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Integrated Coastal Zone Management: User Needs and Observational

Requirements

Hans-Peter Plag Shelley Jules-Plag

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Understanding the needs of users in the coastal zone

In the frame of extending the GEOSS User Requirement Registry (URR), we were asked to populate the URR with coastal zone-related information.

Previous approach used SBA-specific reports (US-09-01a): - bottom-up (local) approach taking small pieces and building their environment.

Approach not applicable to coastal zone because cross-cutting through all SBAs.

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Main Focus of Project: Coastal Zone Management:• Key decision making processes;• Relevant for many users;• Resolution of conflicting interests

Preferred Approach: Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM)

Problem: ICZM is still at concept level

ICZM is a process for the management of the coast using an integrated approach, regarding all aspects of the coastal zone, including geographical and political boundaries, in an attempt to achieve sustainability.

European Commission:ICZM is a dynamic, multidisciplinary and iterative process to promote sustainable management of coastal zones. It covers the full cycle of information collection, planning (in its broadest sense), decision making, management and monitoring of implementation. ICZM uses the informed participation and cooperation of all stakeholders to assess the societal goals in a given coastal area, and to take actions towards meeting these objectives. ICZM seeks, over the long-term, to balance environmental, economic, social, cultural and recreational objectives, all within the limits set by natural dynamics. 'Integrated' in ICZM refers to the integration of objectives and also to the integration of the many instruments needed to meet these objectives. It means integration of all relevant policy areas, sectors, and levels of administration. It means integration of the terrestrial and marine components of the target territory, in both time and space.

A number of documents that address user needs and observational requirements were consulted, including:

IOC, 2003. The integrated strategic design plan for the coastal oceans observations module of the Global Ocean Observing System. GOOS Publ. No. 125. UNESCO, Paris, 190 pp.

Christian, R.R., Baird, D., Bowen, R.E., Clark, D.M., de Mora, S., DiGiacomo, P.M., Jiménez, J., Kineman, J., Mazzilli, S., Servin G., Talaue-McManus, L., Viaroli, P. & Yap H., 2005. Coastal GTOS Strategic design and phase 1 implementation plan, Environment and Natural Resources Service Series, No. 9, FAO, Rome, GTOS Report No. 36.

IGOS, 2006. A Coastal Theme for the IGOS Partnership — For the Monitoring of our Environment from Space and from Earth. Paris, UNESCO. 60 pp. (IOC Information document No. 1220).

UNESCO, 2010: Managing Disaster risk for World Heritages. UNESCO Report, 69pp.

Task Team IFSOO, 2011. A Framework for Ocean Observing. Consultative Draft v. 7, 15 May 2011, Prepared by the Task Team for an Integrated Framework for Sustained Ocean Observing (IFSOO).

Pielke Sr., R.A., R. Wilby, D. Niyogi, F. Hossain, K. Dairuku, J. Adegoke, G. Kallos, T. Seastedt, and K. Suding, 2011: Dealing with complexity and extreme events using a bottom-up, resource-based vulnerability perspective. AGU Monograph on Complexity and Extreme Events in Geosciences, in press.

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Challenge:Documents use different data models to describe the coastal zone stakeholders, processes, issues, and needs;URR data model differs from the range of data models used in most published documents and existing data bases.

Approach:(1) Global, application-focused view;(2) Add all other information on a local level.

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Risk-based Planning

Applications:

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Conclusions: The data model of the URR can capture complex connectivities; In many cases, the tranformation of information into the URR data model

requires a global, top-down, application-focused analysis complemented by local environments;

The graphical interface supports the analysis and helps to characterize the data quality in terms of completeness;

Fully captured complex areas will support new discoveries; The URR will improve access to information on decision making

processes.