Introduction

Abstract

The coastal zone, defined in 1.4, stretches from the land to the sea and includes a series of habitats which occur either as individual units or in combination. This book concentrates on the conservation of those coastal habitats which cross the land — sea interface or form part an integral coastal unit. Following a general introduction to the principles of management and conservation, attention switches to individual coastal habitats (sea cliffs, saltmarshes, sand dunes and shingle structures), considering management issues specifically related to them and their associated biota. Discussion of the wider conservation issues associated with more complex systems such as estuaries and deltas are considered under a general heading of coastal wetlands.