compiled by
Gerald Schernewski

January 2006

WWW-Link EUCC - Die Küsten Union Deutschland

WWW-Link Lighthouse Foundation

Created on behalf of EUCC - Die Küsten Union Deutschland e.V. within the project "IKZM Ostsee", funded by the Lighthouse Foundation.

In 1992 the Council of the Baltic States was founded to promote the joint political development of this region. The council consist of Norway, Iceland and the 9 states bordering the Baltic Sea and considers an even spatially extended, so-called, Baltic Sea Region. Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are historically known as the Baltic States.

During the last ice-age the entire Baltic Region was covered with ice. After a fast melting off (18.000-6.000 BCE), the southern and eastern Baltic areas were covered with a mighty moraine layer, leaving an irregular plane landscape behind. The isostatic uplift in the northern Baltic Region still goes on with up to 8 mm/a. Fjords and the archipelago coast are typical for the rocky coasts of Scandinavia. Parts of the southern Baltic coast are submerging and undergo coastal erosion. Cliffs, sandy beaches and shallow lagoons are typical features for the smooth coastline of the southern Baltic.

All areas receive sufficient amounts of rain and supply many rivers. The most important with respect to water discharge are Newa (77,6 km³/a, Russia), Vistula (33,6 km³/a, Poland), Daugava (20,8 km³/a, Latvia), Nemunas (19,9 km³/a, Lithuania and Russia) and Oder (18,1 km³/a, Poland and Germany).

The Kattegat and the Kiel Canal link the Baltic Sea with the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The 100 km long Kiel Canal is the artificial channel with the highest number of ship passages world-wide (37 600 ships in 1998). Gradients in economic and social development still exist in the Baltic Region. The income per capita is 5-10 times higher in the western countries compared to the east. With the extension of the European Community a fast growth of economy and prosperity in the Baltic Region is expected. At present all countries bordering the Baltic Sea belong tho the European Union, except for Russia.

The activities of the European Commission as well as the Agenda 21 play an important role and form the background for Integrated Coastal Zone Management in the Baltic Sea area.

The ICZM definition of the European Commission (1999, 2002) forms the basis:

What is Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) ?

ICZM is a dynamic, continuous and iterative process designed to promote sustainable management of coastal zones.

ICZM seeks to balance

• the protection of the coastal environment
• coastal protection and
• sustainable economic opportunities and employment options.

What does Integrated mean ?

It refers to the integration of

• objectives,
• the multiple instruments needed to meet these objectives,
• all relevant policy areas, sectors and levels of administration,
• multiple disciplines and
• terrestrial and marine components

• information collection,
• decision making,
• management, and
• monitoring of implementation,

Integrated Coastal Zone Management is closely linked to the Agenda 21 process and can be regarded as a part of it. In the beginning ICZM served mainly as a concept to support nature protection and to ensure a sustainable developemnt of coastal ecosystems.

Agenda 21

The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, and the Statement of principles for the Sustainable Management of Forests were adopted by more than 178 Governments at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) held in Rio de Janerio, Brazil, 3 to 14 June 1992.

Several "Programme Areas" were defined, e.g.:

• Integrated approach to the planning and management of land resources.
• Integrated management and sustainable development of coastal and marine areas, including exclusive economic zones.

Agenda 21 for the Baltic Sea Region (Baltic 21)

In 1996, the Prime Ministers of the Baltic Sea Region took the initiative to develop an Agenda 21 for the Baltic Sea Region. In 1998, the Foreign Ministers adopted the Agenda 21 for the Baltic Sea Region, which includes agreed overall goals and sectoral goals and an action programme for sustainable development.

One chapter in the Baltic 21 Action Programme are the "Spatial Planning Actions" e.g.

• Implementation of Stockholm Declaration on Sustainable Spatial Development Policy.
• Further Development of Integrated Coastal Zone Management.
• Integration of Baltic 21 into European spatial planning documents.

Regional Agenda 21 "Oder Lagoon – Region owned by two nations"

The regional Agenda 21 is an agreement between the Minister of the Enviromment Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (Germany) and the Marshal of the Voivodeship West Pomerania (Poland)and was signed in September 2002.
The action programme contains 10 points:

• Education and the development of Local Agendas 21
• Raising of an environmental awareness in the region
• Sustainable tourism
• Ecological landuse
• Marketing of regional products
• Environmentally sound technologies
• Renewable energy
• Protection of the cultural heritage
• Integrated Coastal Zone Management
• Scientific co-operation

WWW-Link European Commission Coastal Zone Policy

A a result of increasing pressure on coasts all over Europe, the European Commission became a major driver for ICZM in Europe. The European Commission EC-Recommendation (30 May 2002) concerning the implementation of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) in Europe caused many activities in Europe and in the Baltic region.

WWW-Link Evaluation of national strategies

Major principles are:

• broad thematic and geographic perspective
• long-term perspective
• adaptive management
• local specificity (loacal to regional approaches)
• respecting carrying capacity of ecosystems
• involving all parties (public participation)
• involvement of all relevant administrative bodies
• coherence between sectoral policy as well as between planning and management

Zum Lesen Water Framework Directive (PDF, 887,7 kB)

WWW-Link Natura 2000

Challenges are:

• to conduct a national stocktaking,
• to deveplop one national or several regional strategies,
• to implement the strategy,
• to evaluate the expected impact on the status of the coastal zone,
• to evaluate the application of Community legislation and policies,
• to report the experiences until March 2006

The EC-Recommendation on ICZM causes many activities and a strong promotion of ICZM in the Baltic region.

WWW-Link HELCOM

The Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) works to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution through intergovernmental co-operation between Denmark, Estonia, the European Community, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia and Sweden.

HELCOM is the governing body of the "Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area" - more usually known as the Helsinki Convention.

Helcom consists of several working groups, which focus on special topics. The group "Nature Protection and Biodiversity Group (HELCOM HABITAT)" compiles information on the many ecosystems and habitats that provide vital breeding grounds, nurseries, shelter and food sources for the plant and animal species that live in and around the Baltic Sea. HABITAT supports the implementation of the ecosystem-based management approach and aims to extend the principles of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) to cover the whole Baltic Sea. The group was further responsible for the HELCOM Recommendation 24/10.

WWW-Link HELCOM Recommendation 24/10 on ICZM

• to identify laws and regulations of relevance for the use and protection of marine areas and, the authorities responsible for their implementation (governmental, sub-national or municipal sector officials);
• to identify stakeholders with interests concerning the marine areas;
• to apply the principles laid down in the EU Directive on environmental assessment of plans and programmes and the EU Directive on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), relevant for introducing human activities in marine and coastal areas;
• to identify interacting and/or conflicting interests, obligations and activities of private and public stakeholders. This can for example be carried out following the DPSIR concept;
• to organize and implement an offshore management process that brings together the groups defined earlier;
• to develop criteria, standards and guidelines that are needed for integrated management of human activities by sector authorities, as well as development of practical and applicable ways to share responsibility for plan management, implementation and enforcement;
• to identify the major planning and management issues for human activities in offshore areas;
• to identify data gaps and gaps in knowledge that may impede planning and management of human activities in offshore areas, e.g. lack of spatial data on marine and coastal biodiversity (distribution of habitats and species) and natural resources, use of land and water areas, demography, traffic, oil transport, etc., as well as problems connected with access to data;
• to set up and carry out a scheme to fill in the identified data and knowledge gaps, e.g. by inventories and mapping of biodiversity (e.g. habitats and species) and resources, analysis of existing data or sharing experiences between authorities and stakeholders;
• to improve assessments of the status of biodiversity and of impacts of human activities on the marine and coastal environment;
• to develop and implement an overall management plan for human activities for marine areas addressing the tasks

WWW-Link Pickaver, A. (2003): Baltic ICZM Approach

WWW-Link Pickaver, A. (2003): ICZM in the Baltic

Several ICZM documents were prepared for HELCOM HABITAT:

• Pickaver, A. (2003): A Common Approach to the Implementation of ICZM in the Baltic Region: The Principles underlying such an approach.
• Pickaver, A. (2003): Integrated Coastal Zone Management in the Baltic States - State of the Art Report.

WWW-Link Agenda 21 for the Baltic Sea Region - Baltic 21

WWW-Link Baltic 21

The Agenda 21 for the Baltic Sea Region, in short, Baltic 21, is founded on the political will to accelerate the work on sustainable development in the Baltic Sea region and to implement Agenda 21 regionally. The process was initiated in 1996 by the Prime Ministers of the Baltic Sea Region and involves the eleven countries from the Baltic Sea Region (the members of the Council of the Baltic Sea States, CBSS), the European Commission and a number of intergovernmental organisations, international financial institutions and international non-governmental networks.

The Baltic 21 Action Programme addresses the three dimensions of sustainable development – the environmental, the social and the economic aspects – and includes goals and indicators. It features thirty different actions, both sectoral and cross-sectoral, which are mostly of pilot and demonstration character and address the transition to sustainable development in the Baltic Sea Region. Further Development of Integrated Coastal Zone Management is one out of 30 actions and belongs to the three spatial planning actions. The Vision and Strategies Around the Baltic 2010 (VASAB 2010) program has its focus on spatial planning and supports the Baltic 21.

WWW-Link Baltic 21 Organigram

The Baltic 21 Secretariat supports the Baltic 21 process and is located in Stockholm. This support ranges from practical assistance, spreading of information to the development of common definition, goals and indicators for sustainable development of the Baltic Sea Region.

WWW-Link VASAB 2010

• Integrate the needs for development with those for protection.
• Include all types of coastal areas, e.g. areas of intensive tourism, urban expansion areas, infrastructure development areas etc.
• Equally include off-shore and land-side coastal areas. Growing spatial conflicts in coastal waters like the one between off-shore wind-mill parks and undisturbed sea traffic show a need to apply instruments of spatial planning.

The VASAB 2010 program has contributed to sustainable development in the region through joint regional projects and planning initiatives covering various topics, and capacity building on spatial planning generally. A set of common sustainable development principles, VASAB 2010’s Spatial Action Program (“VASAB 2010 Plus”), and the INTERREG III B program for funding community development initiatives have created a foundation for collaboration and integration of planning work around the region.

An important issue for Baltic ICZM was the foundation of the Baltic Sea Region Integrated Costal Zone Management Platform.

WWW-Link Recommendations on planning of the Baltic coastal zone

At the minister conference in 1996 the "Common recommendations for spatial planning of the coastal zone in the Baltic Sea Region" were adopted. The recommendations are still an important background for VASAB work:

Objectives

• actions in the coastal zone should promote sustainable development, ensure appropriate living conditions for the residents, and secure a dynamic balance of the coastline, the biological diversity and the cultural heritage,
• the economic potential of the coastal zone should be maintained and developed, i.e. the development of cities, settlements, economic activities and infrastructure in the coastal zone should be economically, socially and ecologically sustainable,
• conservation of the biological diversity, the cultural heritage and the sustainable use of natural resources on landward and seaward sides of the shoreline are considered a prerequisite for sustainable economic growth and development of the coastal zone,
• the land use and the scale of buildings and changes in the physical environment in the coastal zone should be adapted to the cultural heritage and the natural and physical conditions of the landscape, especially as regard to archipelagos, islands, spits and sandbanks,
• the cultural heritage, nature and landscape values in the coastal zone should be preserved through appropriate planning and management,
• the impact of land reforms on the landscape values in the coastal zone should be minimized,
• the recreational values and the natural beauty of the coastal zone should be safe-guarded and public access to the coast and along the coastline should be secured,
• the elaboration of comprehensive plans for urban areas, environmentally friendly technologies, transport systems and energy resources should be encouraged.

Recommendations on guidance for the process of spatial planning and management in the coastal zone:

• the coastal zone around the Baltic Sea shall be defined and applied according to the HELCOM Recommendation 15/1, which encourages to develop a planning zone of at least 3 kilometres landwards and a generally protected strip outside existing urban areas and existing settlements of at least 100 - 300 meters landwards and seawards from the mean water line,
• comprehensive plans aiming at supporting sustainable development in the coastal zone should be drafted at appropriate levels (national, regional, local) ensuring the participation of local authorities and the general public,
• planning for new activities concerning urban development, construction, infrastructure, vacation centres and leisure facilities in the coastal zone outside existing urban settlements should be based on a planning-related or functional justification for a coastal location,
• location of new buildings and constructions should preferably take place inside, close to or behind existing settlements to avoid a scattered development along the coastline and to maintain the natural landscape,
• new developments should not form a visual barrier along the coast, therefore green wedges or strips should be maintained or provided,
• any large construction, infrastructure project, land reclamation or other significant permanent change in the coastal nature and landscape should be preceded by either an appropriate regional or local land-use plan or a special regional or local impact assessment covering both visual and environmental aspects,
• windmills should be located outside areas important for migratory birds and in such a way, that they minimize the impact on valuable landscapes,
• comprehensive and/or local land use plans should be elaborated especially in sensitive and/or congested areas,
• options should be kept open for improving the hinterland links to existing harbours and to allow future revitalisation of existing harbour areas,
• discharge of untreated sewage in the coastal zone should be avoided and location of waste deposit areas should only be allowed following approved land-use plans and appropriate regulations such as regional and environmental impact assessments,
• areas of different natural values whether they are worthy of preservation or not should be incorporated into a green infrastructure in order to create a better concept for sustainable development of human settlements,
• vacation centres and leisure facilities should be located in accordance with local land use plans and coherent considerations arising from national or regional tourism policy taking into account the preservation of landscapes, nature, cultural heritage and the carrying capacity of the landscapes,
• coastal protection measures outside settlements should only be initiated, when they are considered necessary for preserving the natural coastline,
• environmentally friendly transport and energy systems should be encouraged and the problems caused by motoring in sensitive coastal areas should be given due attention,
• the cultural heritage and characteristics of the coastal settlements should be maintained and renewed and re-establishment of the historical settlements should be preferred to new building areas,

In 2003 major Baltic ICZM actors, like HELCOM, Baltic 21, VASAB, the European Commission and national representatives met in Helsinki and founded the Baltic Sea Region ICZM Platform.

WWW-Link Baltic Sea Region ICZM Platform report 2003

On their first meeting the participants came e.g. to the following conclusions:

• Integrated Coastal Zone Management should not be treated as a new instrument or procedure (similar to EIA) but rather as an efficient combination of different existing instruments (legal, financial, in-dicative etc.) which need proper co-ordination and calibration.
• The ICZM platform is to continue with the task of supporting the work done in separate countries. The main purpose of the platform should be exchange of information about ICZM work among BSR countries and pan-Baltic organisations....
• The continuation should be based on outline proposals prepared by B21, HELCOM, VASAB and the different Baltic countries and delivered to the participants before the next meeting (Concept of the BSR Platform for co-operation and communication in the field of ICZM).
• VASAB Secretariat is asked to start preparation of the BSR ICZM platform web-sites according to the proposals of B21 ("A concept for managing information flow within the ICZM Platform established by Baltic 21, HELCOM and VASAB")

WWW-Link Intereg III B

WWW-Link Interreg IIIB projects

Interreg I, II, and III were European Community initiatives which aimed to stimulate interregional cooperation in the EU. They were financed under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

The Baltic Sea Region (BSR) INTERREG III B Neighbourhood Programme belongs to one of the three different strands and covered the period 2000-2006. Strand B of the INTERREG Initiative supports transnational co-operation to enhance balanced and sustainable development of the European territory. III A is focused on transboundary and III C on international co-operation.

Many Interreg projects e.g. Baltcoast, Seareg or Astra had a focus on the coastal zone and supported the work of Baltic 21 and VASAB 2010.

Zum Lesen Pickaver (2003): ICZM in the Baltic (PDF, 655,6 kB)

• Description and definition of the coastal zone
• Coastal Management and Spatial Planning in the Coastal Zone
• Coastal and Marine Environmental Policy
• Coastal and Marine Nature Conservation Policy
• Economic developments, important sectors and trends
• The Current State of Integrated Coastal Zone Management
• NGOs and other private stakeholders

WWW-Link Coalition Clean Baltic

In 1990, non-governmental environmental organizations from the countries of the Baltic Sea Region established the Coalition Clean Baltic (CCB) in order to co-operate in activities concerning the Baltic Sea. CCB is a politically independent, non-profit association. Currently CCB unites 26 member organizations from Finland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden. Together the member organisations of CCB have over half a million members in all countries around the Baltic Sea.

The main goal of CCB is to promote the protection and improvement of the Baltic Sea environment and natural resources. One priority topic is the "promotion of sustainable development in coastal zones".

WWW-Link EUCC - The Coastal Union

EUCC - The Coastal Union is an association with 2700 members and member organisations in 40 countries. Founded in 1989 with the aim of promoting coastal conservation by bridging the gap between scientists, environmentalists, site managers, planners and policy makers, it has grown since then into the largest network of coastal practitioners and experts in Europe, with 14 National Branches and offices in seven countries.

EUCC's mission is to promote coastal management that integrates biodiversity conservation with those forms of development that sustain the integrity of landscapes, the cultural heritage and the social fabric of our coasts taking into account the effects of climate change. EUCC advocates best practice by developing coastal and marine policies, mobilising experts and stakeholders, providing advice and information, and implementing demonstration projects.

WWW-Link WWF - World Wide Fund for Nature

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has the aim to conserve the natural environment and ecological processes worldwide.
The WWF Baltic Ecoregion Programme aims to conserve and where necessary restore the full range of biodiversity of the Baltic Sea. Its focus encompasses the whole drainage area of the Baltic Sea and promotes integrated land, coastal and marine management to strengthen the local and regional capacity to achieve sustainable ecosystem-based management of the Baltic Sea resources.
WWF runs several projects on ICZM in the Baltic Sea region

WWW-Link Balloon

• To facilitate and strengthen cross-border research, management and co-operation in Baltic lagoons and to provide a forum for exchange and discussion;
• To represent the Baltic lagoon research community in the broader international scope and to co-operate with similar organizations in other Eco-Regions of the European Union with the aim to strengthen European lagoon research.
• To develop joint and cross-border projects focused on Baltic lagoon research and to carry out joint research on specific relevant topics, like climate change, biodiversity etc. by hosting thematic focus groups.
• To improve data and information availability about Baltic lagoons and data exchange between participants as well as to enhance the dissemination of scientific results
• To support awareness-rising about ecological problems and to support the sustainable management in coastal lagoons by providing scientific results and accompanying research.
• To support the implementation of European policies in the Baltic area (e.g. Water Framework Directive, Natura 2000, ICZM-Recommendations etc.).

WWW-Link Baltic Local Agenda 21 Forum

The Baltic Local Agenda 21 Forum (BLA21F) is a network of experts from local authorities, NGOs and various other organisations around the Baltic Sea who share a dedication to sustainable development. It has been established to implement the Rio Process at the local and regional level and thus to strengthen and support Local Agenda 21 processes in all countries in the Baltic Sea Region.