Global environmental change, local land use impacts and socio-economic response strategies in coastal regions

This paper addresses the issue of possible land use strategies and responses in coastal zones as a consequence of global environmental change. It willfirst set out some key elements in global change that are of critical importance for the water and land management in such areas. Next, it will map outin more detail the various environmental and socio-economic repercussions of such megatrends. This will then be followed by a discussion of thenecessity to develop proper coastal zone management policy strategies in order to cope with uncertain challenges. In particular, the research needs will be addressed. The paper will then illustrate the potential of integrated coastal zone dynamic and spatial modelling and evaluation, on the basis of anempirical case study for a coastal region. Furthermore, a number of spatio-economic scenarios related to sea level issues in the Netherlands will bepresented. In this context also risk assessment is shortly discussed in relation to sea level rise.