Management and Conservation

TL;DR: In this article, the littoral active zone, comprising surf zones, beaches, and dunes, must be managed as a sedimentary unit by identifying key physical and ecological processes, including potential for erosion, protection of sensitive foredunes, and demarcation of setbacks.

Abstract: The littoral active zone, comprising surf zones, beaches, and dunes, must be managed as a sedimentary unit This requires identification of key physical and ecological processes, including potential for erosion, protection of sensitive foredunes, and demarcation of setbacks It is also necessary to assess pollution health and safety risks, undertake Environmental Impact Assessments for any developments, develop inclusive management plans, and control access while considering carrying capacity Further, beaches need to be approached as social-ecological systems (SES) in terms of governance and management, also considering key external drivers In many cases, managers need to consider multiple uses, especially to deal simultaneously with recreation and conservation needs and avoid conflicts Implementation of spatiotemporal zoning, institutional and operational management tools, is a promising approach for sustainable management of sandy-beach services following an SES framework Marine protected areas (MPAs), which have not been widely implemented in sandy beaches, can be a key tool for biodiversity conservation and should also facilitate spillover effects into adjacent beach habitats Coastal networks combining no-take MPAs and MPAs with limited level of human activities, comanagement, and exploitation areas sustaining exclusive community rights could represent a short- to midterm management objective that balances bio-socioeconomic factors