Socio-ecological research in Kosterhavets National Park
This is a suggestion for a Degree Project for Bachelor's and Master's levels at the Department of Marine Sciences. Degree projects at the Department of Marine Sciences are done independently and must be written and assessed individually.
Subject: Marine sciences and social sciences
Level: 15-60 HP / Master or Bachelor
Supervisors: Matthias Obst, Andreas Skriver Hanssen
Project background
Kosterhavets National Park is a popular recreational destination, which is based on its rich cultural heritage as well as the unique natural qualities of the area. According to CNN the area around Koster is ranked as one of the ten greatest wilderness areas in the world.
Quality recreational experiences found and promoted in the area include wildlife experiences and different water based recreational activities, while food tourism has also recently become prominent.
All these ecosystem services depend on an healthy coastal ecosystem and its management requires improved understanding of the relationship between socio-cultural / socio-economic interests and the condition of the ecosystem.
For example, climate change and mitigation measures such as marine energy, increasing levels of aquaculture and associated nutrient inputs, and also new and more demanding recreational activities, are developments that must be investigated with regard to impact and influence on socio-cultural interests.
Project description
In this project we offer you to model socio-ecological linkages in the Kosterhavet National Park and use these linkages in trans-disciplinary studies of interactions between anthropogenic pressures and the biodiversity in the ecosystem.
You will work with modellers, collect and analyse siocio-economic and socio-cultural data together in relation to biological and physical parameters to understand relations between human activities and the biodiversity in the National Park.
Contact
Matthias Obst
Email: matthias.obst@marine.gu.se