Abstract
This Human-Environment Observatory (OHM) is dedicated to the study of the French mediterranean coastal zone, focusing on four study areas facing different levels of urbanisation and human population pressure. In descending order of pressures, they are the Greater Marseilles area, extending from the port complex of Fos-sur-Mer in the west to La Ciotat in the east, the Aigues-Mortes Gulf between Sète and Le Grau du Roi, including the coastal lagoons and their watersheds, the coast of Balagne and the southern outskirts of Bastia, along with the Biguglia lagoon, in Corsica.In the 2000s the concept of integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) brought a new operational framework to handle these issues. ICZM empowers local stakeholders to show their interest in coastal issues and commit themselves into local and regional development plans involving both land and sea. These plans may allow innovative measures for controlling the ongoing urbanisation of the coast. The OHM has been set up for the monitoring of this situation by studying five key aspects: environmental quality; management and protection of coastal areas and habitats; ecosystem services and environmental amenities; local risks and risk management; and quality of life.