Formulation of plans for coastal protection and management and adaptation to climate change effects such as erosion and submersion risks. The focus is on low sandy or pebbly coastal zones and their inlands, the most exposed to sea level rise, erosion and submersion risks.
http://www.coastalmapping.eu/index.php?option=com_phocadownload&view=ca… - report can be downloaded under:
REPORT D1
Report C4 - Phase A - Regional policies and littoral management practices.pdf
Questions this practice may help answer
- What is the state of the art as regards regional policies on coastal protection management?
- Is it necessary to establish spatial planning regulations for the management of plans to combat coastal erosion?
- Interaction between Integrated Coastal Management and the offshore sea
Implementation Context
The “Territorial action plans for coastal protection” were developed within the context of the COASTANCE project, and constitutes its Component 4 of activity: Regional policies and littoral management practices.
Aspects / Objectives
The main aim of Component 4 is the formulation of plans for coastal protection and management and adaptation to climate change effects such as erosion and submersion risks. The focus is on low sandy or pebbly coastal zones and their inlands, the most exposed to sea level rise, erosion and submersion risks. Hard defence structures (e.g. breakwaters, seawalls, groynes), built in the past to remedy suffering situations, often relocated the problem down-drift or anyway to another part of the coast.
Very quickly, the limits of these accommodations appeared. New guidelines based on pro-environmental engineering are emerging, focused on the so-called “soft protection” works. Soft options like beach nourishment, while also being temporary and needing regular replenishment, appear more acceptable, and go some way to restore the natural dynamism of the shoreline.
Method
According with the concept that considers the beach as the main defence “structure” for inland areas, actions should be focused on beaches preservation. A sustainable management of low beaches should therefore be based on two main pillars:
• the alimentation of beaches with sediments coming from out of the system, while in most cases rivers are no more able to provide enough sediment to the coast;
• the correct management of sediments within the system in order to balance accumulating vs. retreating coastal stretches and strongly reduce or avoid losses from the littoral system (seaward, eg. by waves and storm actions, land lowering by subsidence phenomena, or landward, eg. wind action, human activities/exploitation).
Main Outputs / Results
Report D1 Regional policies and littoral management practices Phase A Component 4 “Territorial Action Plan for Coastal Protection Management”, available online here.
Transferability
This exercise of territorial planning for coastal protection management has been tried out in a different range of coastal regions in the West Med (and East Med). In particular, in the Lazio region, Emilia Romagna, Andalucía, L’Hérault Eastern Macedonia & Thrace and some parts of Cyprus. In this way, some of the recommendations can be applicable to other territories that might share some similar challenges.
Contact Person
Roberto Montanari
Regione Emilia-Romagna
Responsible for Component 4
Angelos Antoniadis
Project Coordinator
Regional Development Fund Regional Development Fund of Eastern Macedonia & Thrace
Email: info
pta-emth.gr (info[at]pta-emth[dot]gr)
Responsible Entity
REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUND OF EAST MACEDONIA AND THRACE. GRECIA
Dimitriou Tsetine 7, 69100 Komotini. Grecia
Web: www.pamth.gov.gr
Costs / Funding Source
No info specific on the costs for the practice itself. The overall project costs, involving three thematic components, was of 1.9 million euro.