Everything is connected. And coordination and partnerships should be embraced as among the most effective ways to do business.
These should be part of the take-home messages from the cover story of this edition of Coastal Services on coral bleaching in the Florida Keys.
Everything coastal resource managers are doing to protect the coastal zone and the environment onshore is going to help protect coral reefs and the environment offshore. The interconnectedness is huge. What is flushing through the heartland of America, down the Mississippi, and out into the Gulf of Mexico will float by the Florida Keys coral reef 10 days later.
Reducing nonpoint source pollution, habitat loss and degradation, and overfishing are just some of the things that coastal resource managers are doing that will help our valuable natural ecosystems better survive the impacts of climate change.
Part of coastal managers' role in addressing climate change is following best practices across the board and developing strong communication and collaboration with local, state, and regional managers, scientists, and other decision makers, as well as the media and public, that will help move our planet toward sustainability.
We have a lot to learn from managers in the Florida Keys who have been seeing the impacts of climate change firsthand and have been working hard to get in front of the issue.
Other articles in this edition include a habitat restoration project in Indiana that may help improve water quality in an adjacent swimming beach, a website in Connecticut that is helping communities develop an inventory of natural, cultural, and economic resources, and the California Sea Grant website where both industry and consumers can find the latest, best, and most comprehensive information on seafood safety and quality.
The goal of Coastal Services is to highlight information about coastal management issues and successful management programs as a way to help managers communicate with and learn from each other.
Let us know what you think of the stories in this edition—and if you have ideas for future articles.
-- Margaret A. Davidson
