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

Evaluation of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) in Europe – Final Report
4.7.2 Benefits of Implementation
Overall, ICZM implementation has shown a beneficial impact for the
coastal management in Europe.
Awareness creation for long-term and large scale impacts
The implementation of the eight "Principles of good ICZM" as
promoted in the EU-Recommendation has created new awareness
and a higher level of preparedness at the regional level regarding
long-term challenges and scenarios. Although some countries with a
long history of coastal protection are aware of processes such as sea
level rise, increased frequency of storm events or climate change, the
ICZM- based holistic approach and the precautionary principle will
improve further coastal management and bring positive effects on the
awareness and the level of preparedness at the regional level
regarding long-term challenges.
Changing our minds and practices
The EU ICZM recommendation has initiated a rethinking and has
fostered a fresh view on coastal issues in various policy contexts:
Positive impacts
Improved
preparedness
for future
challenges
Promoting
new thinking
• The regional sea perspective underlines the rational to have a
holistic, broad geographical view on the coastal zone including
transboundary issues and the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
since emerging patterns of coupled land and sea use cannot be
seen in isolation but are linked in terms of their implications are
for the sustainability in the coastal zone.
• The EU ICZM Recommendation is positively impacting on
traditional spatial planning by emphasising sustainability and participatory
approaches: The interconnectedness of social, economic
and environmental issues along the coast and ICZM’s potential
to reconcile these conflicting demands by developing longterm,
objective-led strategies has shown positive effects especially
on infrastructure-oriented planning approaches. Secondly,
the introduction of pro-active procedures such as stakeholder
participation and communication is adding a new dimension to
the credibility of decision making and policy acceptance by
stakeholders.
Improved
preparedness
for future
challenges
• The EU ICZM Recommendation has increased the awareness
and the understanding of the need to protect the coastal zone
and apply the principles of sustainable development in its management
approach. Although ICZM is still (too) often seen as an
“environmental” (i.e. sectoral) strategy, it has increasingly been
accepted as an “ecological” tool, i.e. requiring a holistic system
management approach for the entire coastal zone.
Stakeholder Participation
Participation of stakeholders is a central innovative element within the
EU ICZM Recommendation which - although clearly being spelled out
as one important principle -, is not being taken up by many countries
at the level promoted by the EU ICZM Recommendation.
Participation
is an efficient
policy tool
18 August 2006 189