A systems view of integrated coastal management

Natural hazards and human activities in the coastal zone are threatening the integrity of the coastal resource system. Conflicts of interest between short term economic benefits and long term ecologic assets should be identified and solved by means of a balanced CZM approach. Systems analysis, supported by mathematical modelling tools are the appropriate instruments to assist the coastal zone manager. The paper presents a general system description of the coastal zone, and focuses on the modelling of the natural subsystem components of this system as a first step towards a model for Integrated Coastal Management (ICM).