Ecosystem Services and Coastal Management: Tools to Counteract Sediment Losses

Dear Colleagues,

(1) Introduction, including scientific background and highlighting the importance of this research area.

Land transformation processes, the lack of sediment supply from rivers to the coast and the artificialization of the coastline are only some of the factors influencing coastal erosion. These factors change the structure and function of natural ecosystems and their capacity to provide ecosystem services fundamental to ensuring human well-being. Carbon sequestration, erosion protection, biodiversity protection and recreational tourism are examples of ecosystem services supplied by marine coastal ecosystems for the benefit of the community. Mapping, quantifying and economically evaluating ecosystem services and including the results of this process in planning and programming tools can be useful for effective natural capital governance and reducing the effects of coastal erosion on human infrastructure.

Conventional artificial barriers (e.g., breakwaters, artificial reefs), in addition to being costly, can alter the ecological and geological balance of ecosystems and export the effects of sediment losses to downdrift neighbouring areas.

On the other hand, nature-based solutions can help enhance the natural ecosystems' resilience and mitigate the effects of the erosive action of the sea.

In this context, coastal and marine protected areas, considered instruments of command and control, contribute to reducing the effects of coastal erosion by conserving natural habitats and ecosystems.

The conservation and restoration of dune and marine habitats, such as Posidonia oceanica meadows, can help to improve natural coastal defence and mitigate the effects induced by wave and storm surges.

(2) Aim of the Special Issue and how the subject relates to the journal scope.

This Special Issue aims to collect papers (original research articles and review papers) that explore and provide insights into the complex phenomenon of coastal morphodynamics, suggesting solutions to improve coastal governance.

(3) Suggested themes and article types for submissions.

This Special Issue will welcome manuscripts that link the following themes:

• Environmental accounting methods for coastal management;
• Tools and governance for coastal management;
• Contribution of protected natural areas to coastal erosion protection;
• Tools and analysis methodology for mapping, quantification and economic valuation of ecosystem services supplied by coastal marine ecosystems;
• Nature-based engineering techniques and best management practices for coastal erosion mitigation;
• Tools and models for studying evolutionary scenarios of shoreline changes;
• Impacts of changes in nutrient supply from rivers to the sea on costal morphodynamics;
• Impacts of artificial coastal defences on natural ecosystems and coastal morphodynamics;
• Socio-economic impacts of erosion and artificial coastal defences.

We look forward to receiving your original research articles and reviews.

Prof. Dr. Margherita Palmieri
Prof. Marucci Angelo
Prof. Dr. Marcello Di Risio
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Land is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• ecosystem services
• coastal morphodynamics
• natural capital
• river ecosystems
• coastal management
• nature-based solutions
• protected natural areas