54
Effectively managing the social-ecological systems on our coasts across the globe requires an
understanding of the complexity of human- environmental relationships, defining the pathways towards
the best outcomes for environments, and implementing effective ecosystem-based planning and management. Existing literature suggests that this is best achieved through mechanisms of effective governance arrangements, adaptive management, institutional effectiveness, community participation,
and policies that incentivise actions for achieving outcomes that consider the environment. This
includes the consideration of natural hazards as well as the impacts of climate change (Olsson, Folke,
& Hughes, 2008; Costello, Gaines, & Lynham, 2008; Christie & White, 2007). However, what is
clearly lacking in various coastal management plans and strategies is the understanding of the complex patterns of human-ecological systems and patterns. These are important to inform efforts to manage and plan the interface between human and coastal environmental systems towards a sustainable
future. I further conclude that the deep connectivity of human systems with nature is not evident in the
discourse of coastal management, and the establishment, recognition and conserving of place character needs to include a deeper understanding of ‘wholeness’. This would provide a connection with the
coastal environment that could result in resilience for the future of both humans and nature under a
future changed climate.
4.8 Conclusion Statement
The discussions in this chapter indicate that it is the beauty and visual attributes of coastal areas, the
landscape and the coastal place character that attracts human migrants to the coast, resulting in more
and more people settling on the coast. The biophysical characteristics of the coast induce a ‘sense of
place’, where settlements are inherently part of the surrounding natural environment. The chapter also
reveals that the relationships between social-ecological systems are fundamental, and understanding
the complex patterns of human- ecological systems is important to inform efforts to manage and plan
the interface between these human and nature systems towards a sustainable future. It is also evident
that current policy and frameworks for coastal management and planning do not adequately address
the requirements of sustainable practices for the integration of human and ecological systems along
the coast. Further, the deep connectivity of human systems with nature is not evident, and the establishment, recognition and conserving of place character needs to include a deeper understanding of
‘wholeness’ to provide a connection with the coastal environment that could result in resilience for the
future of both humans and nature under a future changed climate. This understanding of the ‘wholeness’ and that of ‘deep’ connectivity with the coastal environment is very important in social-ecological management. While this understanding is lacking in the current Western systems practice, it is
very prominent in Indigenous belief systems, cultural heritage, values, and land management practices. Understanding of Indigenous knowledge about Country and Sea Country is paramount in developing planning solutions for our settlements along the coast, and this knowledge is further explored
in Chap. 5, where patterns of human-nature connection inform considerations for the regenerativeadaptive pattern language. As noted by Jones and Roös (2019), decision-making for development and
growth needs to better grasp and be accountable for a regions’ environmental qualities, and needs to
be ecologically responsive and consider regenerative design principles (Jones & Roös, 2019, p. 300).
Therefore:
To achieve a sustainable future for both human settlements and nature systems along the coast,
develop and implement environmentally focused policy frameworks for coastal management and
planning. These must adequately address the requirements of sustainable practices for the integration
of human and ecological systems. Further acknowledge that the beauty of the coast is induced with a
sense of place, where settlements are inherently part of the surrounding natural environment. This
place character must be protected at all times.
4 Affinity to Water: The Coastal Zone and Coastal Settlements
Effectively managing the social-ecological systems on our coasts across the globe requires an
understanding of the complexity of human- environmental relationships, defining the pathways towards
the best outcomes for environments, and implementing effective ecosystem-based planning and management. Existing literature suggests that this is best achieved through mechanisms of effective governance arrangements, adaptive management, institutional effectiveness, community participation,
and policies that incentivise actions for achieving outcomes that consider the environment. This
includes the consideration of natural hazards as well as the impacts of climate change (Olsson, Folke,
& Hughes, 2008; Costello, Gaines, & Lynham, 2008; Christie & White, 2007). However, what is
clearly lacking in various coastal management plans and strategies is the understanding of the complex patterns of human-ecological systems and patterns. These are important to inform efforts to manage and plan the interface between human and coastal environmental systems towards a sustainable
future. I further conclude that the deep connectivity of human systems with nature is not evident in the
discourse of coastal management, and the establishment, recognition and conserving of place character needs to include a deeper understanding of ‘wholeness’. This would provide a connection with the
coastal environment that could result in resilience for the future of both humans and nature under a
future changed climate.
4.8 Conclusion Statement
The discussions in this chapter indicate that it is the beauty and visual attributes of coastal areas, the
landscape and the coastal place character that attracts human migrants to the coast, resulting in more
and more people settling on the coast. The biophysical characteristics of the coast induce a ‘sense of
place’, where settlements are inherently part of the surrounding natural environment. The chapter also
reveals that the relationships between social-ecological systems are fundamental, and understanding
the complex patterns of human- ecological systems is important to inform efforts to manage and plan
the interface between these human and nature systems towards a sustainable future. It is also evident
that current policy and frameworks for coastal management and planning do not adequately address
the requirements of sustainable practices for the integration of human and ecological systems along
the coast. Further, the deep connectivity of human systems with nature is not evident, and the establishment, recognition and conserving of place character needs to include a deeper understanding of
‘wholeness’ to provide a connection with the coastal environment that could result in resilience for the
future of both humans and nature under a future changed climate. This understanding of the ‘wholeness’ and that of ‘deep’ connectivity with the coastal environment is very important in social-ecological management. While this understanding is lacking in the current Western systems practice, it is
very prominent in Indigenous belief systems, cultural heritage, values, and land management practices. Understanding of Indigenous knowledge about Country and Sea Country is paramount in developing planning solutions for our settlements along the coast, and this knowledge is further explored
in Chap. 5, where patterns of human-nature connection inform considerations for the regenerativeadaptive pattern language. As noted by Jones and Roös (2019), decision-making for development and
growth needs to better grasp and be accountable for a regions’ environmental qualities, and needs to
be ecologically responsive and consider regenerative design principles (Jones & Roös, 2019, p. 300).
Therefore:
To achieve a sustainable future for both human settlements and nature systems along the coast,
develop and implement environmentally focused policy frameworks for coastal management and
planning. These must adequately address the requirements of sustainable practices for the integration
of human and ecological systems. Further acknowledge that the beauty of the coast is induced with a
sense of place, where settlements are inherently part of the surrounding natural environment. This
place character must be protected at all times.
4 Affinity to Water: The Coastal Zone and Coastal Settlements