14 An Integrated Approach to Sustainable Coastal Management
155
On the other hand, local authorities construct, operate and maintain economic, social and environmental infrastructure, oversee planning processes, establish local environmental policies and regulations, and participate in implementing national and
regional environmental policies. They playa vital role in educating, mobilizing and
responding to the public to promote sustainable development also in the coastal zones.
Furthermore, other parties are involved in the process besides central and local government: planners and administrators, the business sector and corporations, non-governmental and community organizations, the academic community, and local interest
groups. Representatives of associations of cities and other local authorities should also
increase levels of cooperation. One of the fundamental prerequisites is broad public
participation in decision-making. This includes the need for individuals, groups and
organizations to participate in EIA procedures and in decisions, particularly those that
potentially affect the communities in which they live and work. To this end the ECE
Guideline on Access to Environmental Information and Public Participation in Environmental Decision-making (UN ECE 1996b) could be applied, and soon the convention
on access to environmental information and public participation on environmental
decision-making which is under preparation and will be signed at the next Ministerial
Meeting in Denmark in 1998.
14.5
Conclusive Remarks
The coastal zone is the major attraction pole for settlement and economic development. It has also a high potential for recreation and tourism. The attraction of resources
and opportunities has led to increased inhabitation, stresses, deterioration conflicts
between users, and between exploitation and conservation. Planning strategies must
be based on detailed area knowledge, mapping zoning, analyses, evaluations and inventory taking. A coordinated policy of research, planning and management backed by
public support will foster positive action.
Required actions cover preservation and protection of fragile environments through
legislation, purchase control, promotion of non-destructive uses, elimination of waste
disposal operations, production of descriptive, diagnostic and prescriptive maps, pollution abatement, building regulation, biomass exploitation, minimization of natural
hazards, preservation of high quality soils, EIA, development of programmes of public
information and education, and nurturing of general awareness of the need to protect
the coastal zone and promote conservation and management co-operation (Charlier
and Charlier 1995).
The casual approach to coastal zone occupation and use must bow to the imperatives of the coming decades: scientific approach and careful planning, resistance to
selfish private interests, a "global" approach, and synchronization oflegislation. In this
regard, the trans boundary conventions have a useful role to play. A coherent integrated
policy of inventory, diagnosis planning and management and research is needed.
The existing regional legally binding instruments and "soft-law" recommendations
constitute a solid framework for sustainable integrated coastal area management. It is
now mainly a question of elaboration and implementation at the national and
transboundary levels - both bilateral and multilateral- to put the legal and institutional framework into practice.
155
On the other hand, local authorities construct, operate and maintain economic, social and environmental infrastructure, oversee planning processes, establish local environmental policies and regulations, and participate in implementing national and
regional environmental policies. They playa vital role in educating, mobilizing and
responding to the public to promote sustainable development also in the coastal zones.
Furthermore, other parties are involved in the process besides central and local government: planners and administrators, the business sector and corporations, non-governmental and community organizations, the academic community, and local interest
groups. Representatives of associations of cities and other local authorities should also
increase levels of cooperation. One of the fundamental prerequisites is broad public
participation in decision-making. This includes the need for individuals, groups and
organizations to participate in EIA procedures and in decisions, particularly those that
potentially affect the communities in which they live and work. To this end the ECE
Guideline on Access to Environmental Information and Public Participation in Environmental Decision-making (UN ECE 1996b) could be applied, and soon the convention
on access to environmental information and public participation on environmental
decision-making which is under preparation and will be signed at the next Ministerial
Meeting in Denmark in 1998.
14.5
Conclusive Remarks
The coastal zone is the major attraction pole for settlement and economic development. It has also a high potential for recreation and tourism. The attraction of resources
and opportunities has led to increased inhabitation, stresses, deterioration conflicts
between users, and between exploitation and conservation. Planning strategies must
be based on detailed area knowledge, mapping zoning, analyses, evaluations and inventory taking. A coordinated policy of research, planning and management backed by
public support will foster positive action.
Required actions cover preservation and protection of fragile environments through
legislation, purchase control, promotion of non-destructive uses, elimination of waste
disposal operations, production of descriptive, diagnostic and prescriptive maps, pollution abatement, building regulation, biomass exploitation, minimization of natural
hazards, preservation of high quality soils, EIA, development of programmes of public
information and education, and nurturing of general awareness of the need to protect
the coastal zone and promote conservation and management co-operation (Charlier
and Charlier 1995).
The casual approach to coastal zone occupation and use must bow to the imperatives of the coming decades: scientific approach and careful planning, resistance to
selfish private interests, a "global" approach, and synchronization oflegislation. In this
regard, the trans boundary conventions have a useful role to play. A coherent integrated
policy of inventory, diagnosis planning and management and research is needed.
The existing regional legally binding instruments and "soft-law" recommendations
constitute a solid framework for sustainable integrated coastal area management. It is
now mainly a question of elaboration and implementation at the national and
transboundary levels - both bilateral and multilateral- to put the legal and institutional framework into practice.