Coastal zone management

The Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region is renowned for the attractiveness of its coastal zones, high marine biodiversity and rich marine and coastal resources, but the 30 million or so people who live on the coast of the WIO region have had a significant impact on its biodiversity. Responses to the crises facing marine and coastal biodiversity in this region have taken place at all levels; the most relevant global instrument is the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and its associated Jakarta Mandate.

Los objetivos de este taller, que llevó a cabo en Cuidad Guatemala del 5 al 8 julio de 1999, fueron los siguentes: 1, intercambiar lecciones aprendidas en los diversos enfoques de conservación y manejo de humedales y zonas costeras en los proyectos ejecutados en América Central; 2, establecer prioridades regionales y nacionales de conservación y manejo de humedales y zonas costeras; 3, difundir los logros alcanzados por PROARCA/Costas y el Programa de Humedales de UICN/ORMA.

11% of all coral reefs have been damaged beyond recovery or totally destroyed; another 16% were damaged in 1998 by climate change related to coral bleaching. More than 50% of the world’s mangrove forests have been cleared without understanding the enormous value of these muddy coastal forests. Seagrass beds have had similar losses in many areas. This book was written for practicing resource managers and educators in developing countries. Its goal is to provide information and practical examples to help prevent further damage to coral reefs and other tropical coastal ecosystems.

This is a new editon of the classic textbook on marine protected area (MPA) management in the tropics, originally produced as an output of the Bali World Parks Congress in 1982. Approaches to planning and managing MPAs have evolved considerably. Major advances include innovative financing mechanisms, partnerships with the private sector and NGOs, and collaborative management between government and coastal communities.