A Land Use Perspective of the Safeguarding Coastal Areas

Dear Colleagues,

There is a global concern on the nature and the amplitude of threats and risks endangering coastal areas. As marine environments are extremely rich in biodiversity, the resiliency of such areas to climate change, maritime accidents, marine pollution or other natural disasters should be discussed and stimulated. There are no divergences of any order on such statements.

However the manner in which society (in general) and governments (in particular) are able to reinforce education and regulation to change behaviors to further more robust environments has caught more attention and engendered sophisticated disagreements.

How can the over-exploitation of the oceans be avoided and marine wealth used as a profitable sustainable resource? How can coastal areas be part of the normal socioeconomic activities of regions by means of tourism inputs without degradation of land and landscape? How does one face the future challenges of climate change without putting at risk the significant endeavor of industrial maritime clustering?

If solutions may be found that ease negative impacts, they should certainly be discussed on a global scale. These solutions need to engender  national and international cooperation and be based upon common sense principles and strict regulations. These solutions will drive the socioeconomic development and life quality of citizens around the world.

This Special Issue is devoted to discussing, from very different perspectives, the hindrances and the advances in safeguarding coastal areas. It also suggests policy instruments and measures that rely upon more balanced consumption patterns, higher education regarding the use of natural resources, and cooperation among stakeholders who have, in view, long-term prosperity.

We call for your contribution with case studies around the world to better illustrate the challenges faced in the above described context.

Eric Vaz
Teresa de Noronha
Guest Editors

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