Catalogus

A holistic systems approach such as Integrated Coastal Zone Management is necessary to address the highly interconnected scientific challenges of increased human population pressure, pollution and over-exploitation of food (and other) resources as drivers of adverse ecological, social and economic impacts, and the urgent and critical requirement for effective public health solutions to be developed through the formulation of politically and environmentally meaningful policies. Since coastal zone environmental problems and related health and socio-economic issues are trans-national in character, the demands on regulation and governance go well beyond the actions of a single government and will require integrated action on a regional and global scale by national governments and stakeholders (e.g. non-governmental organisations), regional organisations (e.g. European Union) and international organisations (e.g. United Nations).