Coastal environment: risks and impacts

Abstract

Coastal regions show a varied exposure to anthropogenic and natural risks, whose impact can often endanger the delicate balance of coastal habitats. Over the past issues of the Journal of Integrated Coastal Zone Management, several coastal risks have been broadly analysed, along with practical case studies, novel research and scientific findings ( e.g ., Taveira-Pinto et al . (2021), Hoff et al . (2022) and Costa (2022)). The continuous study of coastal risks, hazards, and the short or long-term interactions between inhabitants and the coast, remains an important research topic, particularly given the rising pressure in coastal areas, due to widely known factors, e.g . climate change, increasing population and development of large cities, as well as the increase of industrial, commercial and social activities near the coast (Pelling and Blackburn, 2013), including recently boosting sectors of the so-called sea economy, such as the ones related to marine renewable energy and aquaculture, among others. In this context, the present journal issue provides a unique set of works dedicated to the analysis of several environmental risks and impacts, which represent paradigmatic cases that have a profound impact on the sustainable and integrated management of coastal resources. there is a complete absence of management and contingency plans, while in the portion of of were in the by the oil municipalities and 7 The conducted analysis showed that none of these cases had a management and contingency plan covering the chemical impacts related to oil spilling, which in turn leads to unprepared populations and authorities in case of a disaster. This study concludes with recommendations to update the management and contingency plans of coastal regions in Brazil and provides a benchmark study that can be useful for other nations and municipalities with heavy oil and maritime traffic related activities.