Global Sandwatch Dataset – Participatory Monitoring of Beaches and Coastal Environments

The Global Sandwatch Dataset consolidates participatory observations collected through UNESCO’s Sandwatch Programme, a global citizen science and education initiative promoting climate change adaptation and sustainable coastal management. The dataset contains standardized monitoring data from 145 beaches in more than 50 countries, contributed by over 300 community observers, schools, and environmental groups.

Covering over a decade of observations, the dataset documents beach morphology, erosion and accretion patterns, composition, debris, human activities, water quality, wave and current dynamics, vegetation, and fauna. Each record reflects local community engagement in data collection and environmental stewardship, fostering awareness and resilience within coastal ecosystems-especially in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and low-lying coastal regions.

The data structure follows the Sandwatch methodology of Monitoring, Analysing, Sharing, and Taking Action (MAST) and aligns with UNESCO’s Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and climate adaptation frameworks. It provides a unique interdisciplinary resource integrating environmental, social, and educational dimensions of coastal change, valuable for research, education, and policy design in coastal resilience and participatory monitoring.

Data and Resources

Cite this as

DOI:
10.63253/xw9puuem
IHP-WINS (2025). Global Sandwatch Dataset – Participatory Monitoring of Beaches and Coastal Environments [Data set]. UNESCO .
Published: 2025-10-13 | Publisher: UNESCO

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Basic information
DOI https://doi.org/10.63253/xw9puuem
Resource type Spatial data set
Date of creation 2025-10-13
Date of last revision 2025-10-13
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Metadata identifier Global-Sandwatch-Dataset-–-Participatory-Monitoring-of-Beaches-and-Coastal-Environments
Metadata language English
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ISO 19115 topic category environment
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Name of the dataset creator (Legacy) IHP-WINS
Name of the dataset maintainer IHP-WINS
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Email of the dataset creator (Legacy) ihp-wins@unesco.org
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Email of the dataset maintainer ihp-wins@unesco.org
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