Monitoring coastal environment

This strategy features in the framework of Agenda 21 as formulated at UNCED (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), now coordinated by the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development and implemented through national and local authorities. Agenda 21 recommends systematic observation of coastal habitats and sea-level changes, inventories of marine pollution sources and reviews of fisheries statistics. Agenda 21 also recommends initiating a global observing system of parameters needed for the rational management of coastal zones, particularly in developing countries.

In support of coastal area ecosystems management, an Integrated Coastal Assessment and Monitoring System (ICAMS) was developed to monitor water quality and coastal resources distribution and usage parameters by using multiple earth observation data such as satellite data from SeaWIFS and future ENVISAT sensors and in situ measurements. Such a system will provide data of appropriate spatial and temporal scale to address information needs in coastal management, such as the origins, causes and implications of changes of coastal water quality on associated resources.