|
Project properties |
|
| Title | Ecosystem engineering as nature-based solution |
| Group | Soil Geography and Landscape |
| Project type | thesis |
| Credits | 36 |
| Supervisor(s) | Annegret Larsen |
| Examiner(s) | Annegret Larsen |
| Contact info | Annegret Larsen |
| Begin date | 2023/02/01 |
| End date | |
| Description | Summer droughts have increased both in intensity and duration over the last decades across most of Europe, including the Netherlands. It is predicted that this trend will continue under current climate change scenarios, leading to an increased frequency of dry years. Simultaneously, human modifications and land use intensification, increased water usage for agriculture and runoff of fertilizers, pesticides and other contaminants, have led to the deterioration of soils and freshwater systems including an increase in Nitrogen load in rivers and air. On top, the historic drainage of river floodplains have led the ongoing deterioration of near-surface (peaty) soils, resulting in the lowering of the surface and increased C-emissions. These combined challenges urgently require nature-based solutions, that can complement traditional hard engineering approaches and increase landscape resilience. Reintroducing and managing the distribution of ecosystem engineers has the potential to play a critical role in this solution. You can choose one of many ecosystem engineers, investigate their potential role in landscape regeneration and climate change mitigation, and quantify related ecosystem services. Field work is not mandatory, but possible. |
| Used skills | |
| Requirements | |