Conclusions
Compiled by M. Vollmer, H. Grann and B.W. Flemming
Preface
Like many such conferences, the First International Symposium on Large-Scale Constructions in Coastal Environments took place because there were local and regional
concerns about the impacts of economic development on sensitive environments.
The focus was on ways to link economic interests and environmental concerns. This
requires great efforts, but one also has to accept that there are no unique solqtions. In
fact, every affected region has to find its own approach to the problem, although
guidelines at national and international levels could provide a useful framework.
Considering the subject of the conference it should be recognized that in many
cases large-scale projects on the coast evolve through the growth, merger, and linkage
of many smaller projects.
Furthermore, measures are often taken to combat short-term detrimental effects,
ignoring the fact that sometimes more chronic and long-lasting effects may emerge
at a later stage. The cumulative impact of many smaller projects developing into
large-scale constructions, therefore, also has to be considered.
The symposium conclusions, which were debated by the conference delegates before being adopted, contain explanations and comments to accompany the more
concise recommendations. The conclusions are numbered 1 through 8 and correspond to the eight recommendations.
Conclusions
1
Modern economic development with its large-scale constructions exerts
• strong pressures on the environment. These pressures on our ecological and
social systems very often result in conflicts between economy and ecological/social
interests. In order to tackle these problems a pro-active management strategy for
environmental conflict resolution on the basis of ethical principles is required.
Consequently, a bold strategy of this type should adopt integrated management
plans in which the needs of economic development and the interests of all other involved stakeholders are carefully balanced. An open participatory process acknowledging the interconnections of the various objectives leads to integrated solutions
capable of closing the gap between economy on the one hand and ecological and social interests on the other.
Integrated approaches have to be formulated by the involved stakeholders. In this
context, project fora are a useful instrument. They should be established at the very
beginning of the project planning phase. All interest groups should be invited to
participate in such discussion and decision-making fora. The overriding aim should
Compiled by M. Vollmer, H. Grann and B.W. Flemming
Preface
Like many such conferences, the First International Symposium on Large-Scale Constructions in Coastal Environments took place because there were local and regional
concerns about the impacts of economic development on sensitive environments.
The focus was on ways to link economic interests and environmental concerns. This
requires great efforts, but one also has to accept that there are no unique solqtions. In
fact, every affected region has to find its own approach to the problem, although
guidelines at national and international levels could provide a useful framework.
Considering the subject of the conference it should be recognized that in many
cases large-scale projects on the coast evolve through the growth, merger, and linkage
of many smaller projects.
Furthermore, measures are often taken to combat short-term detrimental effects,
ignoring the fact that sometimes more chronic and long-lasting effects may emerge
at a later stage. The cumulative impact of many smaller projects developing into
large-scale constructions, therefore, also has to be considered.
The symposium conclusions, which were debated by the conference delegates before being adopted, contain explanations and comments to accompany the more
concise recommendations. The conclusions are numbered 1 through 8 and correspond to the eight recommendations.
Conclusions
1
Modern economic development with its large-scale constructions exerts
• strong pressures on the environment. These pressures on our ecological and
social systems very often result in conflicts between economy and ecological/social
interests. In order to tackle these problems a pro-active management strategy for
environmental conflict resolution on the basis of ethical principles is required.
Consequently, a bold strategy of this type should adopt integrated management
plans in which the needs of economic development and the interests of all other involved stakeholders are carefully balanced. An open participatory process acknowledging the interconnections of the various objectives leads to integrated solutions
capable of closing the gap between economy on the one hand and ecological and social interests on the other.
Integrated approaches have to be formulated by the involved stakeholders. In this
context, project fora are a useful instrument. They should be established at the very
beginning of the project planning phase. All interest groups should be invited to
participate in such discussion and decision-making fora. The overriding aim should