1 1.10 Application of estuarine and coastal classifications in marine ...
1 1.10 Application of estuarine and coastal classifications in marine ...
1 1.10 Application of estuarine and coastal classifications in marine ...
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also be used to assess the role <strong>of</strong> mangroves <strong>in</strong> protect<strong>in</strong>g the coastl<strong>in</strong>e from tsunamis <strong>and</strong> to<br />
identify possible areas for conservation, restoration <strong>and</strong> rehabilitation.<br />
<strong>1.10</strong>.8 ENVIRONMENTAL RISK ASSESSMENT AND HUMAN IMPACTS<br />
Knowledge <strong>of</strong> the distribution <strong>of</strong> habitats, communities, <strong>and</strong> species <strong>and</strong> how they<br />
respond to the effects <strong>of</strong> human <strong>and</strong> non-human processes is fundamental to effective<br />
management <strong>of</strong> the mar<strong>in</strong>e environment. Spatially explicit risk assessments that l<strong>in</strong>k <strong>in</strong>formation<br />
on the sensitivity <strong>of</strong> the environment to the occurrence <strong>of</strong> a pressure are fundamental to the<br />
implementation <strong>of</strong> spatial management (Hope, 2006). In fact, the spatial distribution <strong>of</strong> habitats<br />
<strong>and</strong> the spatial distribution <strong>of</strong> human activities are <strong>in</strong> many cases <strong>in</strong>terrelated. Many directives<br />
<strong>and</strong> strategies such as the EC Water Framework Directive <strong>and</strong> the EC Mar<strong>in</strong>e Strategy<br />
Framework Directive state that efficient management must identify anthropogenic pressures on<br />
the mar<strong>in</strong>e environment <strong>and</strong> assess their potential effects. Methods for assess<strong>in</strong>g habitat<br />
sensitivity to human impacts are now urgently needed to measure impact susta<strong>in</strong>ability, develop<br />
spatial management plans, <strong>and</strong> support sound environmental impact assessments. These<br />
procedures should be quantitative, validated, repeatable, <strong>and</strong> applicable at multiple spatial scales<br />
relevant to both the impact <strong>and</strong> management (Hidd<strong>in</strong>k et al., 2007, Fraschetti et al. 2008).<br />
Mar<strong>in</strong>e species <strong>and</strong> habitats vary <strong>in</strong> their response to stressors (both anthropogenic <strong>and</strong><br />
non-anthropogenic) <strong>and</strong> del<strong>in</strong>eat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> classify<strong>in</strong>g areas or habitat classes based on their<br />
relative sensitivity <strong>and</strong> vulnerability to stressors is a valuable tool <strong>in</strong> manag<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> predict<strong>in</strong>g<br />
disturbances to the mar<strong>in</strong>e environment. Zacharias <strong>and</strong> Gregr (2005) def<strong>in</strong>e “sensitivity” as the<br />
degree to which mar<strong>in</strong>e features respond to stresses, which are considered as deviations <strong>of</strong><br />
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