| Overview | Details | Data Sources | Links | References |
| What is ICZM? | • | Need for ICZM | • | Handling Issues | • | EU Recommendation | • | Public Participation |
Integrated Coastal Zone Management
(ICZM) is a process of management that seeks to achieve the sustainable
development of our coastal zone. It does this by joining-up the multitude
of policies that impact on the physical, economic and social aspects of
the coastal environment. An integrated approach requires the involvement
of all sectors and levels of administration, including coastal communities.
ICZM is an iterative, dynamic process that evolves over time. The Extent of the Coastal Zone
The coastal zone is an area representing a strip of both land and sea. The coastal zone can be of varying width, depending on the nature of the environment and management needs. It is important to define the extent of the coastal zone when tackling a particular issue, i.e some problems will relate to the immediate foreshore while others will involve the consideration of the entire catchment.
Why is there a need for ICZM?
1. Complex Natural Environment
The coast has to be managed in a particular way because of the unique need for expertise in both the terrestrial and the marine environment. The coast represents a dynamic, natural environment; subject to short, medium and long-term change as a result of coastal processes such as tides, waves, currents and sea level rise which often have serious implications for human settlements.
2. Intense Human Activity in the Coastal Zone
- Demographic trends
On a global level, coasts comprise 20% of the Earth's surface, yet they host a significant portion of the entire human population (approximately 50 % of the human population live within 200km of the coast [UN, 2002]). - Exploitation of natural resources
Coastal ecosystems are highly productive containing rich biological diversity, fishery resources and significant seabed minerals. However, bad management and unsustainable levels of resource exploitation have led to cases of serious depletion of our natural coastal resources. - Conflict of use
Competing demands for space (e.g. conservation of wetlands versus tourism development), often result in conflict between coastal stakeholders (people living and working in the coastal zone).
 Fly ash from the closed Irish steel plant in Cork Harbour. |
3. Traditionally poor management structures.
Coastal management is characterised by complex administrative structures. The administrative framework governing the coast usually represents a mixture of terrestrial and marine and spatial planning, in addition to the interests of various coastal sectors, (including fishing and aquaculture, tourism, shipping, oil and gas related industries). Traditionally, a lack of integrated planning for the coast has resulted in poor management structures.
How do we deal with these issues?
 There has been an increase in redidential development in coastal villages such as Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare, in recent years. |
The UK Government's Response to the EU ICZM Recommendation was to commission Atkins Water to undertake a stocktake of the framework for management of the UK coastal zone in March 2003. This was completed in March 2004, and has assisted in developing national strategies for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The document 'Towards an Integrated Coastal Zone Management Strategy for Northern Ireland 2006 - 2026' was published by the Department of the Environment (DOE NI) in June 2006. This publication outlines the consultation strategy for ICZM in Northern Ireland. Currently there are no specific resources for the implementation of the ICZM objectives; these will be incorporated into the daily activities and programmes of responsible organisations and partners.
The EU Recommendation on ICZM
| The
EU Recommendation on ICZM evolved from the European Commission's Coastal
Strategy, which was developed following the implementation of 35 Demonstration
Programme projects across coastal Member States at the end of the
1990s. These projects, including the Bantry Bay Charter And the Donegal
Rural Atlantic Beaches Project, identified best practice in ICZM.
The EU Recommendation on ICZM embraces the Principle of Subsidiarity,
which means that key decisions should be taken as close to the citizen
as possible. This recognises a key lesson to have emerged from the
Demonstration Programme, which highlighted the need for public participation
in the ICZM process. It has been shown that coastal management is
most effective when implemented at the local level with the full involvement
of the local community. |
Principles
of Best Practise
 Slipway and row boats Co. Donegal. |
Public Participation
The process of ICZM aims to integrate
decision making between various sectors of national, regional and local
government. Further, NGOs (Non-Governmental Organisations), industry and
local communities need to be involved. Public participation provides the
public with an opportunity to make their views known prior to the adoption
of policy by government. Public participation differs from public consultation.
Public consultation is a more limited form of participation where communities
are presented with a choice of options without having the ability to directly
influence the development of policy. How can ICZM involving public participation help?
ICZM can:
- Promote sustainable economic development.
- Reduce conflicts of use.
- Integrate marine activities.
- Improve land use and marine spatial planning.