Coastal zones are areas of particular ecological, social, and economic value where many conflicting interests need to be resolved in order to ensure a sustainable development of this highly complex environment. Humanity has always shown a special interest in the coastal zone and a large fraction of the human population traditionally settles in or close to the coastal zone. Recent increases in coastal urban population and changes in land-use practices have led to rapid and large changes in sediment supplies and increases in nutrient, pollutant and pathogen loadings to coastal waters. Climate-induced changes in sea level are likely to increase the risk of inundation in many parts of the coastal zone. The on-going and anticipated changes pose serious risks to human health and the capacity of ecosystems to support products and services critical to the survival and well being of human populations, in developed and developing nations alike.

The Coastal Zone Community of Practice (CZCP) supports the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) in its goal to provide observations required for informed decisions concerning the coastal zone. High and immediate priorities for GEOSS are improved forecasts of sea-level rise and associated increases in coastal inundation that may be exacerbated by increases in the frequency of extreme weather.

If you are new to the CZCP and are considering to join, start by reading the Theme Report ...

More about the CZCP, who we are, what we do, and why we do it, is available here.

If you have questions, want to express your interest, become a member/contributor, or have relevant information, please go to "You & the CZCP" or contact the Co-Chairs.

[28 April 2010] Workshop report published in GEO Newsletter: A report on the Second Regional Workshop of the CZCP has been publised in the GEO Newsletter. Read the full article ...

[21 April 2010] CZCP Work Plan meeting scheduled for June 9, 2010: The CZCP members will meet on June 9, 2010 to work out details of a Work Plan for the next two to three years. This one-day meeting will take place in the broader U.S. East Coast area, with the exact location still tbd. More information will be made available on the Meetings Page.

[22 February 2010] 2nd Regional CZCP Workshop took place: The 2nd Regional Workshop of the CZCP was held on February 15-18, 2010 in Cotonou, Benin. This workshop, which was integrated into a larger workshop organized by UNESCO's International Hydrology Programme and GGOS in coordination with the CZCP, had two sub-themes focusing on coastal inundation and impacts of climate change on water resources.

More information on the workshop and more pictures are available at the Workshop Web Page.

[22 November 2009] GEOSS in the Americas meeting focused on Coastal Zone issues: The GEOSS in the Americas Meeting, which took place on November 20, 2009 in the Canadian Embassy in Washington D.C. had a main focus on coastal zone issues in the Americas. The presentations given during this meeting are available on the GEOSS in Americas page of the CZCP.