12
R.H. Charlier and Chr. P. De Meyer
Rational management of the coastal region requires, at the outset, a detailed study
of the marine topography and the compilation of surface geological maps.
Knowledge of the sediments, and of sedimentary processes is needed ; among
them the study of the benthic boundary layer, the carbonate cycle, geochemistry
and sediment diagnosis, and the role played by organic substances. Equally
important are facies analysis and paleo-oceanography inclusive of a
biostratigraphic study.
3.3 A Bird's Eye View of Legislation
A management program is usually launched by a government agency reacting to
resource degradation, exposure to major hazards, utilization conflicts, or to the
need for social-economic development. Such a program should be carried out on
a continuous basis rather than being a one shot undertaking. If implemented, a
policy of decision allocation must be established. Programs will be designed on
the basis of, and follow, a pluri-sector approach, taking into account the
reciprocity between the coastal environment systems and public services. The
program will have flexible landward limits, which may vary with time. Three
decades ago, the Belgian "littoral" was a strip 1 -2 km wide, rapidly grading into
pastoral landscapes shielded by the dunal barrier. Present-day development has
removed farms, destroyed traditional occupations, and impacted the hinterland,
in places affecting cities situated far inland.
Planning may involve a single district, or, if there are several of them, may still
consider them individually neglecting the overall approach. "'At present,
programs to study coastal processes ... tend to set up independent surveillance
activities that ignore the interactions and so overlook the biological processes.
This is an area where greater interdisciplinary interaction is badly needed ... :
there are broad zonal patterns in ecosystems that transcend.., local variations."
In South America, for instance, all countries, with the exception of Surinam,
established management programs for coastal fisheries, and nearly all provided
for the preservation of parks and nature reserves, but without coordination
between these two sectors. In practice, therefore, only Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia
and Costa Rica have "real" programs.
North Sea riparian states have paid small heed to the management of their coastal
zones ; however, a determined approach is gaining momentum to protect and
control tile future development of tourism, habitat, industry, and to insure coast
protection. Coastal activities in each country are often uncoordinated, and the
matter is left to the national government, although area utilization falls within
the municipal jurisdiction.
R.H. Charlier and Chr. P. De Meyer
Rational management of the coastal region requires, at the outset, a detailed study
of the marine topography and the compilation of surface geological maps.
Knowledge of the sediments, and of sedimentary processes is needed ; among
them the study of the benthic boundary layer, the carbonate cycle, geochemistry
and sediment diagnosis, and the role played by organic substances. Equally
important are facies analysis and paleo-oceanography inclusive of a
biostratigraphic study.
3.3 A Bird's Eye View of Legislation
A management program is usually launched by a government agency reacting to
resource degradation, exposure to major hazards, utilization conflicts, or to the
need for social-economic development. Such a program should be carried out on
a continuous basis rather than being a one shot undertaking. If implemented, a
policy of decision allocation must be established. Programs will be designed on
the basis of, and follow, a pluri-sector approach, taking into account the
reciprocity between the coastal environment systems and public services. The
program will have flexible landward limits, which may vary with time. Three
decades ago, the Belgian "littoral" was a strip 1 -2 km wide, rapidly grading into
pastoral landscapes shielded by the dunal barrier. Present-day development has
removed farms, destroyed traditional occupations, and impacted the hinterland,
in places affecting cities situated far inland.
Planning may involve a single district, or, if there are several of them, may still
consider them individually neglecting the overall approach. "'At present,
programs to study coastal processes ... tend to set up independent surveillance
activities that ignore the interactions and so overlook the biological processes.
This is an area where greater interdisciplinary interaction is badly needed ... :
there are broad zonal patterns in ecosystems that transcend.., local variations."
In South America, for instance, all countries, with the exception of Surinam,
established management programs for coastal fisheries, and nearly all provided
for the preservation of parks and nature reserves, but without coordination
between these two sectors. In practice, therefore, only Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia
and Costa Rica have "real" programs.
North Sea riparian states have paid small heed to the management of their coastal
zones ; however, a determined approach is gaining momentum to protect and
control tile future development of tourism, habitat, industry, and to insure coast
protection. Coastal activities in each country are often uncoordinated, and the
matter is left to the national government, although area utilization falls within
the municipal jurisdiction.