Land-Use Planning Guidelines for Optimal Coastal Environmental Management

The objective of this study is to weigh and recommend environmentally-optimal regional land-use planning guidelines for coastal regions. The present malaise is assessed, as regards inefficiencies, non-suitability, non-sustainability, enhancing factors of environmental degradation, and potentially destructive consequences of current land-use alteration. Desired situations and goals are considered, and means are proposed for bridging the gap between the present malaise and a desired situation, based on five key approaches developed by the authors. Specific examples of regional approaches are presented. Guidelines and operational measures for sound regional planning the authors have employed in similar circumstances are recommended.