Evaluation of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) in ...

Evaluation of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) in Europe – Final Report
In a Regional Seas perspective, one other major problem concerning
the North Sea is the existence of artificial boundaries/borders. This is
especially prominent between the land-sea interface and at estuaries,
which are shared by two different Member States. The latter calls for
a “whole estuary approach” addressing the problems of consistency,
compatibility and accessibility of data collection/storage methods, as
well as agreements on cross-border sharing of information.
The successful establishment of such cross-border sharing of
responsibilities is the Trilateral Wadden Sea Cooperation. The three
adjoining nations of the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark have
been working together on the protection and conservation of the
Wadden Sea covering management, monitoring and research, as well
as political matters. This provided the basis to set up a multistakeholder
forum, the Wadden Sea Forum (ICZM Forum), with the
request to report back to the Trilateral governmental conference. This
programme and its lessons learnt can act as showcase for extended
interregional cooperation on ICZM issues.
Trilateral Wadden
Sea Cooperation
as showcase
example of
successful interregional
ICZM
cooperation
4.3.2 ICZM Framework
Legislative and Policy Framework
Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands and Sweden have stated
to have sufficient policy instruments in place that are capable of
addressing and implementing the ICZM principles noted by the EU.
The United Kingdom however has recognised that ICZM is not
sufficiently addressable within the current national policy and
legislation framework, but requires the national development of a
Marine Bill. This is reflected in the results from the questionnaires
which imply that existing management policies do not cover the
coastal issues in an adequate way, most notably in the UK.
NORTH SEA total
33
20
4
Germany
7
9
1
United Kingdom
12
5
Belgium
Netherlands
Denmark
9
2 2 1
2 1
3
1
Yes
No
I don't know
Sweden
11
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Number of questionnaires
Figure 11: Response to the ICZM Evaluation Questionnaire (North Sea): In your
opinion, is there a need for important new laws, regulations or policies to regulate
and manage coastal zones in your country?
Thus, the EU recommendation has promoted a process of looking in
more detail into the principles of integration in coastal areas in the
UK. Due to a major reform of the regional and local government
18 August 2006 100