Science, Policy, and the Coast Improving Decisionmaking (1995) / Chapter Skim
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1 Introduction
1 Introduction
Pages 5-12
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From page 5... ...
and world populations live either near the coast or along rivers that empty directly into the coastal zone. Furthermore, coastal populations are growing faster than inland populations, increasing by more than 1 percent per year in the United States (Culliton et al., 1990~.
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Finally, coastal environments are among those most susceptible to the consequences of global climate change that could affect sea level, freshwater runoff, frequency and intensity of storms, and temperature patterns. Dealing with increases in coastal populations, resource consumption, and land development, while at the same time trying to protect healthy environments, restore degraded environments, replenish depleted fisheries, support economic development, and enhance the quality of human life, is a daunting challenge for policymakers.
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From page 7... ...
Environmental legislation passed by states and the federal government in the 1960s and 1970s (e.g., the National Environmental Policy Act and the Coastal Zone Management Act) gave new importance to coastal management and policymaking and focused new attention on the need for scientific information for decision making.
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From page 8... ...
coast resulted in part because the harvests allowed by the management process exceeded those that scientific analyses indicated were sustainable. Although controversy about the environmental effects of drilling discharges was a factor that delayed oil and gas exploration, scientific consensus indicated that these discharges posed little risk (NRC, 1983a)
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From page 9... ...
There has also been substantial national investment in coastal ocean management activities through programs such as NOAA' s Coastal Zone Management Program and EPA's National Estuary Program and through the implementation of various federal laws concerned with coastal areas (see Table 11. The national investment in the marine-oriented social sciences has been
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From page 10... ...
The three regions differ in terms of such factors as political structures (the single-state California situation versus the multistate binational Gulf of Maine and Gulf of Mexico situations) , the extent of policy experience in each region, and the degree to which the coastal physical
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From page 11... ...
Regional information was gathered by conducting three regional symposia that brought together natural and social scientists; legislative staff and policymakers;3 federal, state, and local agency officials; and representatives of environmental and industrial organizations. Each symposium extended over two days and included plenary stage-setting sessions and concurrent sessions focused on specific issues.
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From page 12... ...
This chapter addresses the role and limitations of science, cultural differences that affect interactions, scientific advisory and review mechanisms, the integration of scientific information, the role of prediction and uncertainty, scientific agenda setting, the interactions among the multiple sectors involved in the policy process, and making coastal management more integrated and adaptive. The committee presents its findings and recommendations for improving the use of science in coastal policymaking in Chapter 4.
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