On November 11 and 12, the annual reports prepared by the Office of Science and Technology are presented in the Spanish Congress of Deputies. These documents compile scientific evidence on critical topics to guide public policies and management in these areas. Researchers from the CEAB-CSIC participate in the roundtable discussion on the coastal zone management report.
The conclusions of this year’s four reports are presented in the Congress of Deputies on Monday, November 11, throughout the day. The next day, they are analyzed and debated in roundtables with participation from both subject matter experts and political representatives. These sessions include CSIC researchers, with coastal experts from CEAB-CSIC specifically joining the coastal zones discussion. Researcher Jordi Pagès, a specialist in coastal studies, shares his insights with deputies on this issue. Pagès, with the also CEAB-CSIC’s researcher, Rafael Sardá, has been one of the scientists interviewed for the preparation of this report. Both have likewise served as reviewers of the report.
The four reports were commissioned by the Congress of Deputies’ Bureau in early 2024. The Congress’s own Office of Science and Technology is responsible for preparing these reports, gathering existing literature, and conducting interviews with scientists and other expert professionals. The presentation events allow for a joint review of findings, a chance to clarify questions with experts who collaborated on the reports, and an opportunity to exchange perspectives. All reports are open to the public and are available on the Office’s web portal.
Integrated Coastal Zone Management
Among the main conclusions of the coastal management document is the increased risk associated with the global change scenario and the need to work collaboratively to minimize it. The report identifies significant issues such as excessive construction, over-exploitation of natural resources, and various types of pollution. It notes that, as a result, accelerated erosion and increase in storm intensity and other extreme events that threaten critical infrastructure and urbanized areas; these situations are worsening and can no longer be postponed.
In this context, the report calls for integrated coastal management in which different stakeholders (government, private sector, citizens…) act as one and adopt a global perspective that translates into actions adapted to local realities and each region’s unique characteristics. The document emphasizes the need to balance natural ecosystem preservation with the needs of local populations to ensure long-term sustainable actions.
The report includes concrete proposals to make Spain’s coastal zones more resilient. It recommends nature-based solutions such as conserving—and in some cases restoring—dunes, dune vegetation, wetlands, and seagrass beds, which help mitigate the impacts of storms and other extreme events that are increasingly intense due to global change.
In his address, CEAB-CSIC researcher Jordi Pagès highlights the “need to leave space for natural ecosystems (which are dynamic by nature) to expand or retreat with minimal risk to people.” This model has already been adopted in some EU countries and has proven to be more successful than hard, artificial measures like dikes or breakwaters.
The document urges the immediate adoption of adaptive solutions that help preserve biodiversity and ecosystem health while enhancing residents’ well-being. It recommends immediate measures to reduce storm impacts and protect populations and ecosystem services, as well as long-term actions with a 50-75 year perspective to adapt the coastline to global change scenarios.
You can access the complete “Sustainable Coastal Zone Management” report at this link.
L'entrada Report “Sustainable Coastal Zone Management” ha aparegut primer a CEAB.