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

Evaluation of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) in Europe – Final Report
The EU Demonstration Programme in the mid-90ies as well as the
EU recommendation in 2002 have acted as an trigger to look into
more detail into coastal issues by the UK authorities. A UK vision for
the marine environment was developed that stated to aim for a
“clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse oceans and
seas”. This vision was underpinned by the principles of sustainable
development, integrated management, and the conservation of
biological diversity, robust science, the precautionary principle and
stakeholder involvement.
Progress in
development of
strategies to
improve coastal
management
clearly visible
So far, the UK and the Devolved Administrations are in the midst of
developing their respective ICZM strategies. These efforts indicate
that there has been a considerable shift in the perception of the coast
by the respective administrative bodies. Integration and adaptation,
next to long-term planning are the key weaknesses to date, but are
recognised and stated to be addressed during the formulation of the
National Marine Bill.
A similar stimulating effect can be observed in the other 4 countries.
In Spain the Shores Act from 1988 has laid the foundation for the
development of coastal management strengthened through the
director's plan for the sustainability of the coast. The Spanish strategy
was worked out between 2002 and 2006 with four major events been
used to exchange ideas with stakeholders.
Spain’s ICZM
strategy comes
into force
in 2008
In Portugal the European initiative to develop a national ICZM
strategy seems to have stimulated a more integrative approach in the
coastal management. The strategy under development by the
working group takes the major elements of ICZM and promotes them
to be implemented on a national level: strategic approach, participation
of all stakeholders, holistic approach and integration at all levels
and in all sectors.
A number of directives and laws have been implemented during the
last years and can be seen as modules constructing a road towards
ICZM. Most of these laws and directives are based on EC directives.
The main policies in this sense are the Water directive and the Nature
Conservation directive that were converted into laws in 2005 (Lei da
Água 58/2005). Another important initiative is the development of an
Ocean Policy (Relatório da Comissão Estratégica dos Oceanos), that
links ICZM to the maritime sector and provides a basis for future
policies and actions in the coastal zone. These three major national
policies are the backbone for the ICZM strategy and implementation
and provide the linkage between terrestrial, water and maritime
issues with coastal management.
For Ireland no specific document on ICZM has been developed and
the most relevant document for strategic approaches to management
of coastal zones is the National Spatial Strategy for Ireland 2002-2020
document. A draft policy document for ICZM was produced in 1997
but has not been implemented and it is not clear if this document
informed the National Spatial Strategy (NSS) for Ireland 2002-2020. A
NSS was published in November 2002 being a twenty-year planning
framework designed to deliver more balanced social, economic and
physical development between regions.
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