摘要：This Special Feature Volume examines the potential value of the Systems Approach Framework (SAF) as amethodological framework for the transition to sustainable development in coastal zones. This article provides insight on theSystems Approach, the theory behind it, and how its practical application to coastal zone systems (CZSs) was developed. TheSAF is about information for management through a focus on how to generate a higher, dynamic level of information aboutcomplex CZSs and how to render this information more useful to end users through a participatory suite of communicationmethods. The SAF is an open research methodology that investigates the function of systems in order to simulate specific issuesor questions concerning their function. The research articles that are included in this Volume demonstrate examples of coupledmultidisciplinary methods integrated into SAF simulations appropriate to a selected policy issue and to the social-environmentalconditions of each Study Site Application. Their findings are not the result of funded research projects; instead, they are by-products of pilot applications conducted to develop and improve the SAF methodology. The final article of this Volumesynthesizes these results in the context of the SAF as a higher level instrument for integrated coastal zone management
关键词：coastal zones; simulation analysis; sustainable development; systems approach
