Framework development for beach management in the British Virgin Islands

Development pressures along with a growing tourism industry threaten ecological sustainability and long-term commercial success of beaches and nearby coastal habitats in the British Virgin Islands (BVI). Legislation pertaining to beach management is limited and specific management plans for beaches are non-existent. Using four key components: dimensional analysis, planning, management and monitoring, the foundation in which to formulate a framework for integrated coastal zone management with a focus on beaches is developed. In order to examine and test the viability of this foundation, two different BVI beaches are used as case studies.