Natalie Foster

PhD Researchers Profile

Tyndall Research Theme

Cities and Coasts

Duration of your PhD

2010/2013

Thesis's Supervisor

Prof. Robert J. Nicholls

Funder

EPSRC

My Thesis' Abstract

The adoption of the Convention on Biological Diversity at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1992 committed the UK to conserve and sustainably use biological diversity for the benefit of present and future generations. Twenty years on, and despite ‘no net loss’ policies and reparation schemes, intertidal mudflat and saltmarsh losses, which are attributed predominantly to human development and climate change, continue to exceed gains in the UK. By applying The Open University’s framework for environmental decision making to a case study of the Solent region, where intertidal mudflat and saltmarsh loss is widespread and advancing, this research aims to develop a better understanding of the factors influencing decision making, how these factors are interconnected, and what might be changed to improve the current situation.  Hence, it will design, and validate via action research, a decision support system.  This will facilitate the implementation of concerted actions to realize sustainable intertidal mudflats and saltmarshes in the UK.

Staff Profiles

e-mail address

natalie.foster@soton.ac.uk

First Name

Natalie

Surname

Foster

Institution

University of Southampton

Current Position

PhD Researcher

History

Member for

26 weeks 7 hours