HIMOM - OBJECTIVES

The overall objective of HIMOM is to provide a system of Hierarchical Monitoring Methods (HMM) to determine system change expressed by biological and physical variation within intertidal areas. The project will produce and then implement the HMM to provide a management strategy tailored to the needs of selected end users concerned with coastal zone management at sites around Europe. The proposed management strategies may require a "change in practise" for catchment-based stake-holders to maximise the sustainable use of system resources, within acceptable environmental tolerances. The socio-economic implication of change on management practise will be investigated and socio-economic benefits and related cost-benefit analysis presented to interest groups and decision makers.

The HMM system is central to the success of the project and will represent a hierarchical suite of activities to estimate systems status, ranging from simple ground measurements of biota and physical characteristics to remote sensing of spectral reflectance properties for the analysis of basin scale systems. The strength of the hierarchical system is that all end users, of whatever size and sophistication, can utilise the components of the HMM system in response to their requirements.

The specific objectives of HIMOM are:

To create a European wide large scale assessment of biological and physical dynamics of selected intertidal estuaries, which represent distinct impacts, e.g. nutrient, engineering work, erosion, by means of remote sensing and ground measurement.
To provide coastal managers and end-users with a generic, consistent system of hierarchical monitoring methods (the HMM), which includes validated, coordinated methods for cost effective monitoring of biological and physical parameters, and as well as guidance for their subsequent implementation into a management plan.
To demonstrate the application of the HMM concept in co-operation with the concerned monitoring agencies in local experiments during the time of investigation. The areas include a variety of European sites, with varied environmental problems, including anthropogenic stressors. The results of this co-operation shall serve to design the HMM-concept for long term application. - To promote the assimilated knowledge and the HMM concept in order to prepare its sustainable application

The HIMOM results and products will be usable for a wide range of end users. A large potential exists for direct and indirekt benefit, e.g. arising from the application of the HMM for the generation of ecological sensitivity maps, for different institutions, such as coastal managers, harbour authorities, the tourism sector or educational organisations.