Training in the Ecological Restoration of Shallow Coastal Seabeds

Unique in France, this program provides students with the theoretical and practical knowledge needed to design, evaluate, and implement ecological restoration projects in coastal marine environments, with a particular focus on the Mediterranean.

This university diploma was designed by the Faculty of Sciences at theUniversity of Montpellier and is accredited by Pôle Mer Méditerranée.

Objectives

1. Understand the definition of ecological restoration and its principles
2. Learn about existing ecological restoration methods in marine environments
3. Understand the regulatory framework (Marine Strategy Framework Directive, differences from the “avoid-reduce-compensate” approach, permit applications)
4. Understanding the Limits of Ecological Restoration
5. Be able to develop a case for convincing a project owner to undertake an ecological restoration project
6. Be able to situate ecological restoration in relation to other coastal and marine management tools, such as pollution control and the prevention of degradation
7. Be able to propose and implement a restoration project in a marine environment
8. Be able to critically evaluate a restoration project
9. Be able to evaluate the effectiveness of restoration measures

Program

Module 1 (5 days of in-person instruction):

• Ecological Restoration of Shallow Coastal Waters: Definition and Principles + Overview
  , Mediterranean Ecology
• Ecological Restoration Policies, Complementarity, and Regulation
• Assessment of Progress Toward Objectives and Ecological Effectiveness
• Stakeholders in ecological restoration and their responsibilities
• Artificial reefs: Are they a good solution?
• Restoration of marine plant communities (angiosperms, macroalgae)
• Restoration of coralligenous communities and corals
• Scaling Restoration Efforts and Evaluating Performance (Roundtable Discussion)
• Group work on real-world case studies (5 groups of 4 students each)
• Restoring the nursery functions of port areas
• Ecological Restoration and Biomimicry
• Restoration of Movable Collections
• Economic and Financial Issues
• Meeting with Industry Players and Specialized Companies
• Overview of Other Initiatives and Case Studies
• Presentation and discussion of real-world cases, self-assessment and peer assessment.

Module 2: Thesis Writing (supervised independent work):
During this module, each student will study a specific system based
on a real-world case study. They will be required to produce a reflective and analytical paper on
a restoration method that is controversial or subject to uncertainty (for example, the use
of artificial reefs, restoration of soft habitats, evaluation of existing restoration projects
, shipwreck placement, species transplantation, etc.). This case study
will result in the production of a written report, an oral presentation, and a discussion with
professionals from various fields.

Module 3 (1 day of in-person instruction in June; online participation is acceptable):

• Presentation of the Interns' Case Studies
• Discussion with experts, Q&A, and feedback on the continuing education program “
  ” The goal is to critically analyze each case study and discuss its implications.

Training Session

A training session for the university diploma program “Ecological Restoration of Shallow Coastal Seabeds” is scheduled for this year:

• March 9–13, 2026: In-person classes
• Online Tutoring 
• Exam in June 2026 (date to be announced)

Are you interested in this training course?

For more information and to apply, contactsfc-fds@umontpellier.fr

View the program brochure: