The scientific and human sides of coastal governance: Regional profile of West Asia/North Africa

The status of the coastal environment and governance in West Asia/North Africa is examined. While the region exhibits considerable biophysical and socioeconomic heterogeneity, a number of coastal concerns are prevalent across much of it. These include non-sustainable resource harvesting, coastal habitat degradation, land-based and other coastal pollution, and environmentally harmful tourism. Related to these problems has been inadequate attention to the human side of governance. Suggested measures for more effective coastal governance are set out, including general principles on integrated coastal management and use of a simple governance framework. These measures provide a mechanism for implementing the provisions of existing regional and international conventions, and also other activities and recommendations including those outlined in the concluding sections of this paper.