CHAPTER 4
Coastal and Marine Protected Areas:
Nature's Refuge from Large-Scale Constructions
Sue M. Wells . Ralf Rochert
4.1
Introduction
There are now over 1000 marine and coastal protected areas (MCPAs) throughout the
world, ranging in size from 1 ha to some 340 000 km 2 (the Great Barrier Reef Marine
Park in Australia). They range from small, highly protected reserves that sustain species and critical habitats to larger multiple-use areas in which conservation and protection of natural processes is coupled with various socio-economic activities and concerns (Kelleher et al. 1995).
Despite this progress, in many countries, including major maritime nations in the
North, the political will to establish and adequately manage, and the awareness of the
ecological and economic values of MCPAs, is still lacking. Less than 1% of the planet's
marine surface has been designated as protected, compared to over 6% of the land
surface. A study of management effectiveness of a number of MCPAs revealed that
about 30% had a 'low' management level, 40% 'moderate' and only 30% 'high' (Kelleher
et al. 1995). Reasons for poor management include, among others: lack of public support, often because of a failure to get stakeholders involved in the establishment and
management process; inadequate enforcement of regulations; and lack of clear organisational responsibilities for management, with confusion between different government agencies. Even where the MCPA concept has been accepted as a central component of marine and coastal resource management, there are numerous obstacles to
successful long-term management, including major engineering projects.
This is also true for the Wadden Sea, which is legally designated as protected in all
bordering countries. The Wadden Sea is one of the world's most important wetlands
and part of the Global 200, the world's most important ecoregions as identified by
WWF in 1997 (Olson and Dinerstein 1997). It is one of the few Western European habitats which still resembles its natural state and has an extraordinary importance for
wildlife, especially birds. A total of 10-12 million waterbirds of mainly Arctic origin use
the 10 000 km 2 area each year, many of them arriving as a large part of or their whole
population. A large proportion of European saltmarsh vegetation, with its unique plant
and animal community, is also to be found in the Wadden Sea. Thus, the Wadden Sea
acts as a major refuge for nature in industrialised Europe.
4.2
The Case of Europipe
In the Wadden Sea, a large-scale construction, the Europipe, has been located in one of
the world's most important wetlands. This area is currently managed under a co-op-
Coastal and Marine Protected Areas:
Nature's Refuge from Large-Scale Constructions
Sue M. Wells . Ralf Rochert
4.1
Introduction
There are now over 1000 marine and coastal protected areas (MCPAs) throughout the
world, ranging in size from 1 ha to some 340 000 km 2 (the Great Barrier Reef Marine
Park in Australia). They range from small, highly protected reserves that sustain species and critical habitats to larger multiple-use areas in which conservation and protection of natural processes is coupled with various socio-economic activities and concerns (Kelleher et al. 1995).
Despite this progress, in many countries, including major maritime nations in the
North, the political will to establish and adequately manage, and the awareness of the
ecological and economic values of MCPAs, is still lacking. Less than 1% of the planet's
marine surface has been designated as protected, compared to over 6% of the land
surface. A study of management effectiveness of a number of MCPAs revealed that
about 30% had a 'low' management level, 40% 'moderate' and only 30% 'high' (Kelleher
et al. 1995). Reasons for poor management include, among others: lack of public support, often because of a failure to get stakeholders involved in the establishment and
management process; inadequate enforcement of regulations; and lack of clear organisational responsibilities for management, with confusion between different government agencies. Even where the MCPA concept has been accepted as a central component of marine and coastal resource management, there are numerous obstacles to
successful long-term management, including major engineering projects.
This is also true for the Wadden Sea, which is legally designated as protected in all
bordering countries. The Wadden Sea is one of the world's most important wetlands
and part of the Global 200, the world's most important ecoregions as identified by
WWF in 1997 (Olson and Dinerstein 1997). It is one of the few Western European habitats which still resembles its natural state and has an extraordinary importance for
wildlife, especially birds. A total of 10-12 million waterbirds of mainly Arctic origin use
the 10 000 km 2 area each year, many of them arriving as a large part of or their whole
population. A large proportion of European saltmarsh vegetation, with its unique plant
and animal community, is also to be found in the Wadden Sea. Thus, the Wadden Sea
acts as a major refuge for nature in industrialised Europe.
4.2
The Case of Europipe
In the Wadden Sea, a large-scale construction, the Europipe, has been located in one of
the world's most important wetlands. This area is currently managed under a co-op-