ViewpointThe Main Issues Affecting Coasts of the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans: A Meta-analysis from Seas at the Millennium
Introduction
The region considered is the Indian Ocean, Asia and the Southeast and East Asian regions, some 50 chapters in all (Sheppard, 2000). These concern, by and large, undeveloped and sometimes developing countries, many with very large human populations. While this area includes a few polar or near-polar regions, most are warm or tropical, so perhaps not surprisingly many described fairly common problems. About 20 major issues were named and discussed for nearly every area (Fig. 1). In addition to several expected issues that currently affect these seas and oceans, several are recognized as building up greater problems for the future. First a selection of the main issues are discussed, and then more generic or institutional problems are noted, especially where these appear to be hindering the process of repair or recovery.
In making this assessment, a process I have continued on occasion for nearly two years, additional correspondence with numerous authors has clarified their priorities where these cannot be quantified in their chapters. Undoubtedly, my interpretations have been influenced by my own work in 20 of the countries concerned, as well as by digesting the contents of an additional 3000 or more articles submitted to this journal during the long gestation period of Seas at the Millennium. As explained in the Introduction to the volumes, many authors had to phrase what they meant in somewhat cautious language, because in their countries criticism was not always a matter undertaken lightly. In these cases, discussions with authors, and other scientists from those countries, has allowed me to amplify some of the issues, without, I hope, incurring unwanted consequences for the scientists concerned.
Section snippets
Mangrove deforestation
Mangrove deforestation was of concern to every region which contained this habitat. These coastal trees are cleared for three main purposes: for shrimp and fin-fish farms, to create high value land for development, and for direct wood use for fuel or building. Mangrove forest clearance for new farms, in deltas especially, clears thousands of hectares annually, even after more than a decade of intense effort to highlight the problems caused by this practice. It is not as though benefits from
General Issues and Solutions
It is clear that most of the problems, with the exception of warming, are not seen as being scientifically difficult to understand. Nor do most authors in most regions feel it is difficult to find scientific solutions for most of them. Difficulties in solving the problems are more political and motivational, or are caused by an inherently intractable problem of too many people chasing too few resources. Whereas most authors showed optimism, none can offer much comment on what to do about the
Acknowledgements
Primarily I gladly acknowledge the scores of authors who contributed chapters to Seas at the Millennium. Their individual chapters are not separately acknowledged here, because to be fair to them the entire collection of Volume 2 and those of other volumes as well, would need to be cited, which negates the point in part. It is much better to benefit from their wide and varied expertise by reading the volume itself, not just my citations and interpretation of it!
References (1)
- Sheppard, C. R. C. (2000) In Seas at the Millennium: An Environmental Evaluation, vol. 2, p. 920. Elsevier,...
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