Purpose of the Manual • Structure of the Manual
Structure of the Manual
The Manual is structured to firstly help the reader develop a general understanding of saltmarshes and how they function, to understand why it is worth intervening (when it is worth intervening) and then to provide a more in-depth understanding of what aspects of these environments might need to be managed through understanding why they might change. This is followed by a detailed discussion of what courses of action might be taken to manage saltmarsh and how saltmarshes might be monitored.
This aims to be a logical journey through the wealth of information available but also provides a structure that more experienced coastal and estuarine managers can dip into at appropriate points, or point less experienced managers to for reference, training and development.
The following describes the content of each section in a little more detail.
WHAT IS THE SALTMARSH THAT WE MIGHT MANAGE? - addresses the morphology and processes associated with estuaries and bays (in general terms) and with their intertidal sub-systems (mudflats and saltmarshes), as well as saltmarsh ecology. Understanding the form and function of the estuarine or coastal system in question is critical to establishing the baseline against which options for saltmarsh management can be assessed.
WHY IS SALTMARSH WORTH MANAGING? - briefly examines the ‘value’ of saltmarsh, with particular reference to those areas that are of key importance to coastal managers, namely ecosystem and conservation importance and flood and coastal defence. A summary of the concepts surrounding the economic value of these functions is also provided.
The potential use of project appraisal techniques in assessing the economic as well as other potential values of saltmarsh is considered. Also considered are the approaches to decision making based on the number of impact categories that can be expressed (or not) in monetary terms.
FACTORS LEADING TO SALTMARSH CHANGE - explores the human and natural factors that may affect saltmarsh habitat and lead to both morphological and ecological change. Both past uses that have influenced the development of saltmarshes (e.g. land claim) and current activities that could affect the condition and distribution of saltmarsh (e.g. ‘saltmarsh squeeze’) are described. Determining the nature of change and the causes and processes driving it are fundamental for saltmarsh management.
SALTMARSH MANAGEMENT - presents the main focus of the Manual. It includes details of a range of techniques that are available for maintaining, restoring or enhancing saltmarshes. It also provides references for saltmarsh creation techniques that can be used in areas where there is no existing saltmarsh.
The management section is intended to help coastal managers decide whether or not it is appropriate to undertake saltmarsh maintenance and/or enhancement. Basic guidance on the steps to be taken in determining the most appropriate management option is also provided. The management section also outlines the techniques that can be used for saltmarsh management based on a number of different requirements with supporting case studies for most examples. Potential environmental effects are discussed and the effectiveness of the various techniques at maintaining and enhancing saltmarsh habitat is reviewed.
SURVEY AND MONITORING OF SALTMARSH - an essential component of the development of a management scheme to address saltmarsh loss, improve coastal defence value and/or enhance ecological status is to monitor the state of the physical and biological systems that the scheme is dealing with. This section, therefore, describes the general components of a saltmarsh monitoring programme.
