Transcript Slide 1

COAST Project
Nature conservation and tourism development
– towards sustainable coastal future
Ministry of Environmental Protection, Spatial Planning
and Building,
United Nations Development Programme / Global
Environment Facility (UNDP/GEF)
Gojko Berlengi
[email protected]
www.undp.hr
some of the most attractive
coastal landscapes in the Mediterranean
... often spoilt by recent “development”
...still with many good examples
Croatia - coastal urbanization facts
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coast length: 5.835 km, area (5 km): 11.452 km2
population: 1,100.000 (26%), density: 100 inh/km2
150 km built by year 1960. (2,5% of coast length)
837 km built by year 2000. (15%)
1.553 km (27%) planned
for development
COAST area - outstanding nature
 38% of all natural habitats in COAST area are
listed in Annexes of Habitat Directive as a habitats
of particular internationally recognized importance
 47% of the critically endangered and 73% of
endangered plant species grow in COAST area
 125 species of fauna included in the Red Data
Book and 70 species strictly protected by the
international conventions
Key drivers – economic sectors
 tourism combined with real estate
development is main coastal transformation
factor
 agriculture
 fisheries and mariculture
Croatian tourism – towards monoculture?
Residential development, 2006
Key coastal policy issues (1)
 what is the right response to strong pressure
for intensive coastal urbanization?
 what is the right mix of coastal development,
what type of tourism, how much of real estate
development?
Key coastal policy issues (2)
 what are the instruments of equitable
distribution of extra profit generated through
land use decisions (increase of land value
when land is designated as buildable in
statutory land use plans)?
Key coastal policy issues (3)
 how to ensure local communities are not
excluded from future development,
particularly on the islands and how to fight
severe depopulation, ageing and
abandonment of traditional economic
sectors?
Spatial Planning System (1)
 Spatial Planning Law includes most of the ICZM
elements
 comprehensiveness, sustainability, sectoral
(horizontal) integration, vertical integration, public
participation, monitoring and evaluation,
information management (national GIS),
enforcement capacity
Spatial Planning System (2)
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coastal development siting criteria
buildable land “anchors”
setback and public access
tourist development criteria
infrastructure requirements
 complex procedure which slows down
coastal urbanization
What is COAST project?
Project goal: “To prove that nature
friendly businesses may be profitable and
to demonstrate that nature conservation
is not only cost but also excellent
development opportunity”
Project COAST
 Global Environment Facility funded project
 Implemented by UNDP and Ministry of
Environment and Spatial Planning
 US$ 7 mil. GEF grant + US$ 23 mil. (Croatia
– mostly in kind)
 Project duration – 5 years, 2007-2011
Project COAST – main activities (1)
 biodiversity inventory and mapping, elaboration of
NEN and Natura 2000, NIA
 landscape assessment and management
 action plans for rural and eco tourism
development
 action plans for shellfish farming development
 action plan for organic agriculture development
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Project COAST – main activities (2)
 Programme for Green Business Development at
Regional Development Agencies
 spatial planning system – strategic policy
discussion, capacity building
 Strategic Environmental Assessment
 compliance – rule of law and enforcement
Green investments...
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coastal development which benefits locals and
preserves natural and cultural values
green tourism - eco facilities, trails, visitor centres,
rural and agritourism, low impact adventure tourism
recultivation of abandoned land with traditional
species/cultures, restoring terraces, rubble walls...
organic farming and certification
relocating some fish-farms, expanding shellfish farms
smart fishing gear
Thanks for your attention...
...and we are looking
forward to working together