Training manual : coastal management and conservation - applications in the Mediterranean region

Abstract

The coastal zone is a resource under threat. All over the world, coastal areas are amongst the most densely populated areas of the planet, bringing together a variety of often-conflicting land uses, in an area of immense environmental sensitivity. The challenges for the coastal manager are continually becoming more formidable. This training manual has been developed through the ECONET-COHAST project, an initiative of the European Union's Archimed Interreg III programme. It brings together a variety of contributions, outlining various aspects relating to conservation and coastal management, with special reference to the Mediterranean region. It is intended to provide an overview of several aspects of coastal management for various actors involved in the practice of coastal management. The methods and ideas presented in this manual should be considered to be elements in a holistic and integrated toolkit at the disposal of the coastal manager.