Urban development and coastal zone management - An international review

The ecosystems of coastal lands and waters are described, with the hazards threatening them and the urban settlements within them. Impacts of urban development include coastal protection, tourism, resource extraction, waste disposal, and the conflicts between them. Existing approaches (national and regional planning, disaster relief, small-area protection etc.) are discussed, then attempts to overcome these approaches' deficiencies through Integrated Coastal Planning and Management. Crucial issues are involving stakeholders, adopting a process-oriented approach to policy making, political will, adequate laws and finance, and increasing people's knowledge. But ICPM evaluations are scarce, and approaches to integrating resource-based approaches with urban development are still being developed.