Global Forum on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands Presented on behalf of the Linking Freshwater to Oceans Working Group by Dr. Clement Lewsey (NOAA/NOS) Key Question: How can coastal and ocean management and water resources management be effectively linked and integrated across all levels and sectors? Discussion Statement 3 – Meeting Human and Environmental Needs through Linking Integrated Management of Freshwater Basins with Downstream Coastal Areas and their Ecosystems For instance, how to: Equitably manage competing resources Conserve freshwater and marine ecosystems Sustain multiple resource uses

Living on the Edge Coastal development is increasing rapidly and is projected to impact 91% of all inhabited coasts by of the 20 largest cities in the world are on the coast Coastal population densities are projected to increase from 77 people/km 2 to 115 people/km 2 in 2025 The economic future of many countries is centered in the coastal zone Upstream and downstream management and planning are not connected. Stakeholders in both areas are not aware of their impact on each other

Upstream to Downstream Impacts Climate change may change ocean circulation patterns and continental shelf processes crucial to coastal water quality and nutrient cycling More than 80% of marine pollution originates from land-based sources Nitrogen exports to the marine environment are projected to increase at least 14% globally by In Southeast Asia more than 600,000 tons of nitrogen are discharged annually from the major rivers Sedimentation has decreased in some areas due to reduced river flows as a result of terrestrial overuse for agricultural irrigation, while increasing in other regions as a result of coastal development and watershed deforestation Coastal wetlands and mangroves are declining rapidly, typically by 50–90% in most regions in the past 4 decades

Freshwater and coast interaction River basin impacts on the coast river discharge water quality sediment transport floods COAST FRESHWATER Coastal impacts on the river basin water levels, tides, salinity intrusion storm surges material transport (Jonch-Clausen 2008)

ICM IWRM (Jonch-Clausen 2008)

Round table discussion topic: In order to effectively link IWRM and ICM across all levels and sectors… –Barriers to integrated implementation must be transcended; –Potential economic, social and environmental benefits of integration must be widely recognized; –Enabling environments must be developed; and –Appropriate management instruments and institutional framework have to be established.