Introduction to the special issue on community-based coastal management

Community-based coastal management represents a new form of partnership between government and community-based organizations. In its sense, it is about power sharing in the integrated planning and management of coastal zones. This kind of partnership may be initiated by communities themselves, by government agencies, or with the assistance of NGOs. Key to the success of the partnership is the changing role of the government coupled with a clear attention to the local sociopolitical structure and traditions in the country in question.