WSNL 1997-2

Recommendations of the First International Symposium on Large Scale Constructions in Coastal Environment

Norderney, Germany, April 21 - 25, 1997

PREAMBLE In most parts of the world coastal ecosystems are vital strongholds of biodiversity and provide important habitats for highly adapted and, hence, very sensitive plant and animal communities. On the other hand, these land/sea transition zones have been, and are increasingly becoming, important sites for human activities. This is highlighted by the fact that over 60% of the world's population lives within 50 km of the coast. The increasing number of large scale constructions exerts strong pressures on the environment. Our modern technological civilization has to deal with the problems created by the globalization of economic activities, recreation demands, an exploding population and urbanization, the needs of sustainable economic development, and efforts to preserve the environment on a global scale. These pressures on our ecological and social systems inevitably result in conflicts between economy and ecology, and have precipitated discussions about the value of the biophysical environment, and the need for a new ethic. In order to tackle these problems, the Symposium on Large Scale Constructions in Coastal Environments, for the first time, brought together spatial planners and specialists in the fields of environmental policy, environmental economy, environmental ethics and environmental science with the objective of identifying and discussing cause/effect relationships, and recommending potential remedies to the numerous conflicts between environmental concerns and economic interests. Solutions require sound knowledge of the biophysical and socio-econmic environment as a unified system. In the course of the conference, a number of factors and issues were identified which appear to lie at the root of these conflicts. On this basis, the open participatory process and the interconnection between all disciplines led to a number of important recommendations which primarily focus on the need for developing a comprehensive, integrated environmental management approach. The recommendations are aimed at all stakeholders, such as heavy industry and other economic businesses, planning organizations and supervising authorities involved in the implementation, execution and management of large scale constructions, governmental ministries and agencies implicated in such developments, as well as, the general public affected by such activities, including non-governmental organizations, such as nature conservation bodies and societies. Although it is beyond the power of the conference delegates to enforce implementation of the proposed recommendations, they call upon the support and assistance of international organizations such as UN/ECE and UNEP with the request that they pass them on to governments and other policy makers for their urgent attention. RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Large scale constructions have far-reaching impacts on the environment and the communities living in affected areas. Consequently, the planning and implementation of construction schemes should adopt an integrated approach in which the interests of all involved stakeholders are to be considered and carefully balanced. 2. Every business, organization and authority involved in the development and implementation of large scale construction plans should aim at sustainable solutions. Environmental concerns, and protected areas in particular, should be respected by the sharing of responsibilities and by taking voluntary initiatives beyond compliance in keeping with good corporate citizenship. In their dealings with each other, stakeholders should observe basic ethical principles. 3. All stakeholders should be involved in the early planning stages and are encouraged to seek consensus on acceptable impacts and appropriate compensation measures. The public should pro-actively be involved in this process and independent mediation should be available at all times. 4. Integrated management should be based on rational and clear political decisions entailing well-defined objectives in order to ensure the development of sound management policies and the proper involvement of stakeholders. Furthermore, sound integrated management must take full account of environmental costs in order to provide a firm basis for the decision-making process in the course of project execution. 5. Environmental policy and management procedures should be improved by extending the application of the precautionary principle to physical impacts on habitats, by elaborating implementation schemes for the precautionary principle, taking regional differences into account, and by designing more effective monitoring programs. In addition, proper environmental protection practices should be applied during project execution. 6. Cost/benefit analyses should include all environmental, social, cultural, and transborder derived effects, with a differential application of the best available technology not entailing excessive costs, and should observe equity principles in the process. 7. Assumptions and predictions of environmental impact assessments (EIAs) should be critically reviewed during construction for the purpose of taking immediate remedial action, as well as, after construction for the purpose of improving future EIAs. 8. Since interdisciplinary training and education are indispensable for effective integrated management, appropriate training programs and courses should be developed, and suitable educational facilities should be made available.   Further information: Manfred Vollmer - organizer of the symposium ENCORE Virchowsr. 1 D - 26382 Wilhelmshaven E-mail: vollmer.encore@t-online.de5

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