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

Evaluation of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) in Europe – Final Report
processes to date. It is not clear to what extent the public has a
subsequent voice within the decision-making and consultative
process. In Denmark, according to the available material, public
hearings are part of the Planning Act process. Sweden has a long
tradition of local government and central government planning and
implementation of coastal management issues with limited involvement
of stakeholders from non-governmental or private sectors. So
far, there are no significant bottom-up initiatives to expand stakeholder
involvement.
Holistic and Integrative Approach
In this category, all of the North Sea States with the exempt of
Denmark and Sweden have reached the highest scoring. In the case
of Denmark it was found that there were major problems in the
integration of planning in land and sea areas. Horizontal and vertical
integration can be found in places, but not necessarily directed
towards the coast. Because of the current structural reform no further
statement can be made, if and how these integrative obstacles will be
met in the future. In Sweden, no national authority has looked at the
coastal zone in an integrated fashion, however such integration is
practiced in many plans and projects, but not on the national level
targeting on the North Sea region. The dissection of transboundary
issues at the land-sea interface and the exclusion of the hinterland
have been identified as one of the key weaknesses of the current
management regimes in most of the countries. It was recognised that
it is not sufficient only to establish ICZM on the local and regional
level, as there are aspects in the coastal development that require the
commitment of the national level as well. All States, including
Denmark and Sweden have committed themselves to the principle of
sustainable development. The EU-Water Framework Directive (WFD)
although not explicitly mentioned in most of the reports has an
implication for both ICZM and a Regional North Sea Management
Strategy.
Governance and Management Structure
Germany and the Netherlands state that there are already sufficient
structures and instruments in place but the need for better-concerted
action across political levels is exposed. In Germany, several
activities of relevance to ICZM have been already initiated on the
national as well as on the federal state level, such as the improvement
of horizontal and vertical integration. In the Netherlands, it is
intended to reduce national influence where no major vulnerability
functions are at stake and no major financial input is required. Market
forces shall play a stronger role. This decentralised governance
structure seems appropriate allowing flexible and better-accepted
solutions.
In contrast, in Sweden the governance process is intended to remain
driven by the central government in a top-down fashion. It is strongly
weighed in favour of environmental protection interests rather than
the introduction of new economic activities or the expansion of
existing ones. Issues such as improvement in the livelihood and the
provision of employment to coastal communities are weakly reflected
in the spatial planning Act in Sweden. The UK is currently undergoing
Stronger focus on
transboundary
issues at land-sea
interface required
Coastal fora in
the UK
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