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The majority of the European coastline consists of a sandy land-ocean boundary. These sandy sediments are of significant socio-economical value: they produce the most productive fishing grounds, are important sources for a variety of raw materials (oil, gas, water, minerals), and form recreational beaches.
Due to the lack of quantitative data, permeable sands are not well represented in coastal management and monitoring programs, and public and policy makers are not aware of their importance. Consequently these environments and their resources are not protected sufficiently relative to their socio-economical value.
The effort of a single country would fail to ensure sustainable use of the European sandy coast. EU policies target sustainable use of coastal zones, management of water resources, protection of nature and bio-diversity. COSA addresses this problem on the European level.
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