It is estimated that 75 % of the world's largest cities are situated near the coastlines. In Asia, a vast majority of the population resides along the coasts where population growth rates are generally higher than the national averages. Marine based tourism and fisheries are playing increasingly important roles in the economy of many Asian countries. As more and more coastal areas turn into centers of economic activity, the ensuing 'pull factor' results in exponential coastal population growth. As a direct consequence, coastal ecosystems are coming under extreme duress.

Encroachment into protected areas and state lands remains a contentious issue in MFF countries. Populations migrating in coastal areas for better opportunites settle in statelands and develop into permanent clusters with perceived rights to these lands. This gives rise to frequent conflicts between different resource users, local communities, the private sector and government.

Proper land use planning is crucial to integrated coastal management. The health of coastal ecosystems and their overall productivity is invariably linked to proper management. Most MFF countries in the region have comprehensive laws and regulations governing land use in coastal zones. However these laws and regulations are often weakly enforced resulting in conflicts and environmentally unsustainable land use. Not all countries have integrated land use policy or strategies in place, and where they exist these strategies are not always put into practice.

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