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A research partnership between Edge Hill University and Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council developed innovative methods of identifying gaps in knowledge and understanding about sedimentary coastal dynamics and investigating practitioner needs. The partnership enabled the dissemination of scientific information to audiences across the wider community. The partnership provided a framework which enabled and enhanced integrated coastal zone management (ICZM). Within this framework coastal zone managers were supported in the development of adaptation and mitigation strategies, taking account of both long and short term environmental change. Policy and management decisions are now based upon sound scientific evidence wherever possible, ascertained by research where time allows, with significant scientific, social and policy benefits. Practice elsewhere on the UK's Irish sea coast, and elsewhere in the EU, has been influenced.
University of Glasgow expertise in coastal erosion has directly influenced biodiversity policy at local, national and international levels, delivered flood mitigation initiatives in partnership with public agencies in Scotland, and mobilised public support for environmental safeguards to preserve our natural heritage. Dr Jim Hansom has been instrumental in shaping UK environmental strategy to include geodiversity. In Scotland, he has worked with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency on flood assessments and the identification of Sites of Special Scientific Interest, helped to establish a charity mobilising community volunteers to monitor Scotland's coastline, and assisted Oxfam to allocate erosion prevention grants to local communities. Hansom's expertise has fed into the polemic protest film You've Been Trumped and a BBC Panorama special, bringing coastal geodiversity and biodiversity issues sharply into focus on a very public stage.
This case study discusses research performed in Plymouth University that has had a significant impact on practice in estuarine flood risk management. Specifically, some of the research led to a long-term estuarine evolution predictor, and later informed Halcrow and the Exe Estuary Partnership on future evolution of the Exe Estuary under a number of scenarios.
The impact described here relates to a specific example of changes in the management of environmental risk for a coastal management study in the UK, and to changes in the dissemination of coastal management knowledge and experience across Europe. The former involved application of formulae developed by the underpinning research to predict sediment transport rates and shoreline evolution. The latter involved development of the Coastal Wiki, an Internet based professional coastal encyclopaedia. This represents a major new tool for dissemination to policy makers, practitioners, researchers and students.
Professor Mike Philips' research has contributed to understandings of coastal erosion causes, its impacts, mitigation and adaptation strategies. His research and his involvement in numerous policy networks including most notably the Global Forum on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands (GOFCI) has influenced coastal policy discussion and outcomes at a global level. The research has led to coastal tourism and climate change being considered at the highest political level. This is evidenced by Phillips's contribution to international policy documents and processes, such as Rio +20, and wide public and professional recognition.
Research carried out by the University of Reading's Martin Bell and Nicholas Branch on previously neglected wetland environments (such as coasts, floodplains and mires) has had impact in two main areas:
1) Heritage management: The work has made a major contribution to the sustainable management of marginal environments in the face of climate change and development pressures. This has directly affected local planning processes, with Bell and Branch's approaches to monitoring and recording adopted as best practice by a range of organisations.
2) Capacity building of geoarchaeology in the commercial sector: The research has enhanced the capability of organisations to respond effectively to the challenges of interpreting European wetland archaeology in advance of development pressures. Knowledge transfer of the research to these commercial units has contributed to sustained economic growth for such organisations.
Coastal dunes are one of the most threatened habitats in Europe, and are in need of urgent conservation. North West Europe is one of the most important areas for vegetated shingle worldwide, and the UK is especially important. The Sand Dune and Shingle Network has helped to change the understanding, policies and practices relating to these habitats in the UK, and in Europe through the creation of knowledge exchange opportunities in a diverse stakeholder environment, by working with and for NGOs. This allows statutory conservation agencies to deliver research, consultancy and policy guidance.
Human activities and manmade structures can negatively affect bird populations, but previously there was no robust method to quantify the impact. Bournemouth University (BU) researchers have applied extensive behavioural research to develop unique computer modelling techniques to predict how human activities affect coastal birds. These models have provided the evidence-base for coastal management schemes in 35 sites in Europe and one in Australia and include shellfisheries, wind farms, bridges, tidal barrages and nuclear power stations. In England specifically the technique has been applied to 812 km2 (29%) of protected coastal habitat.
With no other alternatives to quantify the risk to birds, this research is truly innovative. The method gives coastal managers the evidence to make informed decisions that weigh up the cost to birds with the benefits to society. This avoids the precautionary principle of banning human activities that are not in fact harming the birds.
Researchers in the Earth Surface Processes and Environmental Change (ESPEC) Research Group have communicated Quaternary geology to user communities explicitly guiding the location of sites for mineral extraction and infrastructure (airports / wind turbines) in terrestrial and offshore environments. This ranges from contract investigations in Wales, English Heritage Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF) research in Kent, Sussex and Lancashire to the current NERC BRITICE-CHRONO Consortium. The understanding provided has informed infrastructural and mineral resource planning, aiding mitigation for heritage and environmental assets. Data are embedded in National and Regional Planning (e.g. Welsh Assembly, Lancashire County Council, Natural England, English Heritage).
Shorewatch community excavation of a sixteenth century saltpan in north-east Scotland (2011).
Dawson's research into climate-driven threats to coastal heritage has established a practical methodology for prioritising action and engaging communities in recording vulnerable sites. The work has been described as having `a major impact on international archaeology, heritage, public engagement, and education for sustainability' by the North Atlantic Biocultural Organisation (NABO), while the US National Parks Service has said that his work has been an invaluable source of `both inspiration and practical how-to research in the analysis and protection of coastal cultural heritage'. Dawson's research is cited in Scottish Government heritage policy and his commissioned reports have informed national archaeological frameworks. His collaborative community projects (Shorewatch and SCHARP) have directly impacted upon hundreds of participants throughout Scotland, often in distant and inaccessible places. Dawson's frequent public talks, use of mobile technology & video, and press and broadcast interviews mean that many thousands of people globally are more aware of the richness of coastal heritage and its vulnerability to climate change.