As coastal populations burgeon, problems of erosion, pollution and coastal change are becoming ever more serious and necessitate scientifically informed management strategies. This authoritative new study discusses the casues of, and possible solutions to, some of the more pressing problems, against a background of the natural geomorphological and ecological workings of coastal environments. Drawing on their wide experience of temperate and tropical coasts the authors consider all types of coastal problems, ranging from those produced entirely naturally to those where the human impact dominates. A holistic approach to the understanding of coastal problems is suggested, which integrates geomorphology, ecology, and society through a consideration of the basic processes at work. Extensive use is made of case studies drawn from around the world, from beach erosion along the Nigerian coast to the recovery of the Vietnamese mangroves from war damage. Coastal Problems brings together material vital to any attempts to understand and manage our coasts and will be of interest to all those concerned with the environment and its management.