Download PDF - COINAtlantic

11 th International Symposium for GIS and Computer Cartography for Coastal Zones ManagementThe second category of available methods is represented by dynamic computer modeling. The approach can includesector and integrated assessment methods. Integrated assessment models aim to evaluate the vulnerability ofcoastal systems to multiple climate change impacts, including the cross-sector analysis of the interaction amongdifferent impacts and/or considering changes in other factors affecting the coastal system (mainly the socioeconomiccontext and adaptation measures). For example, DIVA is an integrated model to assess biophysical andsocio-economic effects induced by sea-level rise driven impacts on coastal zones and by socio-economic development(Hinkel, 2005; European Climate Forum, 2011).In general, coastal vulnerability assessments should adopt an integrated approach considering climate and nonclimateinduced environmental changes, socio-economic developments and the mutual interaction among thesefactors. However, the separated analysis of effects induced by each driver typology (i.e. climate change, other environmentaland socio-economic drivers) is also important, since it enables the understanding of their relative importancefor the coastal system.The approach to be used for coastal vulnerability (totally or partially integrated or specifically focusing on climatechange drivers) strictly depends on the policy purpose of the coastal vulnerability assessment as well as on thestage of the policy development.ConclusionCoastal ecosystems remain under significant threat from multiple pressures leading to the potential irreversibleloss of ecosystem services. At the same time human activities in the coastal zone continue to increase at land andsea, and are likely to do so in the future. These reasons have been the main drivers behind the Europe making theecosystem-based approach to management a key concept in its policies as a tool for ensuring a long-term sustainabledevelopment. To truly implement the ecosystem-based approach to management of human activities in coastal areas,tools allowing for integrated and repeatable assessments are essential. The examples provided above can, despitestill being in their formation, potentially deliver such new synthetic analysis depending on data availability.AcknowledgmentsResults of this work are based on contributions from European Topic Centres by Manuel Lago, Andy Stock,Alejandro Iglesias Campos, Kieran Bowen, Emiliano Ramieri and other colleagues.ReferencesAndersen, J.H. and A. Stock, (eds.), Mannerla, M., Heinänen, S. and M. Vinther, M. (2013), Human uses, pressures and impactsin the eastern North Sea. Aarhus University, DCE – Danish Centre for Environment and Energy. 135 p.Deduce Consortium (2007), Indicators Guidelines. To adopt an indicators-based approach to evaluate coastal sustainable development.Department of the Environment and Housing, Government of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain. Available at:http://www.deduce.eu/PDF-NewsLetter/indicators_guidelines.pdf (last access: 4 August 2011).EEA (2011), An experimental framework for ecosystem capital accounting in Europe. Technical report No 13/2011.Vandenbruwaene, W., T. Maris, T.J.S. Cox, D.R. Cahoon, P. Meire, and S. Temmerman (2011), “Sedimentation and response tosea-level rise of a restored marsh with reduced tidal exchange: Comparison with a natural tidal marsh”. Geomorphology130:115-126.European Climate Forum (2011), DIVA Model. http://www.diva-model.net/ (last access: 4 August 2011).Eurosion (2004), Living with coastal erosion in Europe: Sediment and Space for Sustainability. PART III – Methodology forassessing regional indicators. 20 May 2004. Available at: http://www.eurosion.org/reports-online/part3.pdf.Gornitz, V.M., T.W. White, and R.M. Cushman(1991), “Vulnerability of the U.S. to future sea-level rise”. In: Proceedings ofSeventh Symposium on Coastal and Ocean Management. Long Beach, CA, USA: 2354-2368.Hinkel, J. (2005), “DIVA: an iterative method for building modular integrated models”. Advances in Geosciences, 4:45-50.Halpern, B.S., K.A. Selkoe, F. Micheliand, and C.V. Kappel, (2007), “Evaluating and ranking the vulnerability of global marineecosystems to anthropogenic threats”. Conservation Biology 21:1301‐1315.Halpern, B.S., S. Walbridge, H.A. Selkoe, C.V. Kappel, F. Micheli, C. D’Agrosa, J.F. Bruno, K.S. Casey, C. Ebert, H.E. Fox, R.Fujita, D. Heinemann, H.S. Lenihan, E.M.P. Madin, M.T. Perry, E.R. Selig, M. Spalding, R. Steneck, and R. Watson, (2008),“A global map of human impact on marine ecosystems”. Science 319:948–952.56