Coastal systems in the Anthropocene

Abstract

People are integral parts of nature and, in many respects, are becoming dominant parts. This notion is implicit in the term “Anthropocene”. In no environment is the connection between people and nature more apparent than in coastal systems. Mutual causality between humans and nature plays out there on a daily basis, sometimes in very positive ways and other times in tragic ways. The enjoyment of coastal beauty and spiritual stimulation are among the positive attractions as are access to global seaways, fisheries and recreation. Death, disease and destruction wrought by severe storms and tsunamis are paramount among the downsides. But for a multiplicity of reasons, roughly half of the world’s 7 billion people live within 100 km (60 miles) of the shore. And the activities of those who live much farther inland, for example within the catchments of large rivers that run to the coast, impact the coastal environment and its residents in numerous ways. Human activities that directly impact coastal systems include urbanization, agriculture, nutrient runoff, engineering works, fisheries, oil and gas production, dredging and various forms of pollution. Natural processes that impact coastal residents include sea level rise, storms and storm surges, water-borne pathogens, tsunamis, and loss of ecosystem services. Important ecosystem services include pollination, decomposition, water purification, erosion and flood control, carbon storage, and climate regulation.