The network focuses on approaches and instruments which allow addressing the most relevant processes that determine socio-economic impacts and affect livelihood in coastal areas. Identification, prediction and valuation of impacts of economic activities on coastal areas, and of impacts of management policies on the socio-economic structure, are all necessary steps to:

• ensure that coastal resources are maintained, establish a coherent framework for assessing different policy options;
• identify unwanted or unforeseen consequences of actions and policies.

The analysis of the links between socio-economic activities, coastal resources and management policies can be structured around four main topics.

• Identification of possible Impacts and stakeholders:

• Analysis of impacts for the understanding of actors, networks and their relationships within the coastal zones, of pressures and impacts on the coastal zone;

• Valuation of social, economic and environmental impacts, where appropriate methodologies are employed to confront values belonging to different economic and social contexts;

• Coastal zone management requires decision making and policy advice, which has to be based on sound analysis and on tools which prepare and support decision making process, depicting implications, impacts and future developments connected to the alternatives or options under decision.

Thematic Network Conference
12th – 13th  March  2007. Venice, Italy

The Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM) and the Consortium for Coordination of Research Activities Concerning the Venice Lagoon System (CORILA), are organizing a conference on socio economic impacts on coastal zones and their evaluation in a context of integrated coastal zone management.
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