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Advances in the Exploration and Management of Coastal Karst in the Caribbean

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Environmental Management and Governance

Part of the book series: Coastal Research Library ((COASTALRL,volume 8))

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Abstract

Coastal karst is a dominant landform within the Caribbean that has played a significant role in shaping human migration and settlement patterns, modern economic development in the region and its evolving biodiversity. Recent exploration of coastal karst, associated models of littoral cave development and comparative coastal resource management strategies are examined in three distinct island settings in the Caribbean: The Republic of Haiti, Grenada and Isla de Mona (Puerto Rico). These regional island examples display distinct and complex coastal karst morphologies ranging from intensely karstic carbonate platforms to complex non-carbonate island cores overlain by extensive and thickly-bedded coastal and interior carbonate cover or predominantly volcanic landscapes with limited fringing carbonates. Previously unreported field research in these selected island settings support an emerging view of the complex karst development in the region and indicate that significant karst areas remain to be explored while illustrating the associated landform vulnerabilities, anthropogenic effects and range of coastal resource management and preservation initiatives applied to date.

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Acknowledgments

The author wishes to thank Brian D. Oakes, Patricia N. Kambesis and expedition participants of the Isla de Mona Project for their assistance. This work was supported by the Coastal Cave Survey and in part by a grant from the International Exploration Section of the National Speleological Society in collaboration with the Haitian Speleological Survey (Recensement Spéléologique D’Haiti – RHS) with logistical support from the Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources (Departamento Recursos Naturales y Ambientales – DRNA).

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  1. Coastal Cave Survey, 313 ½ West Main St., West Branch, IA, 52358, USA

    Michael J. Lace

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  1. Michael J. Lace
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Correspondence to Michael J. Lace .

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  1. Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida, USA

    Charles W. Finkl

  2. Coastal Education & Research Foundation, Coconut Creek, Florida, USA

    Christopher Makowski

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Lace, M.J. (2015). Advances in the Exploration and Management of Coastal Karst in the Caribbean. In: Finkl, C., Makowski, C. (eds) Environmental Management and Governance. Coastal Research Library, vol 8. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-06305-8_6

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