6
R.K. Turner . W. Salomons
is called by Underwood "manager experiments" e.g. changes brought about by coastal
management, should be accompanied by detailed sampling surveys of the ecosystem
in order to learn from those changes and determine their applicability at different locations. In particular transfer of knowledge from a sandy coast line like the North Sea,
about which an extensive scientific knowledge base exists, to rocky coastlines like those
in Australia is hampered by difficulties both from ecological and physical viewpoints.
The chapters by Weide and Vrees and by Lange provide more details of the new
methods and tools (or adapted versions of established ones) necessary to support integrated coastal management. Both chapters reinforce the importance of the systems
analysis approach. Lange demonstrates the usefulness of Natural Resource Accounts
(NRA). These accounts record stocks of natural resources and changes in stocks, together with use of resources and the environment. They are linked to economic acco,unts (national income, output and expenditure data) via the use of a common classification of economic activities. NRA can be compiled in both physical and monetary
units for monitoring and/or policy analysis purposes. NRA is also a tool which facilitates a pro-active approach to policymaking, involving the use of "what ill" scenario
simulations. Given the degree of uncertainty present in coastal management situations
such an approach has much to recommend it.
No management prescriptions can possibly anticipate all the vagaries of the environmental change process. Flexibility and adaptability will be necessary characteristics for any future successful management strategy. Nevertheless since fundamental
uncertainty over climate variability and change and the effects of coastal processes
change and consequent losses will remain. There is generally considerable uncertainty
about the threshold values of either populations of organisms or biogeochemical cycles for many of the most important ecosystems. Further, if a threshold is breached
the implications are completely unknown (Perrings and Pearce 1994). Some judgement
about the socially acceptable margin of safety (the 'precautionary principle') in the
exploitation and protection of coastal resources will be required. The chapter by
Stebbing and Willows explores the issues surrounding the application of such a precautionary approach by an analysis of the North Sea's assimilative capacity for wastes
and effluents. Stebbing and Willows see assimilative capacity as a cross disciplinary
concept that describes a resource of considerable economic value which, if it is exceeded,
represents a limitation on the sustainable use of the marine environment. They advocate the use of biological techniques to monitor environmental quality and argue that
the more traditional regulatory approach based on a predominantly chemical approach
is deficient. Their approach uses measures of biological impact of contaminant loading, rather than an assessment of the health of the system based on the monitoring of
single chemicals, or class of chemical containment.
Some judgement about the socially acceptable margin of safety (the degree of precaution that should be exercised) in the exploitation and protection of coastal resources
is unavoidable. This is essentially an ethical judgement and there are a number of ways
in which such an ethical dimension can be reflected in the decision-making process.
The chapter by Ruijrock and Vellinga covers some of the cultural/ethical issues connected with resource management. They distinguish between three possible world
views - weak, moderate and strong sustainability - and draw out the different resource
management implications. It may therefore be possible more generally to discern a
hierarchy of economic and ethical considerations, from immediate self-interest and
R.K. Turner . W. Salomons
is called by Underwood "manager experiments" e.g. changes brought about by coastal
management, should be accompanied by detailed sampling surveys of the ecosystem
in order to learn from those changes and determine their applicability at different locations. In particular transfer of knowledge from a sandy coast line like the North Sea,
about which an extensive scientific knowledge base exists, to rocky coastlines like those
in Australia is hampered by difficulties both from ecological and physical viewpoints.
The chapters by Weide and Vrees and by Lange provide more details of the new
methods and tools (or adapted versions of established ones) necessary to support integrated coastal management. Both chapters reinforce the importance of the systems
analysis approach. Lange demonstrates the usefulness of Natural Resource Accounts
(NRA). These accounts record stocks of natural resources and changes in stocks, together with use of resources and the environment. They are linked to economic acco,unts (national income, output and expenditure data) via the use of a common classification of economic activities. NRA can be compiled in both physical and monetary
units for monitoring and/or policy analysis purposes. NRA is also a tool which facilitates a pro-active approach to policymaking, involving the use of "what ill" scenario
simulations. Given the degree of uncertainty present in coastal management situations
such an approach has much to recommend it.
No management prescriptions can possibly anticipate all the vagaries of the environmental change process. Flexibility and adaptability will be necessary characteristics for any future successful management strategy. Nevertheless since fundamental
uncertainty over climate variability and change and the effects of coastal processes
change and consequent losses will remain. There is generally considerable uncertainty
about the threshold values of either populations of organisms or biogeochemical cycles for many of the most important ecosystems. Further, if a threshold is breached
the implications are completely unknown (Perrings and Pearce 1994). Some judgement
about the socially acceptable margin of safety (the 'precautionary principle') in the
exploitation and protection of coastal resources will be required. The chapter by
Stebbing and Willows explores the issues surrounding the application of such a precautionary approach by an analysis of the North Sea's assimilative capacity for wastes
and effluents. Stebbing and Willows see assimilative capacity as a cross disciplinary
concept that describes a resource of considerable economic value which, if it is exceeded,
represents a limitation on the sustainable use of the marine environment. They advocate the use of biological techniques to monitor environmental quality and argue that
the more traditional regulatory approach based on a predominantly chemical approach
is deficient. Their approach uses measures of biological impact of contaminant loading, rather than an assessment of the health of the system based on the monitoring of
single chemicals, or class of chemical containment.
Some judgement about the socially acceptable margin of safety (the degree of precaution that should be exercised) in the exploitation and protection of coastal resources
is unavoidable. This is essentially an ethical judgement and there are a number of ways
in which such an ethical dimension can be reflected in the decision-making process.
The chapter by Ruijrock and Vellinga covers some of the cultural/ethical issues connected with resource management. They distinguish between three possible world
views - weak, moderate and strong sustainability - and draw out the different resource
management implications. It may therefore be possible more generally to discern a
hierarchy of economic and ethical considerations, from immediate self-interest and