Mangrove and Salt Marsh Restoration Course
This course prepares you to plan the restoration of mangroves and salt marshes, coastal wetlands that protect against storms, sustain fisheries and store large amounts of blue carbon. You will study their ecology, why hydrology is the key to any project, techniques such as managed realignment and ecological mangrove restoration, the role of local communities and how to measure results in the medium and long term.
Prior knowledge check
These are the skills this program gives you. Tick the ones you already master and we will tell you which part of the syllabus is for you.
You are starting from scratch in this subject. The program is designed precisely for that.
What is the Mangrove and Salt Marsh Restoration Course?
This short course prepares you to restore the coastal wetlands that protect shorelines and the climate. You will learn how temperate salt marshes, estuaries and tropical mangroves work, how tides, sediment supply and elevation shape their vegetation, why so many mass planting schemes fail, how dyke breaching, managed realignment and the recovery of tidal creeks bring a marsh back, and how vegetation, sediment and blue carbon indicators show whether a project is working.
What sets this course apart: a water-first approach that puts hydrology at the heart of every wetland restoration; coverage of both temperate salt marshes and tropical mangroves; a clear link between restoration and blue carbon storage; a social perspective that involves coastal communities and traditional uses; and a practical case in which you draw up a restoration plan for a specific wetland.
Program highlights
- Water first: hydrology as the foundation of all wetland restoration.
- Two major habitats: temperate salt marshes and tropical mangroves.
- Blue carbon: the link between restoration and carbon storage.
- Social approach: involvement of coastal communities and traditional uses.
- Avoiding mistakes: why many mass planting schemes fail.
- Practical case: a restoration plan for a specific wetland.
Syllabus of the Mangrove and Salt Marsh Restoration Course
5 modules. Select a module to see its content.
Salt marsh and mangrove ecology
- 1.1. Temperate salt marshes and estuaries
- 1.2. Mangrove ecology
- 1.3. Zonation and vegetation
- 1.4. Fauna and food webs
- 1.5. Ecosystem services and blue carbon
Hydrology and sediments
- 2.1. Tides and flooding
- 2.2. Elevation and vegetation
- 2.3. Sediment supply and retention
- 2.4. Sea level rise
- 2.5. Hydrological diagnosis of the site
Salt marsh restoration
- 3.1. Causes of salt marsh loss
- 3.2. Dyke breaching and managed realignment
- 3.3. Recovery of tidal creeks
- 3.4. Sediment supply
- 3.5. Salt marsh revegetation
Mangrove restoration
- 4.1. Causes of mangrove loss
- 4.2. Ecological mangrove restoration
- 4.3. Mistakes of mass planting
- 4.4. Nurseries and planting where appropriate
- 4.5. Mangroves and aquaculture
Monitoring, communities and practical case
- 5.1. Vegetation and sediment indicators
- 5.2. Measuring blue carbon
- 5.3. Involvement of local communities
- 5.4. Project funding
- 5.5. Practical case: restoration plan for a coastal wetland
Duration and format of the Mangrove and Salt Marsh Restoration Course
It is 300 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.
This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the installment plan.
Academic leadership and faculty
The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programs.
Dr. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Eng. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Capt. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Senior Lecturer in Ship Handling, Electronic Navigation (ECDIS/Radar/ARPA) and GMDSS; STCW Compliance and Bridge Resource Management Coordinator
Dr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dr. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Eng. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Eng. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Eng. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration CoordinatorObjectives of the Mangrove and Salt Marsh Restoration Course
Career opportunities after the Mangrove and Salt Marsh Restoration Course
Questions about the Mangrove and Salt Marsh Restoration Course
No. Many planting schemes fail because the hydrology is not corrected first; the course teaches you to start from the conditions of the site.
Yes. Temperate salt marshes and estuaries are studied alongside tropical mangroves.
Yes, covering its fundamentals and limitations, without going into the certification of carbon credits.
Yes. Particular attention is paid to the involvement of coastal communities.
You draw up a restoration plan for a specific coastal wetland, including a hydrological diagnosis and a monitoring program.
Fully online, through a virtual campus available 24/7, with live sessions that are recorded and tutorials with the teaching staff.
The course comprises 300 hours of study across 5 modules of about 60 hours each and ends with an applied practical case. You can progress at your own pace within the schedule set when you enroll.
More programs in Biology and conservation
Admission process
No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enroll in the same session.
- Profile: aimed at biologists and environmental science graduates, protected area technicians who manage salt marshes and estuaries, international cooperation professionals working on mangrove projects, environmental consultants and coastal engineers looking for nature-based solutions; prior studies in biology, environmental or marine sciences, geography or engineering, or experience in coastal management or conservation, are recommended.
- Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
- Technical resources: a computer with a stable internet connection, an up-to-date browser and a camera for live sessions and project presentations.
- Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
- 01ApplicationYour details, background and documents.
- 02Instant reviewWe check that everything is complete and in order.
- 03EnrollmentChoose full payment or instalments and reserve your place.
Admission is provisional until the committee validates the documents provided. If you do not meet the requirements, the full amount is refunded.
Ask us before you enroll
Leave your details and admissions will write to you to answer any questions. If you are already sure, you can apply and pay in the same session.