Communities and Coastal Zone Management

This book brings several important findings of the collaborative research by Kyoto University and University of Madras addressing some of the urgent research issues in the coastal zone management, with emphasis to community participation and risk communication. The research questions, includes: 1) How to enhance linkage of environment and disaster management through appropriate community based coastal zone management? 2) How to enhance community risk perception, and communicate it for effective actions for future tsunami disasters? The relationship between human and environment is most pronounced in areas of human dependence on access to natural resources. Environmental resources are a critical part of the livelihoods of many people. Disaster management has its direct connotation to human environment. In the coastal areas, the disaster issues are very much related to the environmental degradation. The Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004 has caused unprecedented damages to the local communities, destroying their lives and livelihoods. This disaster event affect the poor people the most by affecting their lives, properties and livelihoods, and also affect the natural and built environment. Therefore, by creating disaster resilient communities, it is possible to enhance environmental protection. Topics Covered * coastal zone management issues and community practices * community based coastal management * coastal conservation * resource management * disaster risk reduction experiences