Coastal ecosystems
for countless benefits
October 2009
AdvisoryPaper
Conserve coastal habitat today,
preserve income for tomorrow
The Coral Reef Targeted Research
& Capacity Building for Management
Program (CRTR) is a leading
international coral reef research
initiative that provides a coordinated
Playa del Carmen, Mexico, like many coastal areas of developing countries, is dominated by "sun and sand" tourism with a focus on rapid coastal
approach to credible, factual and
development and population growth. Photo: M. Paterson
scientifically-proven knowledge for
improved coral reef management.
"What effect will this decision have on the
a source of food and investment, a workplace
The CRTR Program is a proactive
natural habitat along my coastline 20 years
for jobs and a playground for families?
research and capacity building
from now?" It's a question local councils
partnership that aims to lay the
Not long, say scientists with the Coral Reef
foundation in filling crucial knowledge
and planning officials in coastal towns and
Targeted Research & Capacity Building for
gaps in the core research areas of Coral
cities need to ask every time they consider a
Management Program (CRTR), who anticipate
Bleaching, Connectivity, Coral Diseases,
proposal for local development. For coastal
Coral Restoration and Remediation,
that the harmful impacts on the natural habitat
Remote Sensing and Modeling and
municipalities, especially, the answer holds
from coastal development will accumulate, if
Decision Support.
lasting consequences for the livelihoods and
not accelerate, over time.
Each of these research areas are
wellbeing of the next generation of residents,
facilitated by Working Groups
The damage to important habitats and their
investors and business owners.
underpinned by the skills of many of the
biological and physical support systems caused
world's leading coral reef researchers.
Nowhere else is the prosperity of a comm-
The CRTR also supports four Centres of
by coastal and inland construction can be
Excellence in priority regions, serving as
unity so directly linked to the condition of
diverse, they can often be irreversible, and
important regional centres for building
the natural habitat - the beaches, coral reefs,
confidence and skills in research,
some are invisible. For example, the removal
training and capacity building.
estuaries, mangroves and seagrasses.
of mangroves to create beaches reduces
After all, it is the splendour of the ocean and
natural filtration which increases pollution;
The CRTR Program is a partnership
between the Global Environment
beaches, together with the abundance of
reduces storm protection; and builds a system
Facility, the World Bank, The University
marine life, which lures hundreds of millions
that requires continual management (beach
of Queensland (Australia), the
United States National Oceanic and
of people to live, work and play along
restoration).
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and
coastlines worldwide.
approximately 50 research institutes
In addition to the cascading impacts on coastal
& other third parties around the world.
Each of the following enterprises generates
ecological systems, inappropriate coastal
Coral Reef Targeted Research &
income for coastal communities and each
development has social impacts that are
Capacity Building for Management
depends on the market and non-market
seldom adequately evaluated.
Program
services that coastal habitats provide:
c/- Centre for Marine Studies,
Sustainable coastal ecosystems deliver
Gerhmann Building, The University
· Commercial and recreational fisheries
countless recreational and social benefits
of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld 4072,
Australia
· Mass coastal tourism
to long-term residents and keep children
Tel: +61 7 3346 9942
· Community and recreational services
emotionally in contact with the natural world.
Fax: +61 7 3346 9987
· Ports and shipping
Protection of coastal habitats is a wise cultural
Email: info@gefcoral.org
· Nature and adventure tourism
investment, as well as a means to lever
Internet: www.gefcoral.org
economic production for the long-term.
But for how long will coastal habitats serve
October 2009
their communities as a destination for tourists,
Product code: CRTR 005/2009.

---

Long-term thinking required
AdvisoryPaper
Be warned: think long, not short
Local councils and planning officials should anticipate,
and plan for, changes in coastal habitat on five- to 20-
Cause and effect:
year time scales, not on scales of two to three years.
it's inevitable along a coastline
The challenge for planners and developers in coastal
municipalities is to anticipate the cumulative impacts
Remarkable connections exist among animals
caused by their decisions beyond a political election
and habitats, and are an indelible part of the
cycle. After all, these decisions eventually define a
life cycle.
current administration's legacy and commitment to
These animal-habitat connections are central to
the future.
the ecological integrity of coastal habitats and
It is estimated that by 2050, 91% of the world's
to the production of their environmental goods
coastlines will be affected by development. Today,
and services.
some 80% of ocean pollution originates from land-
A tropical shoreline contains different coastal
based activities.
habitats: estuaries, beaches, mangroves,
The CRTR Program's Connectivity Working Group
seagrasses, and shallow and deep reefs.
(CWG) advises that coastal development is a
continuous process ­ one that needs to be managed
Following a brief, larval life offshore, the early
to ensure continuity of ecosystem processes.
stages of most fish, lobsters, and shrimp need
Recognizing the importance of nursery habitats and
access to certain near-shore habitats, and
the movement routes used by fishery species, and
many move from one habitat to another as
the critical need to conserve these, is an important
they grow towards adulthood.
first step.
New challenges will soon be layered onto unresolved
problems involving coastal habitats, including sea-
level rise, ocean acidification and additional growth
in coastal populations.
Earth lights -This photograph of the earth at night reveals how much of the world's population lives near and relies upon coastal regions. Burgeoning populations and increased
resource use and transformation pose a threat to the health of coastal habitats. Source: C. Mayhew & R. Simmon. simmon@climate.gsfc.nasa.gov NASA http://www.nasa.gov
GSFC http://www.gsfc.nasa.gov
What planners can do, today
It's smart business for town planners and elected
· Acquire objective and comprehensive environmental
officials to conserve coastal marine ecosystems
assessments for coastal development proposals.
because of the economic activity they support.
· Use independent environmental experts to evaluate
Developing countries with coral reefs, especially
complex proposals for coastal development.
those located in Latin America, the Caribbean and
East Africa, typically generate more than 50% of
GDP from coastal marine environments.
By balancing profits and long-term conservation,
the economic production generated by commercial
fishing, coastal tourism, shipping and recreation is
compounded over time.
Significant steps to achieve more sustainable
By conserving natural habitat, and the pathways
management of coastlines include:
between habitats, we ensure this critical conn-
· Anticipate, and plan for, changes in coastal habitats on
ectivity is sustained, and production of fisheries
five- to 20-year time scales, not on scales of 2-3 years.
resources remains high.
· Anticipate cumulative impacts ­ coastal development
As well as animal connectivity among different
is a continuous process and negative impacts can
habitats, the coastal environment is connected
build up over time, leading to profound changes in
by the flows of nutrients, sediments and water.
the condition of the coastal environment.
A mangrove, seagrass or reef habitat can be
· Provide incentives so that coastal tourism, fisheries
Independent research into the condition of nursery habitats and movement
seriously damaged through coastal develop-
and other coastal enterprises adopt sustainable
routes for coastal animals, above and below the ocean surface, is paramount to
ments that block, divert, slow, or enhance water
business practices.
helping guide policy decisions. Photo: Annick Cros
flow (and transfer of substances) from one
· Ensure all coastal stakeholders, particularly the
habitat to another, even when the construction
resident water-users, are involved publicly when
In this time of major coastal change, individuals, busin-
occurs some distance away.
making decisions about coastal development.
esses, recreational and commercial users, academics
Healthy natural habitats provide shoreline
and agencies can all assist in improved planning and
· Avoid urban sprawl by applying strict zoning rules
management of coastal development. The need to
to land use plans; strengthen and rigorously enforce
protection, water quality maintenance, nursery
fully apply objective science is paramount to help in
regulations governing coastal development.
habitats for fisheries, destinations for tourists,
guiding policy decisions for the benefit of all stake-
and a healthy lifestyle for coastal residents.
· Adopt best practices in waste management to
holder groups. This requires thinking and acting on
By balancing profits and long term conservation, the economic production
reduce coastal pollution, and maintain and improve
generated by commercial fishing and coastal recreation is compounded over
longer-term time scales.
water quality.
time. Photo: G. Dews

---

Long-term thinking required
AdvisoryPaper
Coastal growth: calculating the long-term costs
Many coastal areas of developing countries are
The overall result is slow and steady destruction of
dominated by "sun and sand" tourism with a focus on
important coastal habitats. Over time, such habitat
rapid and speculative coastal growth.
changes reduce fishery production, disrupt or
For example, Cancún, on the tip of the Yucatan
destroy connections among habitats, and diminish
Peninsula in north-east México, represents some
coastal protection (a service that grows in value as
of the most concentrated tourism in the world,
climate change brings more severe storms and rising
processing five million tourists annually.
sea levels).
High-density residential sprawl, as well as mass tourism,
Coastal development projects in developing countries
frequently damages the nursery areas and connected
often receive governmental approval without a full
habitats used by recruiting fishes while creating
evaluation of long-term impacts because of inadequate
beaches that must be artificially maintained.
regulations or political pressures. Development often
proceeds because it seemingly brings jobs and revenue
in the short-term.
But the long-term costs of inappropriate develop-
ment in lost ecosystem goods and services, inefficient
allocation of tax revenue, degraded local culture,
and other neglected impacts are estimated to be
far greater.
South of Cancún is the town of Puerto Morelos,
home to 15,000 inhabitants. There are plans to
develop Puerto Morelos into a city with 250,000
people and to develop a large harbour for
cruiseliners.
As a result of these plans, there are two
immediate challenges:
· Puerto Morelos has coastal reef, mangrove and
jungle ecosystems to sustain for the future
(the reef is actually a Marine Protected Area); and
· Puerto Morelos lacks basic social services (security,
waste disposal services, water treatment plants,
Tourist precinct, Playa del Carmen. Photo: M Paterson
etc.) and unplanned development will cause social
Development increases demands for water, and
problems like poverty and violence, much like what
produces millions of gallons of waste that must go
has happened in Cancún and Playa del Carmen.
somewhere ­ frequently into underground freshwater
How government officials and investors treat the
river systems and via these to the ocean. The less
fragility and importance (in ecological, economic and
obvious impacts from runoff ­ pol ution, chronic
structural terms) of the township will determine the
turbidity on coral reefs and disruption to food webs ­
long-term prosperity of its people.
can also cascade into deeper waters.
Coastal management - not just about controlling development
While protecting coastal connectivity is an important
b) Minimize pollution of coastal waters by rigorously
principle when evaluating proposed developments,
controlling release to the environment of wastes,
guarding against inappropriate development is not
including pesticides, pharmaceuticals and other
sufficient by itself to ensure the sustainability of
novel chemicals, and by foregoing deep-well
coastal ecosystems.
injection technologies as a solution to waste
It is necessary, also, to:
disposal in coastal regions.
a) Manage fisheries appropriately by rigorously
Note: Outside of Europe and North America,
limiting catch, preventing fishing at critical sites or
more than 80% of sewage enters the coastal
at times when fish are spawning, and preventing
ocean untreated.
use of inappropriate methods such as blast fishing,
c) Build public awareness among coastal communities
trawling, and use of nondegradable nets.
of the long-term economic and noneconomic value
Note: It is estimated by the Food and Agriculture
of sustainably-managed coastal environments.
Organisation that almost 70% of global fishery
Note: 40% of all people on the planet live with
stocks are either "fully-" or "over-" exploited.
50 kilometres of a coast and the world's enthusiasm
for coastal living is creating ever more environ-
mental damage.

---