iAL Geography edexcel - Paper 2 Coasts. 2.4.3 Coastal ecosystems & environments. All 6 syllabus pts

• Plant succession is important is stabilising areas of deposition (sand dunes and salt marshes) and providing coastal protection.
• Mangrove swamps and coral reefs are important coastal ecosystems on many tropical coasts, providing a range of locally important ecosystem services, economic opportunities and coastal protection.
• Coastal ecosystems are threatened by local factors (coastal development, pollution, unsustainable fishing practices and resource extraction, alien species) leading to loss of ecosystem value.
• Global threats to coastal ecosystems include rising water temperatures (coral bleaching), rising sea levels and ocean acidification, which can threaten local livelihoods.
• Rapid urbanisation and tourism development in coastal areas leads to direct loss of coastal ecosystems, degradation of the wider coastal zone (urban and industrial pollution) and loss of local identify.
• Land reclamation and the creation of artificial coastal islands is important in some locations but has economic and environmental costs and benefits