Vulnerability of coastal resources to climate changes in Mozambique: a call for integrated coastal zone management

The Earth is affected by the emission of different gases which are largely generated by human activities. The "blanket" these gases form around the planet is likely to affect the climate balance. The resulting warmth could cause partial melting of the polar ice-caps, as well as the thermal expansion of the sea water, with the consequence of harmful degrees of sea-level rise. If global warming becomes a reality, with the consequential sea-level rise Africa's numerous islands and all its low-lying coastal areas, which include large areas of Mozambique, would be severely affected. This paper describes how the projected sea-level rise would affect a particular area in Mozambique, which is just one of the many vulnerable areas. The article also focuses on the broader framework for integrated coastal zone management in Mozambique and its enormous challenges, that aims to accommodate not only the current problems the coastal zone is facing, but also those resulting from the projected accelerated sea level rise. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.