Ecological and Economic Assessment and Dangerous Coastal Processes in the Coastal Zone of the Azov Sea

Abstract

To assess the current state of the coastal zone of the Sea of Azov, we made an analysis of socio-economic and environmental consequences of hazardous coastal processes, a comprehensive environmental and economic assessment, which includes the study of the main natural, economic, social and environmental factors of the coastal zone. In the process of assessment, the following were determined: natural resources, economic and demographic potentials, living standards and quality of life of the population, and environmental conditions. In order to compare heterogeneous socio-economic and environmental indicators, a five-point system was used, in which the numerical values of the indicators were ranked using certain criteria. The assessment in the coastal zone of the Sea of Azov identified five groups of cities and areas with different levels of development, ecological and economic balance. Emergency areas with a high rate of bank destruction (more than 2-4 m/year) are located in the Neklinovsky, Shcherbinovsky, Yeiskiy, PrimorskoAkhtarsky districts and account for 33% of the coast. Ecological and economic assessment of the coastal zone of the Azov Sea is the basis for further analysis of socio-economic and environmental consequences of dangerous coastal processes and development of recommendations for their prevention.