Long-term Perspective in Coastal Zone Development

Multifunctional Coastal Protection Zones

verfasst von: Frank Ahlhorn

Verlag: Springer Berlin Heidelberg

Enthalten in: Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" , Springer Professional "Technik" , Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

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Über dieses Buch

From February 2004 until December 2007 the ComCoast project (Combined Fu- tions in Coastal Defence Zones) was carried out within the Interreg IIIB framework. The objective of this project was to investigate and to test the options for spatial coastal protection concepts. The mission statement of the project over its entire duration was: A wider approach in coastal thinking. I was glad to be part of this project and would like to thank all my European colleagues for the constructive and cooperative atmosphere. Firstly, I would like to express my thanks to Prof. Dr. Horst Sterr and Prof. Dr. Hans Kunz who assisted me over these years with their thorough guidance and comprehensive expertise and for many in-depth discussions on the focus of this dissertation. Secondly, I would like to thank my colleague Dr. Jur ¨ gen Meyerdirks, who acted as my key scienti c sparring partner over the last two years, and who continuously demonstrated his ability to bring me back to earth. Additionally, I would like to thank my colleague Dr. Thomas Klenke, who gave me the chance to be part of a challenging European project consortium and who supported me with his expertise on the project and the dissertation. Furthermore, I would like to express my special thanks to Gerard McGovern, who thoroughly improved my English.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Frontmatter

Chapter 1. Introduction

The aim of this dissertation is to develop and to discuss an approach towards a sustainable use of the coastal zone addressing the dual issues of safety and development. This approach consists of the concept of Multifunctional Coastal Protection Zones (MCPZ). A MCPZ is an area where the application of spatial coastal protection concepts offers new options for safety and development for society, ecology and economy. The options of a MCPZ will be elaborated within the framework of a Participatory Integrated Assessment (PIA) process. The focus area is the southern North Sea Region. This dissertation will concentrate on the German sector, especially on Lower Saxony.

Frank Ahlhorn

Chapter 2. Background Information – Nature and Society

The North Sea is a shallow sea adjacent to the northern Atlantic. The southern North Sea is divided into two parts: the Southern Bight and the German Bight. The mean depth of the southern North Sea is approx. 20–30 m. The recent shape of the North Sea is a result of fluvial and fluvio-glacial processes during and after the ice ages, Sindowski (1962), Streif (1982,2002), Behre (2007).

Frank Ahlhorn

Chapter 3. New Insights – Varying Circumstances and New Frameworks

Since 1988, the installation of the IPCC, four Assessment Reports have been published to estimate, to assess and to provide information about climate change and likely impacts. Although, initially the signals for climate change were not treated as significant, nowadays the existence of climate change is widely accepted (e.g. Climate Change Conference for post Kyoto time on Bali in 2007). The discourses and discussions focus mainly on the determination and the estimation of the repercussions on the climate system as shown in Fig. 3.1. The relationships and interactions are multi-faceted and complex and though it is somewhat difficult to predict the future development with a high level of certainty. Nevertheless, in the following section the main points of the recently published Assessment Report (AR4) shall be described.

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Chapter 4. Anticipating the Future – Available Tools and Instruments

This section discusses the existing methods and instruments for consultation and cooperation on coastal protection and the integration within the current statutory framework. The need for new participatory action arises from both the enhanced demand of other types of land use and the need for increased stakeholder involvement within an ICZM process. Consequently, the consideration of different types of land use with specific interests and needs in the coastal zone requires an additional evaluation technique, because different interests and needs have to be weighed and balanced against each other (sustainable development process). By comparison, the traditional responsibility of spatial planning has been limited on balancing and coordinating different types of land use in the coastal zone and to secure several resources, e.g. sand and gravel or areas for recreation.

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Chapter 5. Sound Options – Multifunctional Coastal Protection Zones

In the previous section, the rationale behind the coastal protection system and the strategies in force have been dealt with. The conclusion is that new or revised concepts and strategies are necessary to meet the challenges of the future. However, some problems demand immediate attention and the consequences of climate change will make them even worse.

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Chapter 6. Looking Ahead – A Sustainable Process

The preamble of the United Nations – Agenda 21 document states (WCED 1987, p. 110): “[…] The broadest public participation and the active involvement of the non-governmental organizations and other groups should also be encouraged. […] (preamble 1.3)”. The transformation of the industrialised society to the knowledge society broadens the perspective from solely economic to include economic, ecologic and social aspects. This was expressed by the Earth Summit conference in 1992. The demand to consider the ecologic, economic and social aspects in further development requires a comprehensive knowledge base. But, this demand makes the world even more complex than before, and the requirements to be met by science and the political system are even higher. Munton (2003) summarises the uncertainty about the environmental and sustainable context as follows: “Indeed, in the absence of overwhelming scientific evidence, in a plural society there will be a plethora of ‘right’ answers. This suggests the need for inclusive processes that encourage debate, learning, adaptation and consent.”

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Chapter 7. Summaries

The purpose of this dissertation was twofold: first, to elaborate the options provided by spatial coastal protection concepts for safety and sustainable coastal development, i.e. Multifunctional Coastal Protection Zones (MCPZ) and second to develop a procedure for the implementation of MCPZ, i.e. a Participatory Integrated Assessment (PIA) process.

Frank Ahlhorn

Chapter 8. References

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Backmatter

Titel: Long-term Perspective in Coastal Zone Development
verfasst von: Frank Ahlhorn
Verlag: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Electronic ISBN: 978-3-642-01774-2
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-01773-5
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-01774-2