CHAPTERll
Towards an Integrated Approach in Environmental
Planning: The Europipe Experience
Bastian Schuchardt . Henning Grann
11.1
Introduction
The main task of Integrated Coastal Zone Management is to provide solutions to
obtain a balance between ongoing economic development on the one hand, and the
integrity of nature and the human environment on the other hand, in other words,
a sustainable development of coastal regions. Among other things, this requires a set
of specific approaches and methods, an important one being to ensure that environmental protection is integrated into all phases of project planning. Although environmental protection has already become an important part of many engineering
and construction schemes worldwide, the development of concepts and experience required to meaningfully and efficiently integrate environmental protection is to date
scarce.
A complex methodological approach embodied in an Environmental Protection Plan
(EPP) has been developed and implemented for the Europipe project in the coastal
zone of northern Germany. Considering the increasing demand for environmental protection worldwide, we contend that the Europipe EPP can in future serve as a tool for
similar projects elsewhere.
11.2
The Wadden Sea
The Wadden Sea covers an area of almost 8000 km 2 from Skallingen in Denmark
to Den Helder in The Netherlands. It is a unique ecosystem, protected accordingly
by several national and international regulations. The flat 5- to lo-km-broad Wadden
Sea is characterised by semidiurnal tides ranging in amplitude from 1.5 m to >3.0 m.
Extensive intertidal sand and mud flats comprise approx. half the area, the remainder consisting of a network of tidal channels and creeks, salt marshes and barrier islands.
High productivity and biodiversity are amongst the main factors explaining the use
of the region as a nursery ground by many commercially important North Sea fish
species. In addition, the Wadden Sea is a vital breeding area and a resting area for large
numbers of migratory birds from Siberia and Greenland (CWSS 1993). The ecological
value of the region is acknowledged worldwide. The national park status of large areas
of the Wadden Sea was of major significance to the Europipe project. The region is
designated as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention
and as a Special Protection Area under the EC Bird Directive. It is also recognised as a
Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.
Towards an Integrated Approach in Environmental
Planning: The Europipe Experience
Bastian Schuchardt . Henning Grann
11.1
Introduction
The main task of Integrated Coastal Zone Management is to provide solutions to
obtain a balance between ongoing economic development on the one hand, and the
integrity of nature and the human environment on the other hand, in other words,
a sustainable development of coastal regions. Among other things, this requires a set
of specific approaches and methods, an important one being to ensure that environmental protection is integrated into all phases of project planning. Although environmental protection has already become an important part of many engineering
and construction schemes worldwide, the development of concepts and experience required to meaningfully and efficiently integrate environmental protection is to date
scarce.
A complex methodological approach embodied in an Environmental Protection Plan
(EPP) has been developed and implemented for the Europipe project in the coastal
zone of northern Germany. Considering the increasing demand for environmental protection worldwide, we contend that the Europipe EPP can in future serve as a tool for
similar projects elsewhere.
11.2
The Wadden Sea
The Wadden Sea covers an area of almost 8000 km 2 from Skallingen in Denmark
to Den Helder in The Netherlands. It is a unique ecosystem, protected accordingly
by several national and international regulations. The flat 5- to lo-km-broad Wadden
Sea is characterised by semidiurnal tides ranging in amplitude from 1.5 m to >3.0 m.
Extensive intertidal sand and mud flats comprise approx. half the area, the remainder consisting of a network of tidal channels and creeks, salt marshes and barrier islands.
High productivity and biodiversity are amongst the main factors explaining the use
of the region as a nursery ground by many commercially important North Sea fish
species. In addition, the Wadden Sea is a vital breeding area and a resting area for large
numbers of migratory birds from Siberia and Greenland (CWSS 1993). The ecological
value of the region is acknowledged worldwide. The national park status of large areas
of the Wadden Sea was of major significance to the Europipe project. The region is
designated as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention
and as a Special Protection Area under the EC Bird Directive. It is also recognised as a
Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.