From beaches to beach environments: linking the ecology, human-use and management of beaches in Australia

Beaches are very important to Australians but are presently threatened by several forms of environmental degradation. Beach management has traditionally concentrated on geomorphic hazards and the recreational human-use of beaches, but has largely ignored the ecological and broader environmental values of beaches. In this paper beaches are conceived as multidimensional environmental systems — `beach environments’ — that are nested within larger coastal systems and comprised of interacting natural, socio-cultural and management systems. These three component systems of beach environments have usually been considered separately. It is argued that a focus on both the component systems of beach environments and interactions among these systems is necessary for improvements in the management, conservation and overall environmental quality of beaches. Interactions among natural, socio-cultural and management systems are specified in a simple model of beach environments. A brief review of our knowledge on these interactions indicates that fundamental information is lacking in Australia and the ramifications are potentially severe. The concept of beach environments provides an appropriate context for the collection of relevant information, the collaboration necessary between researchers and managers and a new setting for beach environmental management. Several opportunities are outlined for beach management.