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

Evaluation of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) in Europe – Final Report
Status Main achievements Main shortcomings
• New instruments are proposed that are
specifically focussed on integrating and
coordinating between sectors and across
geographical and spatial scales.
• The strategy developed seeks to provide a
continuum between national, regional and
local administrative levels in the governance
procedures for the management of
the coastal zone.
• A supporting programme of research and
information technology is proposed to
sustain the development and evolution of
new policy for the coastal zone.
Greece
(III)
• So far only a draft national report (“Draft
Report of Greece on Coastal Zone Management”)
was submitted.
• Activities towards a more integrated
planning and management of the coastal
zones in Greece date from well before the
EU Recommendation. This culminated in
a proposal for a special legal framework
for the planning of coastal zones in 2002.
However, the framework did not enter into
force, mainly due to the overlap with a 10
year’s spatial plan. However, ICZM principles
were introduced in regional spatial
plans (2003).
• In the Greek report an Integrated Frame
for Coastal Zone Management is intended.
• Planning and management of coastal and
environmental matters is done mostly from
a national, and regional level.
• Decision procedures related to ICZM need
to be more decentralized.
• There is no proper horizontal and vertical
nesting of various administrative levels.
• Participation of stakeholders in ICZM
initiatives is still lacking very much. Appropriate
mechanisms are being pursued to
enhance stakeholder participation.
• Combination of actions of different
stakeholders at the local level would be
desirable; however often such local initiatives
lack adequate funding.
• Italy did not submit a national report and
there is no national ICZM strategy. This is
possibly so because of a highly decentralized
government system that sees ICZM
functions to be executed by regional and/or
local governments instead of the central,
national government.
• Some regions offer supporting programmes
of training, education and communication
for ICZM, but these programmes are lacking
especially at national level.
Italy
(IV)
• Positive examples of ICZM can be found
in regional and local efforts with some
regions elaborating guidelines for integrated
coastal management (e.g. in the
Emilia-Romagna Region).
• Non-governmental organizations play an
important role for environmental safeguard,
among them the Italian branch of
the World Wildlife Fund, the Lega per l’
Ambiente and Italia Nostra are the prominent
ones.
Malta
(II)
• A national report was submitted. A
Strategy (assessed as being equivalent to
a National ICZM Strategy) was already
developed in 2004 and shows first positive
results. The Strategy was formulated as
part of the revision of the Structure Plan
for the Maltese Islands and was prepared
prior to Malta’s accession to EU membership.
Being part of the Structure Plan
Review process, the Strategy is very well
integrated in the spatial planning process.
Main shortcomings of the Strategy hinge on a
too narrow spatial planning perspective. A
greater emphasis on social, cultural and
economic considerations and mechanisms is
required including:
• Threats from climate change effects.
• Sustainable economic opportunities deriving
from ICZM.
• Employment options and opportunities.
Main achievements of the Strategy:
• Greater protection of the coastal
environment including safeguarding of
public access.
• Increased baseline data collection on
coastal and marine areas.
• A compilation of coastal engineering
guidelines and their use in assessing
coastal development options.
• The successful implementation of a beach
replenishment project.
• Increased environmental monitoring.
• Improved coordination and communication
between stakeholders.
• Social and cultural system considerations.
• Financial mechanisms and opportunities to
fund initiatives in the coastal zone, and
• Identification of the roles of the different
administrative actors whose competence
includes activities or resources related to
the coastal zone as well as mechanisms for
their coordination.
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