MARINE AND COASTAL PROTECTED AREAS IN EUROPE AS A TOOL FOR AN INTEGRATED COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT

摘要

In the last few decades, the concept and the implementation of protection measures in both the terrestrial and marine environments has changed deeply, together with the views of the environmental and ecological movement. The obsolete "completely closed - highest possible natural value area" concept has left space to much more open criteria which are giving modern protected areas (PAs) a new key role toward sustainable development and wise resource use. This is particularly true where the development of coastal communities is concerned, given the fact that most of the world's population is living near the coast. To combine the needs of human activities and nature protection in this sensitive and crucial area is the challenge that the Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) approach is trying to win for a sustainable future. Coastal and marine PAs in Europe could therefore play a fundamental role in achieving ICZM goals by giving first local, national and regional scale examples of successful coexistence between viable human communities and healthy environment. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the value of the establishment of well managed protected areas as a first step toward an overall integrated management of the coast. The rationale behind the creation of PAs is explained, together with the importance of International Conventions in establishing adequate Regional Networks. The role of NGOs in the process of coastal development is also highlighted, as well as WWF policy and field work on this subject in Europe. Two cases of lobby (Barcelona and HELCOM Conventions) and field work toward the achievement of a regional network of marine and coastal PA's are presented: the Mediterranean and the Baltic Sea.