Charleston, South Carolina Forum |
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| The Coastal Vision Steering Committee | On the Need for a New Coastal Vision | To Learn More |
“To be effective, mitigation must address the social and economic factors at the heart of risk and vulnerability. Communities, households, and individuals need to know the range of alternatives available to them and understand fully the implications of their decisions.”
Human Links to Coastal Disasters, 2002
A Publication of The Heinz Center
Our coastal areas face a critical challenge: balancing the needs of a growing population and industry while maintaining the ecological stability necessary to support our human needs.
The Nation’s coasts are home to more than half of the U.S. population. We are inextricably linked to our oceans and coasts, relying on them for a wide range of essential resources and activities, including productive fisheries, global trade, recreation, mineral and energy production, and ecological diversity.
The devastation of recent hurricane seasons highlighted coastal vulnerability in a dramatic way. To avoid additional tragedies in the future, the nation’s challenge is to redefine coastal development now – to identify best practices that safeguard people and their environment, ensuring prosperous communities for generations to come.
A New Coastal Vision…
Our project’s mission is to define actions that will allow communities to implement a new vision of coastal development. Our goal is to create a more viable and sustainable approach to the use of coastal areas that strikes a healthy balance among economic, social, and environmental needs, while reducing the vulnerability of populations to natural disasters.
“At its core, the problems of coastal development are about human beings and the demands we place on natural resources and ecosystems. We are currently making more demands on coastal and marine ecosystems than they can reliably meet.”
America’s Living Oceans, May 2003
Pew Oceans Commission
Why The Heinz Center?
Since 1997, the Heinz Center—through its Sustainable Oceans, Coasts and Waterways (SOCW) program—has produced the following reports recommending specific policy and program enhancements to lessen human and ecological vulnerability to coastal risks:
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These studies, along with our status as a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, uniquely position the Heinz Center to chart a course for disaster-resilient, ecosystem-compatible, and economically and socially vibrant coastal communities.
Working with business, universities, government, environmental groups, and ordinary citizens, we are confident that we can build upon this legacy and create viable policy solutions for a sustainable and safe coastal future.
For More Information About the Coastal Initiative Program:
Contact Christophe A. G. Tulou, Program Director, Tulou@heinzctr.org
Opportunities to Support the Heinz Center’s Coastal Initiative:
For information on sponsorship opportunities please contact
Anne Hummer, Development Director, hummer@heinzctr.org.