CHAPTER 14
An Integrated Approach
to Sustainable Coastal Management
Christina von Schweinichen
14.1
Introduction
There is no common definition of what constitutes a coastal zone, but rather a number
of complementary defmitions, each serving a different purpose. Although it is generally intuitively understood what is meant by "the coastal zone", it is difficult to place
precise boundaries around it, either landward or seaward. Landward boundary of the
coastal zone is particularly vague; some oceans can affect climate far inland from the
sea. The coastal zone is the zone in which most of the infrastructural and human activities directly connected with the sea are located (European Environment Agency 1995,
p 568).
Human activities are often concentrated in coastal regions and not always suited to
assimilating those activities, and where adverse effects are most apparent. Coastal zones
are relatively fragile ecosystems, and disordered urbanization and development of infrastructure alone or in combination with uncoordinated industrial, tourism-related,
fishing, and agricultural activities, can lead to rapid degradation of coastal habitats
and resources. Mounting pressure on the coastal zone environment has, in several Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) member countries, resulted in a rapid decline in
open spaces and natural sites and in a lack of space to accommodate coastal activities
without significant harmful effects. ECE work is carried out by searching for new directions in reconciling the promotion of economic growth on the one hand, and safeguarding the heritage of ECE member countries from a physical, social and environmental point of view on the other.
In this context it is worth mentioning that the ECE has promoted the Guidelines on
Sustainable Human Settlements Planning and Management (UN ECE 1996a) with the
aim of providing alternatives to translate the overall sustainable development policies
into operational planning criteria. In particular it has looked at opportunities to broaden
national experiences and practices of translating ideas regarding sustainable planning
and management into practice.
14.2
Management of Coastal Areas
Coastal management requires a special priority in ECE countries as it experiences significant pressures from development. Europe only has a coastline of 143000 km, with a
great number of islands known for their particular and sensitive environment (ibidem). Specific environmental threats to coastal zones relate to increase of urban activities and subsequently damage in land-use patterns, sea level rise, changes in hydrologi-
An Integrated Approach
to Sustainable Coastal Management
Christina von Schweinichen
14.1
Introduction
There is no common definition of what constitutes a coastal zone, but rather a number
of complementary defmitions, each serving a different purpose. Although it is generally intuitively understood what is meant by "the coastal zone", it is difficult to place
precise boundaries around it, either landward or seaward. Landward boundary of the
coastal zone is particularly vague; some oceans can affect climate far inland from the
sea. The coastal zone is the zone in which most of the infrastructural and human activities directly connected with the sea are located (European Environment Agency 1995,
p 568).
Human activities are often concentrated in coastal regions and not always suited to
assimilating those activities, and where adverse effects are most apparent. Coastal zones
are relatively fragile ecosystems, and disordered urbanization and development of infrastructure alone or in combination with uncoordinated industrial, tourism-related,
fishing, and agricultural activities, can lead to rapid degradation of coastal habitats
and resources. Mounting pressure on the coastal zone environment has, in several Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) member countries, resulted in a rapid decline in
open spaces and natural sites and in a lack of space to accommodate coastal activities
without significant harmful effects. ECE work is carried out by searching for new directions in reconciling the promotion of economic growth on the one hand, and safeguarding the heritage of ECE member countries from a physical, social and environmental point of view on the other.
In this context it is worth mentioning that the ECE has promoted the Guidelines on
Sustainable Human Settlements Planning and Management (UN ECE 1996a) with the
aim of providing alternatives to translate the overall sustainable development policies
into operational planning criteria. In particular it has looked at opportunities to broaden
national experiences and practices of translating ideas regarding sustainable planning
and management into practice.
14.2
Management of Coastal Areas
Coastal management requires a special priority in ECE countries as it experiences significant pressures from development. Europe only has a coastline of 143000 km, with a
great number of islands known for their particular and sensitive environment (ibidem). Specific environmental threats to coastal zones relate to increase of urban activities and subsequently damage in land-use patterns, sea level rise, changes in hydrologi-