Coastal zones comprise the most productive yet highly threatened ecosystems in the world. Population pressures are growing and nearly half of the coastal populations in the world have no access to sanitation, a health risk further exacerbated by poor water quality. Communities and industries increasingly over-exploit fisheries, wood, oil, natural gas, and genetic resources, while demands on coastal areas for shipping, waste disposal, military and security uses, recreation, aquaculture, and habitation are increasing. Over-exploitation of mangroves for fuel wood and for shrimp aquaculture has gravely undermined the ecological functioning of these ecosystems. Freshwater diversion from estuaries has reduced water and sediment delivery 30% worldwide. Lastly, management of these complex coastal systems is inadequate, partly because of lack of resources, legal structures, or political will in many countries, but also because there are fundamental gaps in our understanding of ecosystem functions and the impacts of human activities.

UNU-INWEH’s coastal programme focuses on improvement of scientific understanding to foster sound decision-making. This is directly linked to capacity development efforts to address critical gaps, achieved through diffusion of scientific research and promotion of human and institutional capacity. These initiatives are all directed to the long-term goal of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM), linked to the integrated management of adjacent inland watersheds.