Coastal Groundwater-Dependent Ecosystems are Falling Through Policy Gaps.
Journal
Ground water
ISSN: 1745-6584
Titre abrégé: Ground Water
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 9882886
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
11 Sep 2023
11 Sep 2023
Historique:
revised:
09
06
2023
received:
20
11
2022
accepted:
02
08
2023
pubmed:
12
9
2023
medline:
12
9
2023
entrez:
12
9
2023
Statut:
aheadofprint
Résumé
Coastal groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDEs), such as wetlands, estuaries and nearshore marine habitats, are biodiversity hotspots that provide valuable ecosystem services to society. However, coastal groundwater and associated ecosystems are under threat from groundwater exploitation and depletion, as well as climate change impacts from sea-level rise and extreme flood and drought events. Despite many well-intentioned policies focused on sustainable groundwater use and species protection, coastal GDEs are falling through gaps generated by siloed policies and as a result, are declining in extent and ecological function. This study summarized then examined policies related to the management of coastal groundwater and connected ecosystems in two key case study areas: Queensland (Australia) and California (USA). Despite both areas being regarded as having progressive groundwater policy, our analysis revealed three universal policy gaps, including (1) a lack of recognition of the underlying groundwater system, (2) fragmented policies and complex governance structures that limit coordination, and (3) inadequate guidance for coastal GDE management. Overall, our analysis revealed that coastal GDE conservation relied heavily on inclusion within protected areas or was motivated by species recovery, meaning supporting groundwater systems remained underprotected and outside the remit of conservation efforts. To close these gaps, we consider the adoption of ecosystem-based management principles to foster integrated governance between disparate agencies and consider management tools that bridge traditional conservation realms. Our findings advocate for comprehensive policy frameworks that holistically address the complexities of coastal GDEs across the land-sea continuum to foster their long-term sustainability and conservation.
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Informations de copyright
© 2023 The Authors. Groundwater published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of National Ground Water Association.
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