Description

Coastal environments encompass areas where land meets seas, including tidal wetlands, estuaries, bays, mangrove swamps, and reefs. These regions are highly biodiverse, rivaling tropical rainforests. However, human activities, pollution, and coastal development stress these ecosystems, limiting growth and reproduction of flora and fauna, thereby reducing biodiversity. Effective coastal zone management, a recent concept, addresses these interconnected challenges arising from population growth and development along coastlines. Climate change has further exacerbated environmental impacts, such as glacier retreat, early ice melting, and shifts in plant and animal ranges. This book compiles essential information on coastal environments, serving as a valuable resource for students, scholars, and anyone interested in these critical ecosystems.