  |
|     |
The concrete tasks and subjects are a result of the specific situation and the needs of the region. At the same time they consider the aspects of “Strategic approach”, “Principles”, “National status quo” and “National strategies” as recommended by the EU (EU 413/2002).
The special challenge lies in contributing science on an international level as well as starting an practical ICZM initiative, that integrates the authorities and the population and contributes to a sustainable development of the regional coastal zone. For this purpose two approaches are being followed according to the countercurrent principle thus linking them to each other:
The creation of sustainable perspectives and structures exceeding the duration of the project, is the subject of all activities.
The objectives of Agenda 21 are identical to the objectives of ICZM. ICZM should therefore be seen as a part of the Agenda 21. The objectives of Agenda 21 are identical to the objectives of ICZM. ICZM should therefore be seen as part of the Agenda 21. The existing cross-border German-Polish activities in the framework of the regional Agenda 21 “Oder Lagoon”, in which local agendas 21 are involved, form a suitable platform for a trans-disciplinary “horizontal” integration of population, authorities and political decision-makers. In addition the regional Agenda 21 is the basis for a public participation.
Furthermore mechanisms are required, that integrate at least temporarily the different authorities and decision-makers (from national to local), in other words to secure a “vertical” integration. On the one hand this is realized by the project-controlling steering committee. On the other hand regional conferences shall be convened, safeguarding the dialogue between German and Polish responsible persons in the coastal zone, but also between catchment area and coast.
The Forum Regional Agenda 21, the supplementary focal groups and the dialogues, in which all partners cooperate actively, introduce their results and support their implementation, they form a centralized cooperation body for the activities within the project.
Following questions shall be answered:
The Regional Agenda 21 presents a central aspect in the project and consists of the following elements:
Forum Regional Agenda 21 (Forum 21): The regional Agenda 21 “Oder Lagoon” explicitly mentions ICZM as an essential and central activity and furthermore includes the topics “scientific cooperation”, “education” and “sustainable tourism”. The project fulfills this activity range by founding the Forum Regional Agenda 21. It consists of interested citizens from Germany and Poland as well as local Agenda 21 representatives of the region. The forum is a suitable basis for the discussion of ICZM-related topics and concepts and enables a close cooperation with the regional planning association Vorpommern (in other words the districts and communities). The Forum Regional Agenda 21 as well as all the activities in the project are closely connected to the existing German-Polish environment commission.
Focus-Groups: Moderated expert working groups, preparing thematic focus topics within the Forum 21. Following topics from the region were suggested to date: expansion of the Fauna-Flora-Habitat (FFH) areas, development of a guiding visions for spatial planning, strategies and instructions for the future land exploitation in the region, steering-mechanisms for the settlement development, implementation recommendations for the ecological transformation of agriculture and forestry, the harmonization of coastal fishery, fishing trips and marine tourism, the transformation of military areas and mining. The main subjects of research within the project will be discussed in additional focus groups. Partly, the research results will flow directly into the focus groups, partly the existing information will be processed and can be used as a basis. It will be investigated in how research results can be efficiently integrated into decision-making procedures. Especially the use of modern, computer-based systems is to be tested and accompanied.
Local Agenda 21: In addition local ICZM-Agenda 21-activities will be integrated and supported.
The dialogue is achieved by the transfer-units and joint coordination meetings of the German and Polish projects. Through three regional conferences (German-Polish coastal dialogue) the discussion of ICZM will be broadened by the integration of all regional authorities and decision-makers.
The integration into the catchment area-coast-Dialogue as well as into the German-Polish dialogue is the main objective of the UNEP-project and is promoted by this project at the same time. However an organizational and topical support is provided. Likewise two catchment area-coast-Dialogue conferences are under discussion.
The Agenda 21 office is financed by the project with two employees. Headquarters is the manor of Rothenklempenow close to Loecknitz at the Polish border, between Pasewalk and Szczecin. The employees are regional contacts, coordinators and motivators promoting the Agenda-process. In addition the transfer unit executes an analysis of the relevant, regional parties (authorities, administration offices, Agenda-21-representatives, economic and social partners, organizations and associations as well as representatives of the local population). The transfer unit supports the existing Regional Agenda 21-journal.
Insufficient information and data disposal, a weak consciousness for the problems in the coastal zone and a weak identification with the region are the main impediments for ICZM. This is valid for both the German part of the region as well as between Germany and Poland and the catchment area and the coast. To overcome these problems following technical-methodological developments are provided to take over the function of a condensation core for the project and an integration function for ICZM in the region.
The multi-lingual information system (German, Polish, English) is a generally accessible internet-portal with a regional information content system. By integrating the existing software “CoastBase” a flexible search and linking across the contents is made possible. The system is a toolbox facilitating information, communication and decision-finding-procedures. Results and experiences will be at the long-term disposal of the web visitor and will serve as an example for other regions. The system is far reaching in the regional sense. All types of data and information about the region are processed and integrated in the most complete manner to improve the information flow and information availability in the region. Some of the topics to be processed are: systematic compilation and processing of regional data, facts, reports, maps and planning activities etc., public relations, newsletter to disseminate information, communication platform, links to other systems and regional internet sites as well as development of strategies, to design the information system in an independent and long-lasting manner, but also to secure its permanence.
The Geo-Information System (GIS) is closely linked with the regional Information system. It is an expanded, regional GIS-module for the information system “ICZM-Oder”, at the same time being an independent system, covering the entire coastal zone of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. It enables the overlapping of information layers as well as the presentation and visualization of the complex surface geo-information. Selected information, data, facts and maps of the German-Polish Oder estuary region, in particular those giving basic information on ICZM, relating to the area and being of a general importance to the entire country, will be processed and integrated for the system. In addition essential basic information for the country is compiled, enabling the GIS ICZM MV to establish a link to other regional information systems (e.g. ICZM Warnemuende-Kuehlungsborn), thus taking over an umbrella function. The free available internet-supported system is based on the “Precaution Pollution Control (VPS)” and extends it to a tool for the support of a nation-wide ICZM. It integrates essential elements of the existing systems GIS Coast Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (StAUN Rostock) as well as Linfos (Rural Information System Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Ministry of Environment MV), making it generally accessible to all interested parties.
In order to control and solve spatial conflicts, integrated multi-criteria evaluation procedures have to be adapted and utilized. The decision-making support systems (EHS) concentrate and visualize all available and relevant background information by linking selected areas of the regional information system “ICZM-Oder” as well as maps of the GIS-supported ICZM system in a problem-oriented manner with mathematical models. The use of the EHS system is innovative as it has a participatory orientation: the relevant focus groups are given the possibility to have an influence on the interaction of the multi-criteria evaluation of the different planning or activities options. Through this interaction the effects of many different evaluation preferences are made transparent, thus accelerating the consensus-finding process. In addition the decision-making is rationalized further so that its acceptance is increased and legal uncertainties can be diminished under certain circumstances. In particular it must be investigated in how far GIS-based, interactive EHS can be applied in the official authorization procedures. Concrete applications that can be generalized in the near future concern conflicts with the nomination of Natura 2000 areas, interests of shipping or the demands of tourism.
The availability of interactive EHS is further put into a concrete form with the example of oil spill control. Existing data and model systems as the VPS or the operational models of the BSH (Federal Office for Shipping and Hydrography Germany) are linked through a multi-criteria evaluation procedure to an EHS to control and evaluate environmental pollution. The system visualizes and evaluates the effects of oil spills for different utilizations (fishery, tourism and in particular protected areas) against different control options which can be set by the user.
The EU recommendation requires an evaluation of the existing structures and their suitability for ICZM. Based on the “retrospective analysis of larger planning procedures in the coastal zone with relation to ICZM-suitability” (Schirmer, University of Bremen) and the project “Spatial planning strategies in coastal and marine areas” (Glaeser et al.; WZB, Berlin) the regional German-Polish situation, in particular the connection between the spatial planning program, landscape planning and ICZM-planning in Germany is analyzed. From these analyses proposals for the modification and adaptation of existing administrative structures and responsibilities can be made. Alternatives and roadmaps for legislative and political implementation are pointed out as well as for the cross-border adaptation of planning instruments and for the national ICZM strategy.
The objective is a quantitative registration of all utilizations and future utilization demands in the coastal waters, their interactions as well as the land-water-relations. In addition the complex responsibilities and laws are analysed. An exemplary integration of the coastal waters in ICZM and recommendations for the expansion of regional planning for the coastal waters checking legal questions will be carried out. The topics marine nature conservation, offshore wind parks, shipping and fishery are of great importance. A recommendation catalogue for the integration of the coastal waters into an ICZM strategy at a national level will be provided.
Synthesis, harmonization and the actual transition of the German and Polish ICZM-relevant planning into a cross-border vision and strategy for the sustainable development of the Oder estuary through dialogue and regional discussion. Support of the integration (also of the activities relating to coastal waters and sustainable tourism) in expanded and modified development concepts and plans for the coastal zone. The result will be taken into account for an integrated coastal-catchment area-management-concept (taking the requirements of the Water Frame Directive into consideration), which is to be designed in the framework of the UNEP-Project.
The objective is the elaboration of a cross-border, strategic management plan for the tourism development of the entire region in particular taking marine tourism into consideration. The project consists of the following steps:
Status quo analysis of the tourism supply and demand as well as the existing concepts and (development) plans of all spatial areas (from local to regional up to the higher-ranked state levels). Analysis of interactions between tourism and other utilizations as well as existing and possible acceptance impediments. Elaboration of a tourism model for the entire region and the development guidelines derived from this model. Development of implementation strategies and the setting-up of a package of measures to prepare the operational implementation. Finally a comprehensive cross-border management plan of the tourism development and discussion in the German-Polish coastal dialogue will be elaborated. The opportunities for tourism resulting from the planned expansion of Natura 2000 areas, will particularly be considered in these activities.
Integrated coastal zone management must be future-oriented. The effects of global climate change as well as the observed changes e.g. by land use and the degree of utilization in the Oder estuary will have a great effect on the coastal zone – in particular on the coastal waters. These effects will have considerable consequences for the integrated coastal zone management, the different planning activities but also for the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive (Water management plan).
Following tasks will be carried out: Compilation of potential effects of global climate change and their relevance for the management of the coastal region. Processing of existing results concerning the consequences of the sea level rise with regard to coastal protection and flood dangers. Use of climate model forecasts with regard to the Oder catchment area to estimate the effects on hydrology and material transport of the Oder (quantity of sewage water, annual dynamics, extreme events) by using the catchment area model MONERIS (cooperation with Behrendt et al.). Simulation of the impacts on the water quality of the Oder Lagoon (eutrophication model) as well as the Baltic Sea (Baltic Sea model ERGOM). as well as the analysis of the effects for future uses of the coastal waters and planning activities.
The objective is the compilation of interactions between catchment area and coastal region and their consequences for ICZM with the following focus: a) Evaluation of different management strategies and utilization changes in the catchment area with regard to their quantitative effects on the quality of the coastal waters. The existing scenario calculations by Behrendt et al. (2001) for the catchment area of the Oder are the basis for the application of the lagoon and Baltic Sea models. b) Analysis of the ecological consequences of nutrient-input-reductions on the structure- and species composition in the coastal waters as well as the analysis of consequences for economic utilization (e.g. fishery). c) Recommendations for measures in the catchment area from the coastal waters’ point of view and the integration of the results in the catchment area-coast-dialogue.
The EU Water Framework Directive (WRRL) plays a central role in the border region and will be the subject of a Polish partner project. Its realization in the catchment area and the coastal zone of the Oder and the elaboration of a management plan by the responsible authorities requires voting, discussion and supporting scientific investigation. The project creates a forum for this, prepares existing data and activities and gives advice with regard to the investigation standards, monitoring and evaluation systems. Reference values for hydro-chemicals and phytoplankton as well as reference values and evaluation possibilities for the example of the benthos will be proposed, referring to the demands of the WRRL for the respective region. Advice with regard to the water management plan for the Oder according to the WRRL demands will be provided.
The development of a cost-effective, regionally transferable operation plan adapted to German conditions for the realization of ICZM will be provided, suitable for other regions, too. This approach will be integrated in the GIS-supported ICZM system Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The derivation of practical nationwide national recommendations for ICZM based on the concrete regional experiences, at the same time considering the VASAB, HELCOM and UNEP-ICZM approaches as well as according to the EU directive will be developed as well.
Cooperation in the development of a national ICZM strategy with the ICZM partner project from the other region. Recommendation and support of a national conference for the evaluation of the strategy.
Two German-Polish regional conferences are planned to discuss the regional results, concrete realization possibilities and the financing. The conferences will be organized in cooperation with the Polish partner projects and UNEP.
Evaluation of existing international and national indicator systems to achieve a successful sustainable development of the entire coastal zone. Additional derivation of further regional indicators and exemplary application in the German-Polish region. Discussion of the indicators in the region. Compilation of indicator sets that are regionally transferable as well as suitable for the national ICZM strategy.
To promote and distribute the ICZM idea, to train and educate interested parties and regional decision-makers, but also as a national case study for student education, the project approach, the results, experiences and lesson learned will be transferred into an internet-based, interactive learning module. In this process the existing German modular training system “IKZM-D Lernen” will be applied and supplemented. In addition central aspects of the project will be processed for the international training system CoastLearn.
Furthermore a summerschool for ICZM in the Baltic Sea region within the framework of the annual event of IOW, GKSS and AWI will be organized.
Through the international orientation of the projects and its integration as an international reference project, the international dissemination of the results plays an important role.
Intermediate results of the project will be distributed on a regular basis through a German Newsletter called “ICZM-Aktuell” as well as the international Newsletter “Coastal Guide News” to draw attention to the project and to initiate discussion.
Information about the Project (approach, results, experiences) will be processed for the different international project libraries and data banks of LOICZ (Land-Ocean Interactions in the Coastal Zone International Projects), UNEP (Integrated Coastal Area and River Basin Management Demonstration Projects), EUCC (ICM projects in Europe), World Bank (Database of World Bank Coastal and Marine Management Projects). The results will be presented on a regular basis on international conferences to stimulate active and in-depth cooperation between the organizations.
The integration into European ICZM networks and coastal research is intended. The integration in international EU-Interregional III-networks is already completed (BaltCoast, CoPraNet).
The UNEP Collaborating Centre on Water and Environment (UCC) in Copenhagen developed an internet-based system (Toolbox for Integrated Water Resources Management) in which the results and experiences of the project can be integrated, linked topically and spreaded worldwide.