Sandy Beaches Sustainable Development and Protection: Methodological Approaches, Tools and Technologies

Dear Colleagues,

Beaches are critical and dynamic systems that they regulate coastal ecosystems located within them. They provide protection against possible floods for human facilities in the backshore, and they are a potential profitable sector for entertainment. Indeed, coastal managers and investors are increasingly aware that tourism can only be sustainable if the natural assets on which it is based, i.e. sandy beaches, are protected from degradation. Moreover, the 3S (sun, sea and sand) attribute plays an important role as a determining factor in tourists’ motivation to visit a destination. The existence of specific awards such as the “Blue Flag” has guaranteed the existence of specific services that are crucial for the well-being and health of bathers. Sandy touristic beaches with developing cities are systems with multiple pressures. The analysis of satellite images showed that 70% of the world’s sandy beaches experience erosion, with islands being much more sensitive to global climate change. The expected rise in sea level and changes in the coastline may endanger coastal ecosystems, populations and infrastructure, while affecting 24% of the world’s sandy beaches. At the same time, sandy beaches face ecological degradation, intense urbanization and pollution (macro and microliter, oil spills, wastewater pollution, etc.). New methodologies and technologies are needed to study the specific problems facing sandy beaches, as well as the impact of the marine litter, their restoration such as nourishment, and the use of nature-based solutions and hard works. Moreover, new frameworks are used to study beach management, such as carrying capacity, the DPSIR framework, and the ecosystem services.

High-quality papers are encouraged, for publication, and directly related to various aspects, as mentioned below with emphasis a) in methodological approaches tailored to the sustainable development of sandy beaches—among others: integrated planning, pollution prevention, marine spatial planning and the ecosystem services approach and b) in tools and technologies for marine and coastal protection. Topics:

• Beach nourishment
• Integrated management framework of Coastal Zone
• Beach carrying capacity
• DPSIR analysis
• Socio-economic analysis of sandy beaches
• Effect of SLR on sandy beaches
• Nature-based solutions
• Ecosystem services approach for sandy beaches
• Blue flag award
• Marine plastic
• Marine litter

Dr. Ourania Tzoraki
Prof. Dr. Snoussi Maria
Prof. Dr. Adonis Velegrakis
Guest Editors

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• Beach nourishment
• Coastal Zone Management
• coastal erosion
• Marine spatial planning
• Beach carrying capacity
• Blue flag award
• Marine plastic
• Marine litter