Photo courtesy of Laura Lipps The all new Marine Planning Curriculum includes region-specific modules and interactive game-theory based activities. The in-person sessions also provide a fantastic opportunity to network with coastal management professionals in an educational setting.
Just last week the DEL Executive Education staff was in Portland, OR leading a new in-person training course. The program is a revised 2-Day Marine Planning Advancement Training (MPAT) course, which advances on the Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning curriculum. Marine planning is an essential tool to balance the competing and conflicting demands for coastal resources, economic development, and conservation. MPAT focuses on providing professionals an interactive and valuable insight into the world of marine planning, and what it takes to achieve the most beneficial outcome for all stakeholders involved in a coastal or marine environment.
To pilot the revised 2-Day MPAT, DEL chose to offer students in the Masters of Environmental Management (MEM) program here at the Nicholas School of the Environment the unique opportunity to participate in the training. The MEM students were able to build on previous work and academic experiences, as well as current course knowledge, to develop a coastal management plan for the hypothetical “Esperanza Island.” From my own personal experience taking this initial MPAT course, I learned that in order to develop a truly successful and advantageous management plan it is vital to integrate the ideas and perspectives of stakeholders while sustaining the use of coastal resources.
With the ever-changing coastal environments and resources, the process of marine planning is a fundamental and dynamic tool to ensure the sustainable use and preservation of our coastlines. This course provides the perfect setting to not only learn this material, but also to engage and network with other coastal management professionals from around the country and the world.
Visit our website to learn more about the MPAT program and to register for one of the sessions coming up this spring. The next regional in-person MPAT course will take place in Washington, DC on March 2-3. Register now to ensure you have the opportunity to participate in this engaging new course!
written by Emily Hall, ‘17