Talk Title: Managing ecosystems in times of climate change: challenges & opportunities for Nature-based flood defense

Brief Introduction: Tjeerd J. Bouma works as a scientist at the Royal Netherlands Institute of Sea Research (NIOZ Yerseke; former NIOO-CEME) and Utrecht University. During the last 15 years, he has studied tidal ecosystems around the globe, including SE-Asia and China. His work is focussed on bio-physical interactions between the forces originating from tidal currents and waves, and species that alter these forces and thereby the environment: so called ecosystem engineers. Tjeerd has a strong interest in crossing the border between fundamental and applied research, as understanding how the system works provides the best base for society to sustainable benefit from these valuable ecosystems.