of sediments on the coast (UNEP/MAP 2009). Artificial structures associated with beach-dune complexes and waterfronts, the de- struction or degradation of sea grass beds and dune vegetation, and the extraction of gas, water and sand may also affect the cycling and redistribution of sediment in neighbouring coastal areas, especially if modifications to the coastline have not been properly planned and designed (EEA and UNEP 1999).
Systematic research and documentation of coastline erosion has been carried out only on the Mediterranean states that are members of the EU, as part of the LaCoast, CORINE (Coordina- tion of Information on the Environment), and Eurosion projects. Approximately one-fourth of the EU Mediterranean coastline suf- fers from erosion, with variation among countries. Sea defences to control erosion have been constructed along 10 % of the Eu- ropean coastline. These defences, however, often cause undesir- able impacts, including increased erosion in other areas.
CORINE coastal data showed that, by the last years of the 20th century, 1.500 km of the EU Mediterranean coast had been trans- formed to “artificial coast” (mostly concentrated in the Balearic Islands, Gulf of Lion, Sardinia, and the Adriatic, Ionian, and Aegean seas). European harbours accounted for 1.237 km of this total (EC 1998). Even for EU states, the lack of information and the difficulty in accessing dispersed data have been ob- stacles to assessing the status and trends in erosion. This has
hampered implementation of policies for the protection and management of the coastal environment at local, national and regional levels (CORINE 1995).
Among the many impacts erosion has on coastal ecosystems are the destruction of soil surface layers, leading to ground- water pollution and to reduction of water resources; degrada- tion of dunes, leading to desertification; reduction of biologi- cal diversity; adverse effects on beach dynamics; reduction of sedimentary resources; and disappearance of the sandy littoral lanes that protect agricultural land from the intrusion of sea- water, resulting in soil and groundwater salinisation (EEA and UNEP 2006).
CORINE data were used to produce an inventory of natural sites of high ecological value that are affected by coastal ero- sion. The Gulf of Lion, the Ligurian Sea, the Tyrrhenian coast of Italy, and the Po Delta all contain many such sites. One of the major findings of the CORINE project was that coastal erosion management practices often indirectly use protected natural ar- eas established under Natura 2000 (an EU network of protected areas) as sources of sediment. As Natura 2000 sites were selecte d because they are considered critical to the survival of Europe’s most threatened habitats and species, these practices have sig- nificant implications for long-term coastal biodiversity and eco- system resilience (Salman et al. 2004).
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STATE OF THE MEDITERRANEAN MARINE AND COASTAL ENVIRONMENT