Building Resilience in Coastal Ecosystems: Problems and Prospects

Abstract

Coastal ecosystems are inherently vulnerable, being exposed to the forces of seas and oceans while braving internal disturbances. These zones are considered to be quite lucrative and are used for different and sometimes competing purposes such as waste disposal, habitation, harbors, polluting industries, agriculture, tourism and recreational activities. An important concern with coastal regions is that they are subject to recurrent hazards; cyclones and floods are annual episodes in these areas. Against this backdrop building resilience in local communities to withstand these changes becomes imperative. The first step in building a resilient habitation is to identify risks both at the micro and the macro level. Second, it is important to identify the vulnerabilities of communities and potential exposure to disasters. Third, a risk management and mitigation exercise needs to be undertaken. This chapter lists the various building blocks of `resilience'. However, an important problem in theorizing resilience is that it cannot be easily quantified. Due to this reason, its relevance is sometimes ignored. Thus, a mix of quantitative and qualitative variables taken together would better explain the resilience quotient. The notion of `resilience' is widely accepted among scientists and environmentalists alike. However, when it comes to operationalizing the concept, there seems to be a lack of consensus. There is an apparent disconnect between the theoretical understanding and practical application of what entails `resilience'. Nevertheless, empirical examination suggests that world-wide, coastal management plans have incorporated the notion of resilience, either explicitly or implicitly. The challenge, however, is to implement it effectively.