Practices and cultures of adaptive governance for rapidly eroding Portuguese coastlines

Abstract

Portuguese coasts, which are among the most energetic and eroded coastal stretches in Europe, have experienced intense urban and tourist pressure over the last decades. 80% of the coastal population and 85% of GDP are concentrated on coastal stretches. 50% of the urban areas are located within 13km of the coastline, and coastal erosion reaches retreats over 220m in the last 50 years.