The role of Earth Observation in supporting holistic coastal lagoon management

Abstract

Coastal lagoons, representing 13% of the world’s coastline, are dynamic and globally significant ecosystems that serve as vital habitats for diverse species, provide crucial ecosystem services, and support the livelihoods of millions of people. These unique systems are characterised by their position at the interface of land and sea, acting as complex socio-ecological systems where environmental and human dynamics are deeply interconnected. Despite their importance, coastal lagoons are understudied and often overlooked in national and international policies due to their transitional nature, neither fully marine nor fully terrestrial. This White Paper emphasises the urgent need to address the data, knowledge, and management gaps surrounding coastal lagoons. It highlights the applicability of EO as a transformative tool for advancing holistic and sustainable lagoon management. EO can provide critical insights into the physical, ecological, and social dimensions of coastal lagoons, addressing limitations in current approaches and complementing other data sources. The paper also identifies the challenges associated with EO technologies, including the need for algorithm validation, data standardisation, and enabling data accessibility to under-resourced regions, and provides a set of bullet points with further recommendations. Overall, the White Paper argues that coastal lagoons, with their distinctive characteristics and critical role in ecosystems and communities, demand global attention.