x
Brunei Darussalam, Brazil, Bangladesh, Chile, Colombia, Australia, India, Egypt,
Romania, Mexico, and Canada. These vignettes carry the common theme of coastal
wetlands under stresses of variable types ranging dominantly from human action
and less so from natural causes related to climate change. With about half of the
world’s coastal wetlands already destroyed by either urban expansion or the development of industrial and commercial infrastructure, the remainder are seriously
threatened by a range of human activities (e.g., wood harvesting and loss of surrounding forests, sand extraction, petroleum exploitation, infringement from agricultural lands, wildlife poaching, increased salt pan and aquaculture farming, fishery
development, land erosion, sediment deposition, and recreation) that usually fall
under the radar of governing bodies that either turn blind eyes to what is happening
or do not have the available resources to control the deterioration of the wetland
ecosystems.
The other main theme of the various chapters is that the remaining coastal wetlands worldwide that have or continue to receive protection usually cannot remediate the damage that has already incurred. Although large areas have come under the
“protection” of various types of statuses (e.g., Ramsar Convention, International
Biosphere Reserve [UNESCO], International Union for Conservation of Nature and
Natural Resources [IUCN]), this does not guarantee proper management by local
authorities. Although the intent is laudable, the practicalities of the present world
situation is that population growth is out of control in many regions that contain
coastal wetlands. Human pressure on wetland resources is immense, and constructive efforts to protect, preserve, and conserve coastal wetland ecosystems are currently too weak to achieve goals that will maintain this valuable resource base for
posterity. Several chapters point to new research that is being conducted into innovative ways of understanding and comprehending how these ecosystems function so
they can be better managed. But the research and implementation of its findings are
generally too slow compared to population growth with the result that coastal wetlands remain under threat from a wide range of human activities that eventually
harken the death knell. What is required are more stringent protective measures that
will secure a sustainable and unfettered future for the world’s mangrove forests,
fresh- and saltwater marshes, lakes, estuaries, and lagoons. All of the chapters in
this book indicate in one way or another the present status and probable conditions
of coastal wetlands as we look to the future.
Fletcher, NC, USA
Charles W. Finkl
Coconut Creek, FL, USA
Christopher Makowski
Preface
Brunei Darussalam, Brazil, Bangladesh, Chile, Colombia, Australia, India, Egypt,
Romania, Mexico, and Canada. These vignettes carry the common theme of coastal
wetlands under stresses of variable types ranging dominantly from human action
and less so from natural causes related to climate change. With about half of the
world’s coastal wetlands already destroyed by either urban expansion or the development of industrial and commercial infrastructure, the remainder are seriously
threatened by a range of human activities (e.g., wood harvesting and loss of surrounding forests, sand extraction, petroleum exploitation, infringement from agricultural lands, wildlife poaching, increased salt pan and aquaculture farming, fishery
development, land erosion, sediment deposition, and recreation) that usually fall
under the radar of governing bodies that either turn blind eyes to what is happening
or do not have the available resources to control the deterioration of the wetland
ecosystems.
The other main theme of the various chapters is that the remaining coastal wetlands worldwide that have or continue to receive protection usually cannot remediate the damage that has already incurred. Although large areas have come under the
“protection” of various types of statuses (e.g., Ramsar Convention, International
Biosphere Reserve [UNESCO], International Union for Conservation of Nature and
Natural Resources [IUCN]), this does not guarantee proper management by local
authorities. Although the intent is laudable, the practicalities of the present world
situation is that population growth is out of control in many regions that contain
coastal wetlands. Human pressure on wetland resources is immense, and constructive efforts to protect, preserve, and conserve coastal wetland ecosystems are currently too weak to achieve goals that will maintain this valuable resource base for
posterity. Several chapters point to new research that is being conducted into innovative ways of understanding and comprehending how these ecosystems function so
they can be better managed. But the research and implementation of its findings are
generally too slow compared to population growth with the result that coastal wetlands remain under threat from a wide range of human activities that eventually
harken the death knell. What is required are more stringent protective measures that
will secure a sustainable and unfettered future for the world’s mangrove forests,
fresh- and saltwater marshes, lakes, estuaries, and lagoons. All of the chapters in
this book indicate in one way or another the present status and probable conditions
of coastal wetlands as we look to the future.
Fletcher, NC, USA
Charles W. Finkl
Coconut Creek, FL, USA
Christopher Makowski
Preface