Preface
The Pacific and Atlantic margins of Central and South America extend for
more than 50,000 km between cold polar and tropical climatic zones,
encompassing a great diversity of geographically extensive and functionally significant coastal and marine ecosystems. These ecosystems decisively
control the rich resources of inshore environments and coastal seas, often
far beyond their boundaries. Early European colonizers tapped natural
resources initially without harm to the environment, however, a seemingly
limitless resource potential stimulated ever increasing exploitation. By the
end of the 19th century, long stretches of coastline with major settlements
had already undergone significant changes. Owing to unreasonable
demands of society, this situation intensified during the 20th century and
led to a general decline of remaining resources and irreversible changes in
the nature of many ecosystems. Sad examples of this phenomenon are the
reduction of over 90% of Brazil's Atlantic Tropical Forest due to logging
and agricultural activities, and the loss of nearly 60% of Ecuadorian mangroves due to shrimp farming. Lack of proper urban sanitation and
unplanned industrial development has led to further destruction. Yet
other, still pristine coastal regions have remained relatively unaffected by
human intervention mainly due to their relative inaccessibility, but their
basic biological components and ecological processes are also poorly
known.
The rate of coastal resource development, the expansion of maritime
jurisdiction into the 200-mile zone, and the potential threat of sea level rise
present a tremendous challenge for coastal area management. Coastal communities now have a vital stake in nearshore ocean uses. Conflicts between
growing socio-economic needs but decreasing revenues and expanding
ecotourism but mounting environmental degradation provoked a growing
awareness of ecological problems in coastal environments by populations
and motivated considerable financial support for restoration and management by governments of most Latin American coastal nations.
However, our comprehension of the organizational patterns, the behavior and function, and the rapidly changing nature of coastal marine
The Pacific and Atlantic margins of Central and South America extend for
more than 50,000 km between cold polar and tropical climatic zones,
encompassing a great diversity of geographically extensive and functionally significant coastal and marine ecosystems. These ecosystems decisively
control the rich resources of inshore environments and coastal seas, often
far beyond their boundaries. Early European colonizers tapped natural
resources initially without harm to the environment, however, a seemingly
limitless resource potential stimulated ever increasing exploitation. By the
end of the 19th century, long stretches of coastline with major settlements
had already undergone significant changes. Owing to unreasonable
demands of society, this situation intensified during the 20th century and
led to a general decline of remaining resources and irreversible changes in
the nature of many ecosystems. Sad examples of this phenomenon are the
reduction of over 90% of Brazil's Atlantic Tropical Forest due to logging
and agricultural activities, and the loss of nearly 60% of Ecuadorian mangroves due to shrimp farming. Lack of proper urban sanitation and
unplanned industrial development has led to further destruction. Yet
other, still pristine coastal regions have remained relatively unaffected by
human intervention mainly due to their relative inaccessibility, but their
basic biological components and ecological processes are also poorly
known.
The rate of coastal resource development, the expansion of maritime
jurisdiction into the 200-mile zone, and the potential threat of sea level rise
present a tremendous challenge for coastal area management. Coastal communities now have a vital stake in nearshore ocean uses. Conflicts between
growing socio-economic needs but decreasing revenues and expanding
ecotourism but mounting environmental degradation provoked a growing
awareness of ecological problems in coastal environments by populations
and motivated considerable financial support for restoration and management by governments of most Latin American coastal nations.
However, our comprehension of the organizational patterns, the behavior and function, and the rapidly changing nature of coastal marine