Population growth puts pressure on coastal ecosystems. Increased population means growing demand for land for housing and infrastructure, increased use of living resources for food, and more use of available freshwater resources. The negative environmental impacts of the shipping industry also harm the coastal ecosystem. Impacts from shipping include oil spills and the discharge of ballast water and waste into the sea, which affect the quality of sea water and consequently marine life. This in turn affects human food security and health and is particularly acute around commercial ports.

Year: 2011

From collection: Working for the Environment, South Africa

Cartographer: Riccardo Pravettoni