Biodiversity EU: EEA 10 messages for 2010 - Coastal Ecosystems

The ninth of the 10 messages from the European Environment Agency on 2010 has just been published online - Coastal Ecosystems.  Good overview of state of the environment, issues and related policies /...

.../ Key messages:

1. As an interface between land and sea, European coastlines provide vital resources for wildlife, but also for the economy and human health and well-being.
2. Multiple pressures, including habitat loss and degradation, pollution, climate change and overexploitation of fish stocks, affect coastal ecosystems.
3. Coastal habitat types and species of Community interest are at risk in Europe; two thirds of coastal habitat types and more
   than half of coastal species have an unfavourable conservation status.
4. Integrated and ecosystem-based approaches provide the foundation for sustainable coastal management and development, supporting socio-economic development, biodiversity and ecosystem services. Coordinated action at the global, regional and local levels will be key to sustainable management of coastal ecosystems. 

Key Findings:

• The main causes of changes to coastal ecosystems are coastal erosion; sprawling economic sites and infrastructure linked to urbanisation and tourism; and creating and managing forests as well as water bodies.
• Coastal erosion is largely caused by sediment starvation as a consequence of river dams, although intensive development and sand mining can also contribute to coastal habitat destruction.
• Half of Europe's coastal wetlands are expected to disappear (approximately 4500 km2) as a result of sea level rise linked to climate change.
• About 10 % of Europe's coastline is already protected by sea defences.Climate change is also expected to affect river flows and species in coastal wetlands and estuaries.
• Higher water temperatures might also shift the balance in favour of invasive alien species.
• Urbanisation put Mediterranean coastal wetlands under constant pressure in the period 1990–2000, particularly in Spain and southern Italy.
• High nitrate and phosphate loads in water environments lead to blue-green algae blooms, which can choke all other aquatic life through high oxygen consumption and threaten human health in bathing areas.Increasing exploitation of sand and gravel from coastal zones or over-exploitation of fish stocks also put considerable pressure on coastal ecosystems.
• More than two thirds of coastal habitat types and more than half of species typical of coastal ecosystems have an 'unfavourable' conversation status.

Policy Links

• EU
  Water Framework Directive.
• EU Marine Strategy
  Framework Directive.
•  Habitats
  Directive and Birds
  Directive.