If you are seeking to deliver an impactful dissertation topic, with direct relevance to environmental policy makers or, simply looking for inspiration for your final year project, you can search for ideas below.
You can search the research questions that have been directly submitted to us, or browse other collections of research ideas from partner organisation such as Natural Resources Wales and Climate Cymru. We are still adding relevant keywords to the data, so try a different search term if nothing comes up or get in touch for support searching the database.
If you do find a question of relevance and decide to address it through your dissertation, we would really like to know about it. Please fill out the form that can be found here.
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Where are the opportunities to restore and reconnect coastal habitats, increase extent to reverse fragmentation and to reconnect the coastal margins with terrestrial networks and the marine ecosystem to improve resilience?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
Connectivity is a basic measure of stocks of natural resources and resilience. Identification of vulnerable areas would enable identification and prioritisation of opportunities.
Keywords (discipline, other): Coastal margins
Marine
Freshwater
Urban
Semi-natural grassland
Enclosed farmland
Land use and soil
Ecosystem resilience
Biodiversity
Website/URL links: https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/research-and-reports/state-of-natural-resources-report-sonarr-for-wales-2020/evidence-needs-table/?lang=en
Looking for collaborators: n/a External Partner: Y Organisation: Natural Resources Wales
Contact Details
Name: n/a n/a Email Address: Phone: NA
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Where are there constraints to habitat rollback, including development and intensive agriculture?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
The rollback of coastal habitats in response to climate change and sea level rise is expected where conditions allow, however, where there are hard coastal defences, other structures and land management issues, this will not be possible. Spatial evidence in relation to the physical constraints to rollback are required to provide a better understanding of where the coast is likely to be most vulnerable and to take action. Next steps and progress: Seek external funding (component of a candidate project for future Nature Networks funding).
Keywords (discipline, other): Habitat rollback, Coastal change, Physical constraints, Coastal defences, Land management, Vulnerable areas, External funding
Website/URL links: https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/research-and-reports/marine-biodiversity-collaborative-research-priorities/?lang=en
Looking for collaborators: No External Partner: Yes Organisation: Natural Resources Wales
Contact Details
Name: Email Address: Phone:
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Where are there opportunities to remove constraints to enable habitat ‘rollback’ allowing coastal habitats to respond naturally to sea level rise and increased erosion rates?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
Evaluate extent of pressure and identify areas for intervention. Inform resilience.
Keywords (discipline, other): Coastal margins
Semi-natural grassland
Enclosed farmland
Land use and soil
Ecosystem resilience
Climate change
Biodiversity
Website/URL links: https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/research-and-reports/state-of-natural-resources-report-sonarr-for-wales-2020/evidence-needs-table/?lang=en
Looking for collaborators: n/a External Partner: Y Organisation: Natural Resources Wales
Contact Details
Name: n/a n/a Email Address: Phone: NA
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Where does the sediment in the Milford Haven Waterway come from?,
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
For more, and updated information, please visit https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/research-and-reports/marine-biodiversity-collaborative-research-priorities/?lang=en
Keywords (discipline, other): Source of sediment in Milford Haven Waterway,”Sediment sources, Milford Haven, Waterway, Coastal erosion”,
Website/URL links: https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/research-and-reports/marine-biodiversity-collaborative-research-priorities/?lang=en
Looking for collaborators: Yes External Partner: Yes Organisation: Natural Resources Wales
Contact Details
Name: Email Address: marinecoastalevidence@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk Phone: NA
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Where have there been changes in habitat extent, or where are there ongoing declines, or changes in distribution of habitat in enclosed farmland?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
Stocks of natural resources are a basic measure of sustainable management of natural resources. The majority of the habitat extent data is based on partial surveys such as for parkland, traditional orchards, extensive arable, hedgerows, out of date surveys such as for improved and semi-improved grassland or has no baseline extend data at all such as for wood pasture, veteran trees.
Keywords (discipline, other): Enclosed farmland
Woodland
Urban
Biodiversity
Land use and soil
Ecosystem resilience
Website/URL links: https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/research-and-reports/state-of-natural-resources-report-sonarr-for-wales-2020/evidence-needs-table/?lang=en
Looking for collaborators: n/a External Partner: Y Organisation: Natural Resources Wales
Contact Details
Name: n/a n/a Email Address: Phone: NA
________________________________________________________________________________
Where have there been changes in the extent of coastal habitats?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
This would help with the assesment of stocks of the coastal habitats.
Keywords (discipline, other): Coastal margins
Ecosystem resilience
Biodiversity
Website/URL links: https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/research-and-reports/state-of-natural-resources-report-sonarr-for-wales-2020/evidence-needs-table/?lang=en
Looking for collaborators: n/a External Partner: Y Organisation: Natural Resources Wales
Contact Details
Name: n/a n/a Email Address: Phone: NA
________________________________________________________________________________
Where have there been gains in coastal margin habitat from habitat restoration?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
Evidence needed to progress SMNR Aims 1 and 2..
Keywords (discipline, other): Coastal margins
Ecosystem resilience
Biodiversity
Website/URL links: https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/research-and-reports/state-of-natural-resources-report-sonarr-for-wales-2020/evidence-needs-table/?lang=en
Looking for collaborators: n/a External Partner: Y Organisation: Natural Resources Wales
Contact Details
Name: n/a n/a Email Address: Phone: NA
________________________________________________________________________________
Where is habitat rollback occurring and what gains in habitat are there in response to coastal change?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
The rollback of coastal habitats in response to climate change, sea level rise and cliff erosion is expected where conditions allow. Evidence is required to record and provide a register of where this is currently occurring, documenting habitat gains in terms of extent and condition. Evidence is also required concerning the actual change relating to climate and storm events. The requirement would be to create up to date maps (and a methodology to keep them updated) showing locations where change is occurring due to storms / sea level rise on unconstrained coasts. Next steps and progress: Likely to be contracted out (development of a methodology).
Keywords (discipline, other): Habitat rollback, Coastal change, Climate change, Sea level rise, Cliff erosion, Habitat gains, Storm events
Website/URL links: https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/research-and-reports/marine-biodiversity-collaborative-research-priorities/?lang=en
Looking for collaborators: No External Partner: Yes Organisation: Natural Resources Wales
Contact Details
Name: Email Address: Phone:
________________________________________________________________________________
Where might beneficial use of dredge material be appropriate in Welsh waters?,
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
For more, and updated information, please visit https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/research-and-reports/marine-biodiversity-collaborative-research-priorities/?lang=en
Keywords (discipline, other): Beneficial use of dredge material in Welsh waters,”Dredge material, Beneficial use, Welsh waters, Coastal management”,
Website/URL links: https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/research-and-reports/marine-biodiversity-collaborative-research-priorities/?lang=en
Looking for collaborators: Yes External Partner: Yes Organisation: Natural Resources Wales
Contact Details
Name: Email Address: marinecoastalevidence@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk Phone: NA
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Where should new semi-natural grasslands be created to best improve grassland connectivity and ecosystem resilience?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
New grasslands will need to be created if grassland ecosystems are to be made more resilient. More research is needed to help decide where these should be located.
Keywords (discipline, other): Semi-natural grassland
Ecosystem resilience
Enclosed farmland
Biodiversity
Website/URL links: https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/research-and-reports/state-of-natural-resources-report-sonarr-for-wales-2020/evidence-needs-table/?lang=en
Looking for collaborators: n/a External Partner: Y Organisation: Natural Resources Wales
Contact Details
Name: n/a n/a Email Address: Phone: NA
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