Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
policies and stakeholder needs. It may also assist in achieving a sustainable balance
between recreational use and nature conservation, so that conflicts associated with
achieving a consensus on appropriate recreational uses (see Roe and Benson 2001 for the
example of jetski use and conflict resolution in coastal areas) can be progresses. Here,
core or activity centre locations for active water sports is one option in zoning informal
and formal/ active recreational activities. As Roe and Benson (2001) argue:
zoning in time and space is a well-established method of recreational
management. It has been recommended for coastal zone management…as
has the reduction of the levels of activity in particular areas through the
provision of alternative sites. It is, however, understood that by itself,
zoning is unlikely to prevent the emergence of problems. Time zoning
allows a particular activity access to a stretch of water between specified
time limits on a voluntary basis.
(Roe and Benson 2001:32)
Yet such a system is often ineffective due to irregular loss of waterspace in tidal areas
and ineffective sanctions for non-compliance. In some instances the use of by-laws may
help in the enforcement of zoning strategies. This requires education strategies and
cooperation with formal clubs (e.g. sport clubs).
One interesting development in Maine, USA was the introduction of a volunteer
programme to help monitor the shoreline change with scientists from the University of
Maine to understand the changes induced by anthropogenic effects, sea-level changes and
changing mechanism of erosion (Hill et al. 2002). A series of articles published in 2003
in the
Journal of Sustainable Tourism
(vol. 11 (2/3): 95-294) also provides a range of
examples of progress towards sustainable coastal management for tourism and the need
to involve the local community in ICZM (see Caffyn and Jobbins 2003). One immediate
problem facing policy-makers and planners in relation to the implementation of ICZM is
the challenge posed by climate change (Gössling 2002; WTO 2003; Gössling and Hall
2005; Hall and Higham 2005), particularly for small island states which have a
dependence upon coastal locations for inbound tourism. However, the impacts of climate
change are not necessarily negative for tourism in all coastal regions. For example, in a
report on the implications of a warming Arctic, it was noted that because of the decline of
sea ice, tourism related shipping through key marine routes, including the Northern Sea
Route and the Northwest Passage, is likely to increase (Arctic Climate Impact
Assessment 2004).
As Johnson (2002) has shown in the UK, there are a number of instances of urban
coastal resorts pursuing regeneration projects, reflecting the fact that The UK coastline is
an example of a natural resource that has been used and abused for many years' (Johnson
2002:177). Much of the leadership is from the local government sector but sustainability
ideas are the antithesis of the resort development models which many mass tourism
destinations in the UK and Europe have promoted, often driven by private sector
interests. Although not developed by geographers, ICZM offers a useful range of
perspectives on the planning process for marine and coastal areas in relation to land use
and the different needs of stakeholders. Yet one also has to be cognisant of the fact that
the coast, the beach and the resort are major cultural icons in a postmodern society,
