Lesson learned and follow up

Coastal landscapes across Europe are often characterized by overlapping and competing land uses. They are focus areas for settlements and infrastructure, especially road and train networks, and many industries and commercial zones that benefit from close access to harbours. Conversely, the tourism industry is also a major driving force with its own development dynamics and specific spatial patterns. All these economic potentials have been attracting people to settle on the coast. This process is ongoing, leading to unsustainable development such as urban sprawl and irreversible consumption of soil and other natural resources. However, water-based recreation activities have various positive effects on human health and well-being – in relation to physical exercise and mental well-being, which is why, on the one hand, people love to visit the seaside on vacation, while on the other hand, poor or restricted access to waterscapes raises issues of social equity and spatial justice. The urbanland interface is also an important and often vulnerable habitat zone for flora and fauna, which brings additional demands on such areas and also places them at risk from damage and degradation. Being a pole of human settlement since early times, coastal landscapes are also often extremely rich in cultural heritage and form part of our collective memory and identity. Their sustainable and integrated planning, design and management is crucial for the mental, social, physical and economic well-being of many European citizens