Our Prospectus
Consensus to Act
In the past three years, two landmark national commissions have reported to the American public that our nation’s coastal watersheds, estuaries, coasts, and oceans are in peril. The nation’s last comprehensive review of our coasts, oceans, and Great Lakes was thirty-five years ago. Since that time, significant changes have occurred in how we use these areas and understand the consequences of our actions.
The economic, cultural, and recreational value of the nation’s oceans and coasts is immense. Over half the U.S population lives in coastal watershed counties and one-half of the nation’s gross domestic product ($4.5 trillion in 2000) is generated in those counties and adjacent ocean waters.
The nation’s 35 coastal states, commonwealths, and territories are working on a daily basis to manage their coastal, ocean, and Great Lakes resources. In partnership with coastal municipalities, they are at the forefront of coastal decision making and are charting the course for America’s future.
Our Goals and Objectives
The Foundation has two important and ambitious thrusts:
Promote innovation and science-based decision making
The Foundation acts as a catalyst for local, state, and regional coastal decision makers as they explore and apply the most innovative management techniques and science-based decisions to the nation’s pressing economic, social, cultural, and environmental coastal issues.
Goal: To promote innovation in coastal management and the application of science to critical management decisions at the local, state, and regional levels.
Objective #1: Increase the interaction between coastal decision-makers, academia, and the research community.
Objective #2: Increase the relevance of coastal monitoring and integrated coastal and ocean observing to nearshore and estuarine planning, policy, and permitting decisions.
Promote improved stewardship of coastal and ocean resources
Goal: To promote improved stewardship of ocean and coastal resources and to educate the public about the benefits and value of healthy and productive coastal ecosystems.
Objective #1: Increase the opportunities for coastal residents and visitors to become involved in coastal stewardship activities.
Objective #2: Increase the participation in stewardship activities for businesses and industries that rely on healthy and productive coastal ecosystems.
Objective #3: Increase the personal stewardship commitment by the American public to our nation’s coastal and ocean environment.
Inspiring Innovation for Coastal and Ocean Protection
About the Coastal States Organization (CSO)