Coastal management

This article is about Coastal management aimed to prevent erosion and flooding. For broader management issues, see Integrated coastal zone management. For military defence of coastal areas, see Coastal defence and fortification.

Oosterscheldekering sea wall, the Netherlands.

Coastal management is defence against flooding and erosion, and techniques that stop erosion to claim lands.[1] Protection against rising sea levels in the 21st century is crucial, as sea level rise accelerates due to climate change. Changes in sea level damage beaches and coastal systems are expected to rise at an increasing rate, causing coastal sediments to be disturbed by tidal energy.

Coastal zones occupy less than 15% of the Earth's land area, while they host more than 40% of the world population. Nearly 1.2 billion people live within 100 kilometres (62 mi) of a coastline and 100 metres (328 ft) of sea level, with an average density three times higher than the global average for population.[2] With three-quarters of the world population expected to reside in the coastal zone by 2025, human activities originating from this small land area will impose heavy pressure on coasts. Coastal zones contain rich resources to produce goods and services and are home to most commercial and industrial activities.

  1. ^ "Coastal Zones".
  2. ^ Small, Christopher; Nicholls, Robert J. (2003). "A Global Analysis of Human Settlement in Coastal Zones". Journal of Coastal Research. 19 (3): 584–599. ISSN 0749-0208. JSTOR 4299200.