Rural Revival and Coastal Areas: Risks and Opportunities

The present chapter draws attention to the urgent need to support effective policy responses and identify appropriate nature-based adaptation measures that could be implemented, particularly in low-density coastal areas, for reducing the risk and enhancing the environmental and societal resilience of rural coastal communities to the adverse effects of climate change. Special attention has been paid to rural revival, emphasizing the role of natural capital as a window of economic opportunity for vulnerable rural communities. Natural capital represents a pivotal contributor to encourage inclusive and sustainable growth and promote investments in protecting natural assets, improving the efficiency of natural resource use. While there is considerable relevant research in this field, the debate is still open, and the problem remains challenging for coastal and marine sciences.