In 2002 the European Parliament and Council adopted a
Recommendation on implementing Integrated Coastal Zone Management
(ICZM) in Europe.
The key principles of ICZM are:
- A broad holistic approach.
- Take the long term perspective.
- Use adaptive management techniques.
- Specific solutions and flexible measures.
- Working with natural processes.
- Participatory planning with all stakeholders.
- Support and involvement of all relevant administrative
bodies.
- Use of a combination of instruments or methods to find
solutions.
In January 2009 the UK's Department for Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs (Defra) launched ‘A strategy for promoting an
integrated approach to the management of coastal areas in
England’.
The objective of ICZM is to establish sustainable levels of
economic and social activity in our coastal areas while protecting
the coastal environment. Defra's definition of ICZM is:
'Integrated Coastal Zone Management means adopting a joined-up
approach towards the many different interests in coastal areas -
both on the land and at sea. It is the process of harmonising the
different policies and decision-making structures, and bringing
together coastal stakeholders to take concerted action towards
achieving common goals. Integrating the many different interests
effectively means we can look at the coast in a holistic way.'
Regional Coastal Initiative
Government Office East (GO-East) recognised that the east coast of
England has real challenges due to both natural pressures but also
the impact future changes might have on the communities and economy
of the area.
The East of England Coastal Initiative was an innovative,
multi-agency project started by GO-East and guided by a number of
regional bodies. By bringing together partners at a national,
regional and local level, the initiative provided an important
opportunity to consider the long-term future of our coast in an
integrated manner.
This project has now been concluded and the work is being
reassigned to other bodies in the East of England.
ICZM in Suffolk
The Suffolk Integrated Coastal Zone Management Initiative (ICZMI),
or Suffolk Coast Futures for short, is seeking
to develop a new approach to managing the future of the coastal
zone. The initiative recognises that working in partnership with
the community is essential to develop a sustainable approach to the
long term management of the coast and the estuaries.
The initiative is working with government departments, national
and regional organisations (including the Regional Coastal
Initiative), local authorities, government agencies and the local
coastal communities.
It is working not only on helping to resolve specific location
issues but also to address the wider generic issues of governance
(who makes decisions about what, for example) and policy
alignment (whether national, regional or local). It clearly
recognises that the future funding for any work within the coastal
zone is likely to come from a mix of both public and private
sources. Finding the appropriate mechanisms to this is also a major
challenge for the initiative.
The conclusions of this project will identify a better
way forward for Suffolk to achieve multiple objectives and
resolving difficult coastal area issues. The project will support
long term planning and encourage new and innovative approach to
develop funding strategies.
The ICZMI will be integrated with the objectives of the Regional
Spatial Strategy, Suffolk Community Strategy, Suffolk Coastal
Sustainable Community Strategy, the draft Suffolk Coastal Local
Development Framework, Estuary Strategies, AONB Management Plan and
the Suffolk Shoreline Management Plan (SMP). Other strategies
including those for economic regeneration and protected landscapes
will also need to be incorporated within the scope of this
work.
Finally, in developing an ICZM approach, effective communication
with all those who are stakeholders in the coastal zone is
essential to its success.
Contact Suffolk Coast Futures
If you would like more information about Suffolk Coast Futures
please contact:
Bill Parker,
Suffolk Coast Futures Officer,
Email:
bill.parker@suffolkcoastal.gov.uk.
Telephone: 01394 444553.
Suffolk Coast Futures is a partnership involving:
