STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT 2021
The State of the Environment report includes a 244p Coasts Chapter which comprises of the following four key findings:
- Coasts are a zone of concentrated biodiversity and productivity
- Coasts are under pressure
- Climate change will have profound impacts on our coast, particularly sea-level rise, and
- Consistent and coordinated management approaches, involving Traditional Custodians, are needed to protect our coasts.
AUSTRALIA’S COASTAL POLICY – A 10MINUTE SUMMARY
Nick Harvey provided a great 10minute summary of Australia’s Coastal Policy at the 2016 Coast to coast. See it here: Summary of Australian Coastal Policy
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Professional development is a cornerstone theme of ACS. We encourage anyone with an interest in coastal management to pursue professional development and networking opportunities. We are a proud supporter of professional development courses, coastal conferences and networking events
SOME BOOKS TO READ
Australia’s Kimberley Coast. New release October 2018. Written by educator and scientist Dr Alexander (Sandy) Scott, Australia’s Kimberley Coast provides a consolidated account of landforms, biodiversity and human history for this remote scenic region of Western Australia. An informative reference book on the little-known coastline of north western Australia that reflects the pristine charm and makeup of its diverse landforms and biota; explains some of the features of the main indigenous coastal clans; and relates stories of past foreign visitors to the coast.
Seagrasses of Australia. A unique book on Australian seagrasses written by experts in their field. Australia has over half the world’s 60 species of seagrasses and extensive seagrass beds all around its coast from tropical to cold temperate seas
Barrier Dynamics and Response to Climate Change. Barriers and response to changing climate with international case studies of coastal barrier dynamics and including a chapter on Shoreface Controls on Barrier Evolution and Shoreline Change by two of Australia’s recognised coastal researchers Drs Peter Cowell and Michael Kinsela.
A life underwater by Charles Veron. The extraordinary memoir of the marine ecologist Charlie Veron, a maverick Australian who transformed our understanding of coral reefs.
Shack Life – the survival story of three Royal National Park communities by Ingeborg van Teeseling with contributions from Geoff Ashley tells the story of three small beachside communities in the Royal National Park south of Sydney – Era, Burning Palms and Little Garie – and how their residents fought to save their beloved shacks.
Sustainable Seas by Lucy Brake and Raewyn Peart: This full colour, 400-page soft-cover publication, provides the first comprehensive guide to the management of New Zealand’s marine environment. New Zealand has jurisdiction over a very large, varied and productive marine environment. It is of enormous economic, social and cultural importance to New Zealanders. With increasing interest in using and developing marine resources, it is critical that we manage this marine area well. The book is an invaluable resource for all those who have an interest in using, developing, enjoying and/or protecting New Zealand’s marine environment.
Much has been written in the academic literature on the classification and origin of what are variously termed shore or rock platforms, wave-cut platforms, or even marine or shore benches. Readers will find much of this work reviewed in Colin Woodroffe’s majestic text on Coasts: form, process and evolution (Cambridge University Press, 2002) (see also T. Sunamura,1992, Geomorphology of Rocky Coasts, Wiley).
Peter Crawford published Captive of the System (Richmond Ventures, Sydney). It is an important read given matters with coordination of various levels of government.