Coastal Basins on the Edge

Published by: UNESCO-SCOPE -UNEP Policy Brief n°7
Language: English only

Semi-enclosed coastal seas, bays and gulfs provide services that are critical for sustaining marine life, and human development and well-being. These dynamic, diverse and productive ecosystems are affected by a concentration of human activities around the watersheds, along the coasts and in the water bodies, with profound consequences for the environment and society. Their integrated management and governance involving multiple stakeholders across national boundaries and political jurisdictions are necessary to ensure the continued provision of vital ecosystem services into the future.