Chapter 13
Coastal Zone Management:
Issues and Initiatives in Small South Asian Nations
R. Ramesh . S. Ramachandran
13.1
Introduction
Coastat ecosystems strongly modulate land-ocean interactions. The coastal environment is constantly being altered by population pressures, inevitably affecting its use
by future generations. The exploitation of many coastal ecosystems is presently so intense and so weakly regulated, that major economic investment is likely to be required
for their maintenance or restoration in the future. The creation of long-term, sustainable policies for coastal management requires an understanding of the impacts of
changes in environmental quality along the coastline.
By the year 2000, it has been estimated that about 75% of the human population
will live in the coastal regions of the world (United Nations 1985). Even now, in South
East Asia, 65% of cities with populations greater than 2.5 million are located along the
coastline. Coastal areas are a magnet for tourists, as is evident from the fact that the
Mediterranean coastline alone attracts one third of world tourism. All coastal zones
are under increasing pressure from expanding human populations. We have only recently begun to realize the extent of damage caused in coastal waters, since environmental deterioration is not as obvious under the surface of the sea as it is on land. It is
essential that every country develops an integrated coastal systems management strategy, based on considerations of ecological sustain ability, economic efficiency and social equity. For integrated coastal systems management to occur on this scale, plans
and programmes of the governmental, non-governmental, and corporate sectors need
to be closely integrated. Above all, there is a need for the active participation of coastal
communities. Local community participation will only be forthcoming if an integration between ecological security of coastal regions and the liveliliood security of coastal
communities is fully achieved.
The coastal zone is characterized by a rich diversity of natural habitats, such as
mangroves, coral reefs, beaches, continental shelf areas, sand dunes, grasslands, rocky
shores, marsh lands, flood plains, salt marshes, estuaries, mudflats, wetlands, seagrass
beds and seaweed areas. A variety of natural resources, including corals, seaweeds and
algae, fish and other aquatic life, plants, minerals, water, sand oil and gas, provide food,
fuel, construction material and other resources indispensable for human existence.
Coastal habitats and resources are also vital because of their role in stabilising the
shoreline and in protecting coastal areas and habitations from cyclones, tidal waves
and other natural disasters, as well as because of their natural capacity to assimilate
and absorb waste and pollutants. In addition there are a diversity of natural processes
occurring in coastal areas, such as upwelling, seasonal sand banks, sand dune formation, sea erosion and accretion, siltation and sedimentation, the lunar and diurnal cycles,
Coastal Zone Management:
Issues and Initiatives in Small South Asian Nations
R. Ramesh . S. Ramachandran
13.1
Introduction
Coastat ecosystems strongly modulate land-ocean interactions. The coastal environment is constantly being altered by population pressures, inevitably affecting its use
by future generations. The exploitation of many coastal ecosystems is presently so intense and so weakly regulated, that major economic investment is likely to be required
for their maintenance or restoration in the future. The creation of long-term, sustainable policies for coastal management requires an understanding of the impacts of
changes in environmental quality along the coastline.
By the year 2000, it has been estimated that about 75% of the human population
will live in the coastal regions of the world (United Nations 1985). Even now, in South
East Asia, 65% of cities with populations greater than 2.5 million are located along the
coastline. Coastal areas are a magnet for tourists, as is evident from the fact that the
Mediterranean coastline alone attracts one third of world tourism. All coastal zones
are under increasing pressure from expanding human populations. We have only recently begun to realize the extent of damage caused in coastal waters, since environmental deterioration is not as obvious under the surface of the sea as it is on land. It is
essential that every country develops an integrated coastal systems management strategy, based on considerations of ecological sustain ability, economic efficiency and social equity. For integrated coastal systems management to occur on this scale, plans
and programmes of the governmental, non-governmental, and corporate sectors need
to be closely integrated. Above all, there is a need for the active participation of coastal
communities. Local community participation will only be forthcoming if an integration between ecological security of coastal regions and the liveliliood security of coastal
communities is fully achieved.
The coastal zone is characterized by a rich diversity of natural habitats, such as
mangroves, coral reefs, beaches, continental shelf areas, sand dunes, grasslands, rocky
shores, marsh lands, flood plains, salt marshes, estuaries, mudflats, wetlands, seagrass
beds and seaweed areas. A variety of natural resources, including corals, seaweeds and
algae, fish and other aquatic life, plants, minerals, water, sand oil and gas, provide food,
fuel, construction material and other resources indispensable for human existence.
Coastal habitats and resources are also vital because of their role in stabilising the
shoreline and in protecting coastal areas and habitations from cyclones, tidal waves
and other natural disasters, as well as because of their natural capacity to assimilate
and absorb waste and pollutants. In addition there are a diversity of natural processes
occurring in coastal areas, such as upwelling, seasonal sand banks, sand dune formation, sea erosion and accretion, siltation and sedimentation, the lunar and diurnal cycles,