Pilot analysis of global ecosystems: Coastal ecosystems

The Pilot Analysis of Global Ecosystems (PAGE) finds that human activities have extensively altered coastal ecosystems worldwide, with nearly 30% of land area destroyed or modified. Growing coastal populations and increased nutrient pollution from fertilizers, sewage, and aquaculture are degrading these systems, while overfishing has depleted major fish stocks. The report warns that global climate change will likely exacerbate these pressures through rising sea levels and warmer ocean temperatures.

• Human activities have caused extensive alterations to coastal ecosystems globally, with nearly 30 percent of the land area in these ecosystems already extensively altered or destroyed due to demands for recreation, industry, and housing.
• The population living within 100 km of the coast grew from approximately 2 billion in 1990 to 2.2 billion in 1995, representing 40% of the global population. This growth is expected to increase pollutant loads and the conversion of coastal habitats.
• Coastal ecosystems face multiple compounding pressures, including dramatic increases in nutrient pollution from aquaculture, industrial and domestic sewage, and fertilizers, as well as depleted fish stocks due to fishing pressure. Global climate change is expected to add further stress via rising sea levels, changing storm frequency, altered ocean circulation, and warmer ocean temperatures.

APA

World Resources Institute (n.d.). Pilot analysis of global ecosystems: Coastal ecosystems. https://www.wri.org/research/pilot-analysis-global-ecosystems-coastal-ecosystems

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Pilot analysis of global ecosystems: Coastal ecosystems. n.d. https://www.wri.org/research/pilot-analysis-global-ecosystems-coastal-ecosystems.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=Pilot analysis of global ecosystems: Coastal ecosystems |url=https://www.wri.org/research/pilot-analysis-global-ecosystems-coastal-ecosystems |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitutendpilot, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{Pilot analysis of global ecosystems: Coastal ecosystems}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, url = {https://www.wri.org/research/pilot-analysis-global-ecosystems-coastal-ecosystems}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }