Aspects of climate change, consequences and management in the coastal zone

Abstract

Coastal ecosystems are continually changing with some harmful and irreversible consequences. In coastat areas, changes in land use outweigh those observed in most other areas, caused by a number of factors such as demographic changes, restructuring of econornic activities, increased standards of living and leisure, and global trade. In many regions, these factors have caused rapid changes that have dramatically altered the potential longterm viability of coastal ecosystems and the services they offer. Furthermore, these impacts are currently exacerbated by climate change. Many European coastlines are experiencing increased expansion of the built environment and its associated infrastructure is increasingly developed close to the shoreline, at the expense of natural systems. These have historically operated as a protection barrier between land and sea. This compression increases the vulnerability of coastal areas to climate change and nsing sea levels. Improving coastat area management, particularly in terms of planning, can potentially reduce the vulnerability of these regions. National strategies to adapt to climate change are emerging in severa1 countries, and these provide clear guidance for strengthening natural coastal resilience and consequently improving sustainability. The research in Portugal and in Wales gives evidence for this last paragraph.