An International Context for Australian Coastal Management

Coasts are back on the agenda! It is unfortunate that often it takes a tragedy to create the catalyst for this increase in focus and attention. While a groundswell of recognition about the importance of coastal issues has become evident in many natural resource and community development discourses, mass recognition of the importance of coastal management has certainly been fuelled by both the Boxing Day tsunami and the New Orleans inundation. This paper will provide a brief overview of recent international directions and initiatives in coastal management, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region and in relation to the Australian context