Metageographies of coastal management: Negotiating spaces of nature and culture at the Wadden Sea

Coastal management and nature conservation practices significantly shape the spatial dynamics of coastal landscapes, often creating rigid boundaries that disrupt fluid natural transitions. A study analyzing a climate adaptation strategy for the Wadden Sea in northern Germany reveals that these practices are deeply rooted in socio-spatial imaginaries and boundary-making processes, reflecting distinct cultural geographies. The research highlights the need for policy strategies to incorporate multiple stakeholder perspectives and move beyond technical or disciplinary silos. By engaging with diverse socio-spatial constructions of the coast, future management efforts can better address coastal change while fostering new, alternative spatial narratives.

Walsh, C. (2017). Metageographies of coastal management: Negotiating spaces of nature and culture at the Wadden Sea. Area, 50(2), 177–185. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/area.12404