Preface
Intention Imagine you walk along the coast, what do you see? Do you see open space
for birds, animals and different types of plants? Do you see meadows and fertile land for
crops and “energy plants”? Or do you see a green line at the horizon which protects people
against storm surges? What about the ditches, canals and rivers? Are these for draining the
land or for leisure ships or the backbone of the northern European water transport sector?
The way we are looking at the coast is strongly depending on our experiences, our
awareness, our living and educational environment and many more stakes. The German
philosopher Kant already stated that space (here, we understand “the coast” as part of
the space of the earth) cannot entirely be grasped or described as “thing itself”, only by
sensual perception and experiences. Consequently, there is no unique idea or description
or perception of the coastal space possible.
Herein we can find two lessons to comprehend:
1. Different living and educational environments lead to different perceptions of the
coastal zone. This is a matter of fact a coastal manager has to accept.
2. If we are trying to practice coastal zone management we have to integrate the different
perceptions, different intentions and ideas in the coastal zone.
If coastal zone management is seen as an instrument for the sustainable development
of the coastal zone (UN, 1992, chapter 17) it is only possible as an integrated approach.
This book builds on different classes and lessons I gave at the Carl-von-Ossietzky
University Oldenburg (Germany) and the Rijksuniversiteit Groningen (The Netherlands).
Students from different countries with a variety of previous knowledge but all interested in
coastal issues motivated me to compile this educational book on Integrated Coastal Zone
Management (ICZM).
Target Group This book is written for students who are studying in bachelor or master
programs related to coastal issues. Although this book is concentrating on water management and not going into detail on different other sectors it provides a methodological part
that can be ubiquitously applied. One has to consider the adaptation of the different tools
and methods to his or her specific circumstances – as always.
V
Intention Imagine you walk along the coast, what do you see? Do you see open space
for birds, animals and different types of plants? Do you see meadows and fertile land for
crops and “energy plants”? Or do you see a green line at the horizon which protects people
against storm surges? What about the ditches, canals and rivers? Are these for draining the
land or for leisure ships or the backbone of the northern European water transport sector?
The way we are looking at the coast is strongly depending on our experiences, our
awareness, our living and educational environment and many more stakes. The German
philosopher Kant already stated that space (here, we understand “the coast” as part of
the space of the earth) cannot entirely be grasped or described as “thing itself”, only by
sensual perception and experiences. Consequently, there is no unique idea or description
or perception of the coastal space possible.
Herein we can find two lessons to comprehend:
1. Different living and educational environments lead to different perceptions of the
coastal zone. This is a matter of fact a coastal manager has to accept.
2. If we are trying to practice coastal zone management we have to integrate the different
perceptions, different intentions and ideas in the coastal zone.
If coastal zone management is seen as an instrument for the sustainable development
of the coastal zone (UN, 1992, chapter 17) it is only possible as an integrated approach.
This book builds on different classes and lessons I gave at the Carl-von-Ossietzky
University Oldenburg (Germany) and the Rijksuniversiteit Groningen (The Netherlands).
Students from different countries with a variety of previous knowledge but all interested in
coastal issues motivated me to compile this educational book on Integrated Coastal Zone
Management (ICZM).
Target Group This book is written for students who are studying in bachelor or master
programs related to coastal issues. Although this book is concentrating on water management and not going into detail on different other sectors it provides a methodological part
that can be ubiquitously applied. One has to consider the adaptation of the different tools
and methods to his or her specific circumstances – as always.
V