Coastal Ecosystem Conservation Course
This course gives you the tools and knowledge you need to protect and restore these valuable environments. You will learn about coastal biodiversity, the impacts of climate change and sustainable management strategies, and you will be able to contribute actively to the conservation of coasts and their natural resources, helping to secure a more resilient future for coastal communities and marine life.
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 Coastal Ecosystem Conservation Course?
This short course prepares you to understand, assess and protect coastal ecosystems at the interface between land and sea. You will study the main types of coastal ecosystem, from beaches, dunes and mangroves to salt marshes, estuaries, coastal lagoons, reefs and seagrass meadows, and the processes that keep them working; coastal biodiversity, sensitive habitats, trophic relationships and the role of the coast as a breeding, nursery and refuge area; the pressures that degrade it, such as urbanization, tourism, pollution, overexploitation, erosion and climate change; and the tools used to conserve it, including integrated coastal zone management, ecological diagnosis, indicators, mapping and field observation, and the principles of ecological restoration.
What sets this course apart: a practical approach based on real case studies and examples of conservation projects; analysis tools and methodologies for assessing ecosystem health with ecological and socio-ecological indicators; a view of conservation that combines ecology, territorial planning and community participation; and an integrating project in which you diagnose a real coastal ecosystem and design a conservation or restoration proposal with an assessment of its feasibility.
Program highlights
- Coastal ecosystems: beaches, dunes, mangroves, salt marshes, estuaries, lagoons, reefs and seagrass meadows.
- Coastal biodiversity, sensitive habitats, trophic relationships and ecological connectivity.
- Threats: urbanization, tourism, pollution, overexploitation, erosion and the effects of climate change.
- Integrated coastal zone management, ecological diagnosis and monitoring indicators.
- Mapping, field observation, spatial analysis and principles of ecological restoration.
- Integrating project: diagnosis, management proposal and feasibility assessment for a coastal ecosystem.
Syllabus of the Coastal Ecosystem Conservation Course
5 modules. Select a module to see its content.
Foundations of coastal ecosystems, ecological structure and general principles of conservation at the land-sea interface
- 1.1. The concept of a coastal ecosystem and the ecological features of the coastal strip as a transition zone between continental and marine environments
- 1.2. Main types of coastal ecosystem: beaches, dunes, mangroves, salt marshes, estuaries, coastal lagoons, reefs and seagrass meadows
- 1.3. Biotic and abiotic components that determine the ecological functioning of coastal systems and their natural dynamics
- 1.4. Essential ecological processes on the coast: productivity, connectivity, biogeochemical cycles, reproduction, refuge and feeding of species
- 1.5. Environmental, social and economic importance of coastal ecosystems for biodiversity, coastal protection and human communities
Coastal biodiversity, sensitive habitats and the ecological relationships that sustain the functioning of the coast
- 2.1. Biological diversity in coastal ecosystems: flora, fauna, microorganisms and communities associated with different coastal environments
- 2.2. Coastal habitats of high ecological sensitivity and their role in sustaining resident, migratory and endemic species
- 2.3. Trophic relationships, ecological interactions and functional balance between organisms of beaches, wetlands, reefs and estuaries
- 2.4. The role of coastal ecosystems as breeding, nursery, refuge and regional ecological connectivity areas
- 2.5. Natural factors that regulate coastal biodiversity: salinity, tides, sedimentation, temperature, nutrients and wave energy
Threats, human impacts and degradation processes affecting the conservation of coastal ecosystems
- 3.1. Coastal urbanization, tourism expansion, coastal infrastructure and land transformation as sources of ecological pressure
- 3.2. Marine and coastal pollution: solid waste, effluents, hydrocarbons, nutrients, plastics and their effects on habitats and species
- 3.3. Overexploitation of coastal resources: intensive fishing, sand extraction, mangrove felling and unsustainable use of the coastal space
- 3.4. Coastal erosion, hydrodynamic alteration and morphological and sedimentary changes caused by human activity and maritime works
- 3.5. Impacts of climate change on coastal ecosystems: sea level rise, warming, acidification and extreme weather events
Management, monitoring and assessment tools for the conservation and restoration of coastal ecosystems
- 4.1. Integrated coastal zone management as a framework for environmental planning and coastal conservation
- 4.2. Ecological diagnosis of coastal ecosystems: identification of pressures, conservation status and priorities for action
- 4.3. Ecological, environmental and socio-ecological indicators for monitoring habitats, biodiversity and the quality of the coastal system
- 4.4. Mapping, field observation and spatial analysis techniques applied to the study and monitoring of coastal environments
- 4.5. Principles of ecological restoration on degraded beaches, dunes, mangroves, salt marshes and other coastal ecosystems
Integrating coastal ecosystem conservation project with diagnosis, management proposal and feasibility assessment
- 5.1. Definition of the case study: selected coastal ecosystem, territorial context, ecological status and main conservation problems
- 5.2. Identification of habitats, relevant species, human pressures and environmental processes that shape the situation of the area
- 5.3. Preparation of the conservation diagnosis supported by ecological indicators, observation of the site and threat analysis
- 5.4. Design of a conservation or restoration proposal with management, monitoring, participation and impact reduction measures
- 5.5. Assessment of the environmental, social and operational feasibility of the proposed strategy for the selected coastal ecosystem
Duration and format of the Coastal Ecosystem Conservation 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 Coastal Ecosystem Conservation Course
Career opportunities after the Coastal Ecosystem Conservation Course
Questions about the Coastal Ecosystem Conservation Course
Healthy dunes, salt marshes, mangroves and seagrass meadows protect the coast against storms and flooding, sustain biodiversity and fisheries and support the communities and economies that depend on the shoreline.
Unplanned coastal development and urban expansion are among the most important, together with pollution, overexploitation of resources and the alteration of sediment dynamics. The course analyses each of them.
Beaches, dunes, mangroves, salt marshes, estuaries, coastal lagoons, reefs and seagrass meadows, with their habitats, species and ecological processes.
Yes. The threats module covers sea level rise, warming, acidification and extreme weather events, and the objectives include building climate risks into coastal planning.
Yes. You will work with ecological and socio-ecological indicators, mapping, field observation and spatial analysis, and the principles of restoring degraded coastal ecosystems.
You choose a coastal ecosystem, diagnose its condition and threats with indicators, design a conservation or restoration proposal and assess its environmental, social and operational feasibility.
Fully online, through a virtual campus available 24/7, with live sessions that are recorded, discussion forums 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 integrating project. 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 students and recent graduates in marine biology, environmental sciences or related fields, environmental consultants, technicians and managers, members of NGOs and foundations working on coastal conservation, public officials responsible for coastal management and planning, and committed citizens; a background in marine biology, environmental sciences or engineering, oceanography or a related field, or experience in coastal management or research, is helpful, and familiarity with GIS and statistical tools is a plus.
- 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 software to view PDF documents.
- 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.