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With the close of the first project phase from 2004 to 2007 the basis for a regional ICZM implementation has been provided in particular in the German part of the region (see the publication: "Research in the Oder Estuary: Results 2004-2007"). Now, this basis has to be developed further, focused thematically and having a cross-border ICZM in mind, into concrete and transferable recommendations for the regional, national and international ICZM levels. Additional and significant new research is needed because of multiple changes in ecological, social, planning and legal frameworks, changes in the border situation and other complex and large-scale changes with immediate impacts on the coastal zone. Project results show that the Oder River with its drainage basin has a central steering function on the coastal zone. A regional ICZM must not neglect effects like this. Moreover, it was shown, that the innovative interlinking of river-coast-sea simulation models combined with transdisciplinary work allow scientificly highly relevant analysis and scenarios of past, present and future states of this coastal region.
The follow-up project considers this research state. Aiming at a stronger focus, the planned tasks in the follow-up project can be thematically summarised as followed:
1. Regional cross-border ICZM (legal, institutional and control theoretical frameworks as well as strategic concepts and recommendations for governance and implementation) and
2. River-coast-sea: A system in transition: (thematic focus on water quality)
are complemented by:
3. ICZM tools and information
During the running project, the limits of communication and project result transfer became apparent within the region. It is very hard to communicate the ICZM approach a broad audience. This is also a result of the so far diffuse definition of the ICZM term itself. This will be one key point of the project in connection with the tasks of topic 1. Detailed result reports within the first project phase awoke little interest at regional actors. Therefore, the future communication and transfer strategy shall address the target group more specific. The cross-border dialog with polish colleagues will be further expanded under the umbrella of the Joint Environment Commission (GUK).
In the focus are following questions:
During the first project phase the great importance of the Oder River for the coastal zone became clear. The topic river-coast-sea takes up a wide range of highly transdisciplinary and spatial integrative issues. Work in this field can only be done because of already existing previous research results by the project partners, e.g. within current European projects (ASTRA, SPICOSA) which contribute to single aspects, or by the systematic use and integration of knowledge and preparations from projects in river catchments areas (e.g. GLOWA Elbe, river catchment management Werra, international Oder project, UBA Oder Project, Oder-Regio etc.). Especially by the new partners IGB (catchment model MONERIS) and IEOW (economy) this competence becomes part of the project.
The following aspects will be deeply examined:
To overcome regional information and communication deficits technical and methodological tools have been developed during the first project phase. They serve as a project core and have an integrative function for ICZM in the region. These technical developments have been completed and shall be increasingly filled with content and shall be adapted to specific user groups. To this end, interactions between river and coast will be added. In addition, the regional, national and international involvement of these tools as well as their transfer into other regions are in the focus of the topic "ICZM tools and information".