Evaluation of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) in Europe

Status

The Spanish Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) and stocktaking report, bearing the title Gestión Integrada de las Zonas Costeras en España (Integrated Coastal Zone Management in Spain, was submitted officially to the European Commission by the General Directorate of Coasts, Ministry of Environment, Spain, on 28 March 2006.

A Spanish national ICZM strategy has been developed with clear strategic and specific objectives that conform with the principles of good ICZM management. Convincing initiatives, measures and activities are proposed that take account of the highly decentralized governmental structure of Spain and the need for new multi-level governance instruments concerned with coastal management. Some actions have already emanated from the national strategy in 2006, a full implementation is targeted for 2008.

There are some substantial activities that are funded and are to start already in 2006: a) 35 million € for buying built-up land on the coast for protection and restoration of the coast and b) some 6 million € to start the Director's Plan for Sustainability.

The Director's Plan for the Sustainability of the Coast is also to take off in this year. In the Spanish report regional, national and even European ICZM fora with stakeholders are proposed and to be established with support of the European Union. The Spanish ICZM Strategy foresees a convincing and strong future participation of stakeholders e.g. in the National Coast Council. However, the participation of stakeholders in the development of the Spanish ICZM Strategy is still seen as weak.

The Spanish ICZM strategy is intending to consider coastal matters towards the hinterland on a river basin approach. This is seen as most appropriate and well linked to another important EU regulatory instrument, i.e. the Water Framework Directive. In Spain, for several areas, authorities exist managing the scarce water bodies of river basins. These need to be connected to and firmly involved in the coastal management process.

Reporting Institution

General Directorate of Coasts Ministry of Environment
Madrid

National Contact(s)

Dr. Carlos Peña
General Directorate of Coasts Ministry of Environment, Madrid
Contact: cpena@mma.es

Dr. Xavier Marti Rague
Ministry of the Environment, Generalitat de Catalunya, Barcelona
Contact: wxmarti@garca.net

National Reporting to the EU ICZM Recommendation

Gestión Integrada de las Zonas Costeras en España (response to ICZM Recommendation) (77 pages, Spanish)
Annex I: Indicadores; Annex II: Contenido del Inventario, Annex III: Listado Agentes y Leyes

Stocktake and Supporting Documents

National Stocktake of Actors, Laws and Institutions (database) within National Strategy.

In additional to the Spanish National Report, the following additional material was reviewed:

Breton, F. (Project coordinator), Montori, C., Canalís, A. and A. Iglesias. 2006. The State of the Environment in the Coastal Areas of Europa, Version 2.2, European Environment Agency, Autonomous University of Barcelona.

Sárda, R., Avila, C. and J. Mora. 2005. A Methodological Approach to be Used in Integrated Coastal Zone Management Processes: the Case of the Catalan Coast (Catalonia, Spain), Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science 62: 427-439.

Malvárez García, G., Pollard and R. Domíngez Rodríguez. 2003. The Planning and Practice of Coastal Zone Management in Southern Spain, Journal of Sustainable Tourism 11: No. 2&3: 204-223.

Malvárez García, G., Pollard, J. and R. Hughes. 2002. Coastal Zone Management on the Costa de Sol: a Small Business Perspective, Furnal of Coastal Research, Special Issue 36, 470-482

Bridge, L. in cooperation with A. Salman: 2000. Policy Instruments for ICZM in Nine Selected European Countries, Final Study Report Prepared for the Dutch National Institute for Coastal & Marine Management, RIKZ.

Elburg-Velinova, v. D., Perez Valverde, C. and A. Salman. 1999. Progress of ICZM Development in European Countries: a Pilot Study, Working Document, (Final Draft), EUCC In-ternational Secretariat, Leiden.

Juanes, D.J. The National Inventory on Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) in Spain, 1st European ICZM High Level Forum on Community Strategies for Inte-grated Coastal Zone Management, University of Catabria, Spain

Further Information

Website of the Ministry of Environment and Housing
Generalitat de Catalunya, Barcelona
http://mediambient.gencat.net/eng/inici.jsp