Environmental Management: Principles and practice

Coastal zone planning management
There has been growing interest in coastal zone management (Carter, 1988;
OECD, 1993; Brower et al., 1994; Viles and Spencer, 1995; Clark, 1996;
Prestcott, 1996; a journal is dedicated to the field: Coastal Zone Management).
In many parts of the world it is in the coastal zone that most human activity is
concentrated and environmental management is required, especially for
coastlands subject to flooding or erosion, and regions where mangrove forests
are being exploited. With the threat of global warming and rising sea-levels
coastal zone management is likely to grow in importance (for further coverage
see French, 1998).
Marine ecosystem planning and management
An ecosystems approach has been explored for managing the Baltic Sea (Figure 9.3)
(Jansson, 1972), the Mediterranean (and more especially the Aegean), the North Sea
and the Japanese Inland Sea. Although not strictly marine, but with similarities, are
the Great Lakes of North America, the Aral, Caspian, and Black Seas, and Lake
Baikal). These ecosystems involve several countries, and in order to control pollution
management must extend inland to incorporate regions which pollute, control
riverflow, etc.
River basin planning and management
In a river basin flowing water acts as an integrative element. Using watersheds as a
management unit (see following section), there is more attention given to moisture
and soil conservation. River basins have been used for integrated or comprehensive
regional development planning and management since the 1930s. The river basin
biogeophysical landscape unit is suitable for applying a holistic, ecosystem approach,
TABLE 9.2 Hierarchical ecosystem classification used in The Netherlands
Source: Based on Klijn et al. (1995:799, Table 1)

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FIGURE 9.3 Baltic Sea Joint Comprehensive Action Programme—application of an ecosystem
approach for management of a sea bordered by several countries. Note catchment area to
ensure jurisdiction over things which affect the ecosystem (or might be argued to be part of it)
Source: Mitchell, 1997:64, Fig. 3.2 —which was based on material from the Helsinki
Commission (1993) The Baltic Sea Joint Comprehensive Action Programme. Government
Printer, Helsinki.

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and is useful when several states share a river system (Briassoulis, 1986;
Barrow, 1997). There is probably more experience with the use of river basins
as a means for integrated environmental-socioeconomic planning and
management than with any other ecosystem approach and much debate about
its effectiveness.