ENABLING MECHANISMS FOR INTEGRATED COASTAL MANAGEMENT: Matching Theory and Practice

摘要

The key issue of sustainable development is to find a proper balance between economic development and environmental protection. The Driving forces Pressure State Impact Response (DPSIR) diagram is now widely accepted as a methodological framework to address this problem. When applying this methodology, social- and natural scientists have to work together to set up the theoretical basis for the approach and to develop the tools to apply the method in real world cases. Often, however, techniques and tools used by various sciences are not compatible, which impedes an integrative approach. Moreover, theories and solutions developed by scientists, often science driven, do not always match the practical needs of coastal planners and managers due to a gap between these two worlds.