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

Evaluation of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) in Europe – Final Report
Raise the profile of ICZM and enhance its integration
with sectoral policies
Enhance stakeholders’ identification with ICZM, create a
cross-sectoral policy community from EU to local level and
ensure incorporation of ICZM into current practices.
2
ICZM is expected to help reconcile “sectoral egoisms” and to
offer a potential for policy synergies in support of sustainability.
To date, however, it is frequently perceived by stakeholders as
a sectoral policy approach, dealing exclusively with the
environmental dimension of coastal zones – as the EEA 2006
report “Assessment of Socio-Economic Costs & Benefits of
ICZM 2000” illustrates. In many Member States, ICZM is even
seen to be in conflict with other local, regional and national
policies.
Rationale
ICZM perceived as
“environmental
policy”
Without recognising the cross-sectoral character of ICZM and
fully accounting for economic, social and cultural implications
as well as for the interdependence between land and marine
development, the approach will not be able to add substantial
value to common practices and its overall effects will remain
limited.
A major barrier today is the fact that a genuine policy community
is missing - one that is well-rooted in the different contexts
of (sectoral) policy making and implementation, with a critical
mass capable of effectively sustaining and promoting the
concepts of ICZM.
Lack of a policy
community
The greatest challenge therefore lies in overcoming this
widespread misinterpretation and establishing ICZM as a truly
cross-sectoral policy strand in its own right. This does not
require creating any new administrative sections or levels, but
entails to work with the structures in place. A dedicated
governance system has to be devised, following the same
strategic orientations across Europe, but tailored to the local,
regional and national conditions.
To achieve a broader “anchorage” in the pertinent sectoral
policy fields and facilitate ownership of ICZM, first of all the
identification of stakeholders with ICZM has to be enhanced.
Authorities and individuals that are best positioned to take the
lead (e.g. having a cross-sectoral profile, suitable geographical
coverage) need to be identified and trained. Practical links have
to be established between key actors in pertinent fields such as
economic development, transport, social inclusion, agriculture
or fisheries.
Need for stakeholder
identification
and ownership
Starting from the European level, this process should be
enhanced by clarifying the role of the different policy strategies
18 August 2006 225