Applying Knowledge 

1. Knowledge for Management
Improving the knowledge base for coastal planning, policy and Management

The recipe for good coastal zone management is a sound ecological, biophysical and socio-economic knowledge base, including spatial data on resources, hazards and infrastructure and their management and use arrangements. Although there has been extensive research in the region, and large quantities of data collected, knowledge gaps still remains.

For example UNEP, in the rapid environmental assessments prepared in the immediate aftermath of the tsunami, noted the lack of readily-available environmental data. New data gathering activities have been initiated regionally and nationally as a result such as; UNDP’s Development Assistance Database, UNEP’s Environmental Knowledge Centre, and Trinet in India and IUCN’s Regional Information Hub on Coastal Ecosystems, but considerable gaps in information still needs to be filled.



Information about key aspects of coastal ecosystems, their goods, services and interactions with other elements of human and physical infrastructure, are in some cases still poorly understood or inaccessible to those who need. Further, data is often not being made available to the general public because they are held in research institutions or by government bodies with little or no methods for data sharing or systems for finding information.

There are many relevant and resourceful global database but these may not deal with appropriate scales for local coastal management. Instead existing national information systems and GIS centres may be more suited to the tasks needed, but these national institutions often lack data, or are focused on terrestrial areas rather than coastal zones. However, coastal managers frequently do not have access to these information resources. This programme of work therefore sets out to tackle the key challenge to ensure that adequate social science and natural science information is made available in a practical and policy-relevant form, which can meet coastal planning needs. These are geared towards addressing critical issues and threats relating to coastal zone development, conservation and disaster preparedness.

Actions and outputs

• Gap analysis of existing knowledge resources and data sources as compared to the needs of coastal managers for information, including for risk reduction and disaster management.
• National and site-level baseline assessments of coastal biodiversity, ecosystems and livelihoods in order to contribute to a regional inventory, including an assessment of risk and vulnerability.
• Appropriate regional and national-level information networks, resource centres, databases and/or meta-databases.
• Support to existing national data and GIS centres in accessing and sharing relevant data regarding coastal zone ecosystems.
• Targeted research to fill key data gaps and information needs, including:
  • The nature, magnitude and benefit of coastal ecosystem services (such as support to fisheries productivity, storm and wave control and shoreline protection);
  • Resilience and recovery rates of different species and communities in vegetated coastal ecosystems;
  • Presence and impact of invasive alien species in coastal ecosystems.

The actions carried out under this programme of work will contribute towards the following MFF results:

• Safe space and constructive dialogue for discussing sensitive issues.
• More inclusive development planning, appraisal, approval and monitoring processes which reflect ecosystem needs.
• Stronger regional voice in global dialogues and decisions.