Chapter 1
Principles and Benefits of Integrated Coastal Zone
Management (lCZM)
R.K. Turner· B·.T. Bower
1.1
Introduction
In man¥ ways coastal zones typify the problems and policy challenges presented by
the process of Global Environmental Change (GEC). These zones are under increasing
environmental (resource usage/over-usage) pressure and are exhibiting unacceptable
environmental state changes as a consequence of population growth, urbanisation,
tourism and other multiple and often conflicting resource usage trends. The mitigation of the resource conflict problems and the practical adaptation of the sustainable
economic development policy objective requires innovative policy responses. Integrated
Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) is such a comprehensive policy/management response option. At its core should be a process which enables policy makers to strike a
socially acceptable balance between conflicting stakeholder resource demands as they
manifest themselves in different economic, socio-political (and institutions), cultural
and environmental contexts.
ICZM has to embrace a range of general principles (also highlighted in UNCED's
Agenda 21 action programmes);
E Economically effiCient resource usage - supplemented by principles such as polluter
pays and proper resource accounting;
S Sustainable resource usage - supplemented by intragenerational and intergenerational equity concerns and transboundary responsibility;
P Precautionary action - involving a more sophisticated recognition of the problems
and issue posed by both scientific and social uncertainties.
Again the concept of "balance" is paramount because even these basic (E, S, P) underlying principles are not necessarily all complimentary across all situations, tradeoffs will be inevitable.
This paper outlines a methodology for the assessment of the social benefits to be
gained from implementation of integrated coastal zone management (ICZM). The
methodological approach that is recommended is based on economic efficiency principles, and involves cost-benefit/cost-effectiveness analytical methods combined with
scenario analysis. The economic efficiency object is modified where necessary to account for other objectives by imposing constraints on the net benefit criterion. The
basic approach has to be modified to fit the particular conditions, e.g. multiple resource
outputs and competing resource demands, usually found in coastal zones.
ICZM is a continuous, adaptive, day-to-day process which consists of a set of tasks,
typically carried out by several or many public and private entities. The tasks together
Principles and Benefits of Integrated Coastal Zone
Management (lCZM)
R.K. Turner· B·.T. Bower
1.1
Introduction
In man¥ ways coastal zones typify the problems and policy challenges presented by
the process of Global Environmental Change (GEC). These zones are under increasing
environmental (resource usage/over-usage) pressure and are exhibiting unacceptable
environmental state changes as a consequence of population growth, urbanisation,
tourism and other multiple and often conflicting resource usage trends. The mitigation of the resource conflict problems and the practical adaptation of the sustainable
economic development policy objective requires innovative policy responses. Integrated
Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) is such a comprehensive policy/management response option. At its core should be a process which enables policy makers to strike a
socially acceptable balance between conflicting stakeholder resource demands as they
manifest themselves in different economic, socio-political (and institutions), cultural
and environmental contexts.
ICZM has to embrace a range of general principles (also highlighted in UNCED's
Agenda 21 action programmes);
E Economically effiCient resource usage - supplemented by principles such as polluter
pays and proper resource accounting;
S Sustainable resource usage - supplemented by intragenerational and intergenerational equity concerns and transboundary responsibility;
P Precautionary action - involving a more sophisticated recognition of the problems
and issue posed by both scientific and social uncertainties.
Again the concept of "balance" is paramount because even these basic (E, S, P) underlying principles are not necessarily all complimentary across all situations, tradeoffs will be inevitable.
This paper outlines a methodology for the assessment of the social benefits to be
gained from implementation of integrated coastal zone management (ICZM). The
methodological approach that is recommended is based on economic efficiency principles, and involves cost-benefit/cost-effectiveness analytical methods combined with
scenario analysis. The economic efficiency object is modified where necessary to account for other objectives by imposing constraints on the net benefit criterion. The
basic approach has to be modified to fit the particular conditions, e.g. multiple resource
outputs and competing resource demands, usually found in coastal zones.
ICZM is a continuous, adaptive, day-to-day process which consists of a set of tasks,
typically carried out by several or many public and private entities. The tasks together