IssuesTackling Coastal Challenges
The Coastal States Organization works with the nation’s coastal States, Territories, and Commonwealths to address coastal management issues on local, regional, and national scales. We use research, outreach, and education to bring the latest science, and policy to coastal managers. And we connect decision-makers with coastal science, social trends, and cutting-edge policy to strengthen and preserve ecosystems and communities across the nation.
Sediment placement regulations, and related state and federal policies, are frequently cited as a significant limitation to implementing Regional Sediment Management (RSM). Sediment Placement Regulations of U.S. Coastal States and Territories: Towards Regional Sediment Management Implementation, developed by the American Shore & Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA) and Coastal States Organization (CSO) with support from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Institute for Water Resources (IWR), provides a comparative analysis of federal- and state-level regulations on placing sediment in the coastal zone, with best practices, success stories and recommendations.
The 34 State and Territory Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Programs are leaders in the development and implementation of coastal adaptation, mitigation, and resilience strategies. CZM Programs are on the ground to support communities at every step along the path to resilience. They have the flexibility to operate across multiple levels of government and are uniquely positioned to link cutting-edge federal research data and tools with local communities to address coastal changes and hazards.
Coral reefs are some of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet. They make up a relatively small fraction of the ocean – less than 1% – but provide habitat to around 25% of the world’s marine life. Coral reefs are also incredibly valuable ecosystems, contributing over $10 trillion every year to the global economy. Coral reefs are threatened by changing water temperatures, ocean acidification, and pollution, physical impacts from ships and storms, and invasive species. Protecting and restoring coral reef ecosystems requires a proactive, multi-phased approach that ranges from local to global efforts.
Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems in the world and provide numerous benefits to society. The management of wetland ecosystems is complex and represent truly interdisciplinary efforts that can take decades to achieve results. Historically, wetland ecosystems have undergone substantial degradation from natural causes and human activities. In recent years, many have come to learn the true value of wetlands and their successful restoration is key to maintaining a healthy coastal ecosystem. Read more about the wetland restoration through the years.
The Community Rating System (CRS) is a voluntary program under the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Floodplain Program (NFIP). The goal of the CRS is to reduce flood damages to insurable property, encourage both local hazard mitigation activities and increase NFIP participation. Nationwide, many Coastal Programs have prioritized CRS as a platform for supporting communities to achieve coastal resilience.
American Shore and Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA) and CSO have worked together to conduct comprehensive policy research based on which they have issued a Joint Beach and Inlet Management Policy which calls for policies, funding, and scientific research, data, and tools to address the unprecedented challenges facing our nation’s coasts.
In an era of rising sea levels, changing Great Lake levels, increasing storm intensity, coastal erosion and flooding, and lack of available coastal sediment, Congress and the Administration must take major steps to help coastal managers maintain critical resources. CSO and ASBPA call for action to improve sediment management, permitting of coastal projects, funding for project planning, design, and implementation, responsible coastal development, and critical science and research. The joint policies set forth key recommendations for how to balance the multiple uses and values of our coastal resources, while ensuring those values are maintained or improved for future generations.
Shirika la Nchi za Pwani (COCO) linafanya kazi na Nchi za Pwani, Wilaya, na Jumuiya ya Madola kushughulikia masuala ya usimamizi wa pwani katika viwango vya mitaa, kikanda, na kitaifa. Tunatumia utafiti, ufikiaji, na elimu kuleta sayansi ya hivi karibuni, na sera kwa wasimamizi wa pwani. Tunaunganisha watunga maamuzi na sayansi ya pwani, mwenendo wa kijamii, na sera za ubunifu ili kuimarisha na kuhifadhi mifumo ya ikolojia na jamii kote nchini. Sheria za kuweka sediment, na sera zinazohusiana za serikali na shirikisho, mara nyingi zinatajwa kama kikwazo kikubwa cha kutekeleza Usimamizi wa Sediment wa Mkoa (RSM). "Kama ilivyoelezwa katika ""Sediment Placement Regulations of U.S. Coastal States and Territories: Towards Regional Sediment Management Implementation,"" iliyoundwa na Shirika la Amerika la Uhifadhi wa Pwani na Pwani (ASBPA) na Shirika la Nchi za Pwani (CSO) kwa msaada wa Taasisi ya Rasilimali za Maji ya Jeshi la Marekani (USACI), hutoa uchambuzi wa kulinganisha wa kanuni za kiwango cha shirikisho na cha jimbo juu ya kuweka sediment katika eneo la pwani." Programu za Utawala wa Eneo la Pwani za Jimbo na Wilaya 34 ni viongozi katika maendeleo na utekelezaji wa mikakati ya kukabiliana na pwani, kupunguza, na upinzani. Programu za CZM ziko kwenye ardhi kusaidia jamii katika kila hatua kwenye njia ya kuhimili. Wana kubadilika kwa kufanya kazi katika ngazi nyingi za serikali na wana nafasi ya kipekee ya kuunganisha data na zana za utafiti wa hali ya juu wa shirikisho na jamii za mitaa ili kukabiliana na mabadiliko ya pwani na hatari. Miamba ya matumbawe ni mojawapo ya mifumo ya ikolojia yenye utofauti mkubwa zaidi duniani. Ni sehemu ndogo ya bahari, chini ya 1%, lakini hutoa makazi kwa karibu 25% ya maisha ya baharini duniani. Matumbawe ni mifumo muhimu sana ya ikolojia, na huchangia zaidi ya dola bilioni 10 kila mwaka kwa uchumi wa dunia. Matumbawe ya matumbawe yanatishwa na mabadiliko ya joto la maji, kuongezeka kwa asidi ya bahari, na uchafuzi wa mazingira, athari za kimwili kutoka kwa meli na dhoruba, na spishi za uvamizi. Ulinzi na urekebishaji wa mifumo ya ikolojia ya matumbawe inahitaji mbinu ya kujihusisha, ya hatua nyingi ambayo inatofautiana kutoka kwa juhudi za ndani hadi za kimataifa. Maeneo yenye unyevunyevu ni miongoni mwa mifumo ya ikolojia yenye kuzaa zaidi ulimwenguni na hutoa faida nyingi kwa jamii. Usimamizi wa mazingira ya maeneo ya mvua ni tata na inawakilisha juhudi kweli interdisciplinary ambayo inaweza kuchukua miongo ili kufikia matokeo. Kihistoria, mifumo ya ikolojia ya maeneo ya mvua imeharibiwa sana kutokana na sababu za asili na shughuli za kibinadamu. Katika miaka ya hivi karibuni, wengi wamekuja kujifunza thamani ya kweli ya maeneo ya mvua na kurudishwa kwao kwa mafanikio ni muhimu kwa kudumisha mazingira ya pwani yenye afya. Soma zaidi kuhusu kurudishwa kwa maeneo ya mvua kwa miaka mingi. Mfumo wa Ubora wa Jumuiya (CRS) ni mpango wa hiari chini ya Shirika la Usimamizi wa Hali ya Dharura la Shirikisho (FEMA) Programu ya Taifa ya Mafuriko (NFIP). Lengo la CRS ni kupunguza uharibifu wa mafuriko kwa mali ya bima, kuhamasisha shughuli zote mbili za kupunguza hatari za ndani na kuongeza ushiriki wa NFIP. Katika nchi nzima, Programu nyingi za Pwani zimetoa kipaumbele kwa CRS kama jukwaa la kusaidia jamii kufikia uvumilivu wa pwani. Shirika la Amerika la Uhifadhi wa Pwani na Pwani (ASBPA) na CSO wameshirikiana kufanya utafiti wa sera kamili, kulingana na ambayo wametoa Sera ya Usimamizi wa Pwani na Inlet ya Pamoja, ambayo inatoa sera, ufadhili, na utafiti wa kisayansi, data, na zana za kukabiliana na changamoto zisizo na kifani zinazokabili pwani za taifa letu. Katika enzi ya kuongezeka kwa viwango vya bahari, mabadiliko ya viwango vya Ziwa Kuu, kuongezeka kwa nguvu za dhoruba, uharibifu wa pwani na mafuriko, na ukosefu wa sediment ya pwani inayopatikana, Bunge na Utawala lazima uchukue hatua kubwa kusaidia wasimamizi wa pwani kudumisha rasilimali muhimu. CSO na ASBPA zinatoa wito wa hatua za kuboresha usimamizi wa sediment, kuruhusu miradi ya pwani, ufadhili wa mipango ya mradi, kubuni, na utekelezaji, maendeleo ya pwani ya uwajibikaji, na sayansi muhimu na utafiti. Sera za pamoja zinaweka mapendekezo muhimu ya jinsi ya kusawazisha matumizi mengi na maadili ya rasilimali zetu za pwani, wakati kuhakikisha maadili hayo yanadumishwa au kuboreshwa kwa vizazi vijavyo.