CO-LAND OVERVIEW

Coastal landscapes across Europe are often characterized by overlapping and competing land uses. They are focus areas for settlements and infrastructure, especially road and train networks, and many industries and commercial zones that benefit from close access to harbours. Conversely, the tourism industry is also a major driving force with its own development dynamics and typical spatial patterns. All those economic potentials have attracted people to settle on the coast. This process is ongoing, leading to unsustainable development such as urban sprawl and irreversible consumption of soil and other natural resources. However, water-based recreation has various positive effects on human health and wellbeing – in relation to physical exercise and mental wellbeing, which is one of the main reasons to pursue the widest possible access to the seaside. The urban-land interface is also an important and often vulnerable habitat zone for flora and fauna which brings additional demands on such areas and also places them at risk from damage and degradation the territory. Being a pole of human settlement since early times, coastal landscapes are also often extremely rich in cultural heritage and form part of our collective memory and identity. Their sustainable and integrated planning, design and management is crucial for the mental, social, physical and economic well-being of the citizens. The ERASMUS+ strategic partnership ‘COLAND – Inclusive Coastal Landscapes’ is developing an innovative study module by combining online and site-based learning activities. In the light of the sensitive nature of coastal landscapes and their relevance to society, economy and the environment it is vital that planners and designers learn how to manage these territories in a sustainable way. Course participants will develop a profound understanding of the specific character of coastal landscapes. They will learn which driving forces are influencing the landscape system and which impact types are most relevant for planning and design responses. Participants will further learn about various approaches to landscape assessment in order to specify the challenges and potentials of a coastal landscape. They will have the opportunity to define and test assessment models and derive relevant knowledge for planning and design, such as the introduction of green-blue infrastructures in coastal landscapes. Different approaches to strategy building, planning and design in the context of coastal landscapes will be presented. Hence, the course participants will be able to draft a strategy and a master plan for a coastal area taking economic, ecological and social aspects and current policies into account.