PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The Cyclades islands are fragile ecosystems characterised by a small surface area, limited natural resources and a rich cultural heritage. However, the area has limited administrative and organisational capacity, little access to technological innovations and is subject to intense tourism development, which is a threat to the fragile balance between the economy, the local population and the environment. This project sought to develop innovative cooperative activities for integrated coastal zone management in the Cyclades islands complex.
OBJECTIVES
In order to coordinate actions to protect the coastal zone, this project aimed to develop an integrated coastal area management through cooperative mechanisms among various actors (public, private/local-regional-national) for coastal management in the islands. Two case studies were set up: Cyclades, S. Aegean, Greece. Activities at these sites included the organising multiple teams who worked together to identify issues, develop strategies and devise actions. The project began with the organisation of the network. This was done by building a network structure (management unit, experts, decision makers, socio-economic actors, non-government organisations) and developing a methodology and rules of procedures, as well as dividing up various tasks and responsabilities. Once the network was set up, the assessment of environmental issues began. This involved an analysis of economic activities and resource management practices, an evaluation of impacts on the environment, an examination of resources capacity and of legislation and regional development programmes. The next step involved assessing the strategy for sustainable coastal management in the Cyclades, including a comparative analysis of other possible strategies and an identification of issues associated with each one of these. The final stage examined the specific measures for coastal area management in the Cyclades. This involved issues of resource management (water resource management, energy use, protection of beaches), waste management, environmental planning and the cultural heritage management.
RESULTS
The programme was successful in contributing to the promotion of cooperation for coastal area management issues through the development of an Island Network and to the development of an integrated framework for social and environmental development issues at both the island and island complex levels. The establishment of the Network faciliated a coordinated exchange of experiences and information and to the development of an integrated coastal zone management programme for each group in the Network. the Network also made it possible to formulate action as a group and to anticipate common problems, whether related to tourism development, water resource management and other related problems. Finally, the project contributed to raising the public awareness of, and sensitising local actors to, the issues of integrated coastal zone management issues by promoting project activities, publishing and disseminating an information bulletin and developing educational materials. The programme was successful in contributing to the promotion of cooperation for coastal area management issues through the development of an Island Network and to the development of an integrated framework for social and environmental development issues at both the island and island complex levels. The establishment of the Network faciliated a coordinated exchange of experiences and information and to the development of an integrated coastal zone management programme for each group in the Network. the Network also made it possible to formulate action as a group and to anticipate common problems, whether related to tourism development, water resource management and other related problems. Finally, the project contributed to raising the public awareness of, and sensitising local actors to, the issues of integrated coastal zone management issues by promoting project activities, publishing and disseminating an information bulletin and developing educational materials.