies adopted in citizens science and how these can support the implementation of spatial planning and management;
  • detailed insight on good practices in the context of planning and management of marine and coastal areas through interactive classes delivered by the experts of the project partner institutions
TAKE THE COURSE
  • Course registration

    Free

  • Time to complete

    ca. 15 hours

  • Certificate

    A certificate of attendance is available upon a minimum quiz score

  • Target

    University students and early career professionals or NGOs in the field of marine biology, spatial planning, urban planning, environmental management and related faculties.

  • Language

    Lessons and quizzes are in English

Syllabus

  • Stakeholders engagement

    • Understanding historical interaction of human communities and coastal environment to support EBM
    • Stakeholder engagement strategies to avoid conflicts and enhance EBM
    • Political process behind PAs implementation
    • Conservation policy: from science to policy

    4 lessons (1hour 25min) + 1 quiz (15 questions)

  • Communication and public awareness

    • Science communication: strategies and tools
    • Develop a communication strategy to enhance public awareness
    • Support sustainable management as non-profit organization
    • Knowledge empowerment: strategies to enhance environmental awareness
    • Assess awareness/perception among population on environmental aspects
    • Citizen science for awareness rising, research and to enhance EBM – sustainable use of resources
    • Use of innovative technologies to collect data, create awareness and enhance EBM

    7 lessons (2hours 36min) + 1 quiz (24 questions)

  • Monitoring and planning implementation evaluation

    • Development of environmental plans
    • Monitoring: survey strategies

    2 lessons (42min) + 1 quiz (11 questions)

  • Good practices

    • Marine conservation in France. The case study of the Calanques National Park
    • Thessaloniki: a profile for the city’s spatial structure
    • Axios Delta National Park: conservation challenges and sustainable development opportunities
    • Ionian Dolphin Project: 30 years of marine mammal research and conservation in Greece
    • Public awareness and communication to enhance EBM
    • New technologies supporting data collection and public awareness for enhancing EBM

    6 lessons (2hour 45min)

  • Introduction

    • Introduction to the MOOC on Planning and Management of Marine and Coastal Areas

    1 lesson (25 min)

  • The terrestrial-marine continuum

    • Physical aspects – Biological processes
    • Drivers, activities, stressors, impacts
    • Coastal ecosystems and global change
    • Legal systems to regulate planning and management
    • Supporting sustainable blue economy in the Mediterranean: socio-economic perspective

    5 lessons (2h 5min) + 1 quiz (11 questions)

  • The planning process

    • Spatial planning theory and key steps
    • Ecosystem based management
    • Systematic conservation planning between land and sea
    • Land-sea interaction and Spatial Planning decision making tools
    • MPAs network in the Mediterranean
    • Ecological connectivity
    • Ecological modelling and possible use for spatial planning and EBM

    7 lessons (2h 30min) + 1 quiz (23 questions)

  • Monitoring and planning implementation evaluation

    • Monitoring environmental conditions
    • Monitoring and assessment of management effectiveness of Protected Areas

    2 lessons (35min) + 1 quiz (4 questions)

  • Ocean Literacy

    • Introduction to Ocean Literacy

    1 lesson (21min) + 1 quiz (5 questions)

Faculty

Federico Fabbri

Federico Fabbri

IUAV University of Venice
Elisabetta Manea

Elisabetta Manea

IUAV University of Venice
Niccolò Bassan

Niccolò Bassan

IUAV University of Venice
Antonios Mazaris

Antonios Mazaris

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Georgia Pozoukidou

Georgia Pozoukidou

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Vasiliki Markantonatou

Vasiliki Markantonatou

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Aggeliki Doxa

Aggeliki Doxa

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Jean-Cristophe Poggiale

Jean-Cristophe Poggiale

Aix-Marseille University
Delphine Thibault

Delphine Thibault

Aix-Marseille University
Thomas Changeux

Thomas Changeux

Aix-Marseille University
Sandrine Ruitton

Sandrine Ruitton

Aix-Marseille University
Thierry Thibaut

Thierry Thibaut

Aix-Marseille University
Valéry Michotey

Valéry Michotey

Aix-Marseille University
Andrea Doglioli

Andrea Doglioli

Aix-Marseille University
Simone Panigada

Simone Panigada

Tethys Research Institute
Joan Gonzalvo

Joan Gonzalvo

Tethys Research Institute
Elena Politi

Elena Politi

Tethys Research Institute
Alba Tojero

Alba Tojero

Submon
Tecla Maggioni

Tecla Maggioni

Submon
Anastasia Charitou

Anastasia Charitou

iSea
Ioannis Giovos

Ioannis Giovos

iSea

FAQ

Click on the “TAKE THE COURSE” button placed at the beginning of this page.

The button redirects to the course page, where you find the whole course’s structure.

  1. Click the button “Login to enroll”
  2. A popup window appears to register your account (click on “Register”).
  3. Complete the registration form (password have minimum 8 characters with 1 uppercase, 1 lowercase, 1 number)
  4. A confirmation message appears together with the button “Take this course”. You are now logged in and able to take the course

After registration you will access the MOOC.

Please check your email (you may need to look at your spam folder too) to complete the registration and add a password to your account!

Yes, the MOOC on Planning and Management of Marine and Coastal Areas is part of the Open Educational Resources produced within the Marine_Ecomed program.

A Certificate of Accomplishment will be issued at the end of the MOOC, upon the completion of the tests with a minimum score. Each test provides information about the score to be obtained in order to move to the next session.

The Certificate is delivered via email

Should you need any assistance in accessing the MOOC or for any other reason, please contact marine.ecomed@gmail.com