« Previous | Contents | Next »
Listen
A STRATEGY FOR SCOTLAND'S COAST AND INSHORE WATERS
5. THE WAY FORWARD AND REVIEWING PROGRESS
5.1 THE WAY FORWARD
The development of this strategy has involved hard work, commitment, consultation and debate by those who share a vision for the future of our coasts and inshore waters.
This strategy identifies a set of aims and objectives for achieving the vision of a coastal zone management framework for Scotland which we believe is fit for purpose and which can stand alongside the best world-wide. The strategy also identifies priority actions that need to be undertaken if these objectives are to be met and if we are to begin to make steps towards the second part of our vision - securing healthy ecosystems, sustainable economies and thriving communities.
The publication of this strategy is, however, just the beginning. It is the start of a process of improving and strengthening the management of our coasts and inshore waters. The Scottish Coastal Forum (SCF) aims to continue promoting the implementation of the actions identified and the subsequent monitoring. This will involve discussions with lead bodies and partners identified in the actions to identify how these actions may be taken forward and co-ordination of actions across Scotland. However, we hope and expect that bodies, organisations and interest groups will also take the initiative in implementing actions relevant to their authority and remit.
It will be important for the SCF to monitor two aspects of progress:
a) Delivering the actions - in other words assessing the process of delivering this Strategy. The SCF will periodically review and evaluate this progress.
b) Achieving improved Coastal Zone Management and securing healthy ecosystems, sustainable economies and thriving communities - in other words monitoring the outcomes of the actions in this Strategy. The development and use of indicators is appropriate for evaluating such "outcome" or "ends" objectives.
Monitoring and evaluation
Following on from the goal in section 4, a framework for marine monitoring exists and following the publication in 2002, of the Marine Stewardship Report "Safeguarding Our Seas", DEFRA is leading the development of a UK strategy for marine monitoring. This should be completed in 2004. The Scottish Executive decided not to develop a separate Scottish Monitoring Strategy. A recent MPMMG (Marine Pollution Monitoring Management Group) review has shown that UK mandatory marine monitoring falls within one of four sectors, each with its own co-ordinating management group:
Environmental quality monitoring - co-ordinated by MPMMG.
Marine fisheries monitoring - co-ordinated by ICES (in UK FRS and CEFAS).
Habitats and species monitoring - co-ordinated by JNCC.
Ocean processes monitoring - co-ordinated by IACMST (GOOS Action Group).
The review highlighted that:
Co-ordination between sectors is required - DEFRA has established a monitoring committee to facilitate the co-ordination required.
A possible framework for data/information management is needed - monitoring programmes generate large amounts of data which must be managed. IACMST Marine Environment Data Action Group is developing a strategy for facilitating the co-ordination of data between the sectors.
The review also recommended a need for:
development and exchange of sector group action plans;
periodic integrated assessments of the marine area;
strategic review of the action plans and the State of the Seas Report.
Individual components of the National Strategy are being prepared in 2003 and stakeholder meetings are being planned for 2004.
Potential issues for Scotland
Are all the appropriate Scottish bodies engaged in the monitoring strategy development process and is there full dialogue between and within them?
What areas (mandatory and non-mandatory) of the coast are not being monitored? eg coastal defence paper identifies lack of monitoring of coastal erosion.
Raising awareness of current monitoring activity.
Does Scotland need a large-scale pilot management project to highlight areas of deficiency?
5.2 MONITORING THE PROCESS
The sectoral papers and the key objectives of the strategy highlight a number of targets for the implementation of ICZM. Completion of these actions will demonstrate that the process of ICZM is being undertaken in Scotland and the Scottish Coastal Forum aims to co-ordinate this monitoring across Scotland, in conjunction with the local coastal partnerships. Combined with this will be the requirements for reporting to Europe and the EU is in the process of agreeing an "indicator" for ICZM which will guide members states on a monitoring process. The work is looking at various levels which highlight the development of mechanisms and process of ICZM, starting at coastal planning on a non-systematic manner to developing a framework and then efficient, participatory planning. Along side this work the working group are also looking at indicators to sustainable development on the coast.
It is the intention of the Scottish Coastal Forum to concentrate on monitoring the process in the initial stages and to work on a co-ordinated monitoring regime for the outcomes with the many monitoring bodies in Scotland, for example SEPA and their monitoring requirements for the Water Framework Directive.
5.3 MONITORING THE OUTCOMES
In 2001 Cordah ltd wrote a report on "Indicators to monitor the progress of ICZM". In the reports recommendations it stated:
Adopt an objective based outcome evaluation approach for inclusion in the national strategy for Scotland's Coasts and Inshore waters.
Adopt a partnership approach.
Prepare a state of the environment report for Scotland's Coast's and Inshore Waters.
Recognise the ICZM policy development cycle.
Monitor other outcome based evaluation systems.
ICZM headline indicators.
Link to the national indicator series.
The Scottish Coastal Forum will follow on from that work undertaken by Cordah and the subsequent development of indicators in Scotland, the UK and worldwide.
Definition: Indicator is defined as an observed value representative of a phenomenon to study. In general, indicators quantify information by aggregating different and multiple data. The resulting information is therefore synthesised. In short, indicators simplify information that can help to reveal complex phenomena. (Source: European Commission)
Indicators for Sustainable Development of Scotland.
The Scottish Executive has come up with a series of indicators for Scotland and the Scottish Coastal Forum recommends that links relating ICZM to national indicators are developed. SCF aims to incorporate such links into any further implementation of ICZM in Scotland. For example:
Percentages of Biodiversity Action Plans for species and habitats which are identified as stable or increasing - presently 28% species, 44% habitats stable or increasing. No targets as of yet. SCF to feed into the UK BAP to help identify all the coastal and marine species that can be reported on. Local Coastal Partnerships can also help deliver these targets, through their work with LBAP groups.
Sea Fisheries - Proportion of fish stocks which are within safe biological limits (24%). No current target but ambition to ensure that all major species in Scottish Waters are within safe biological limits.
Energy: Renewable - Percentage of Electricity generated from Renewable sources. (10.4%) target = 18% by 2010. There is now a more demanding target for 2020. The promotion of offshore wind, wave and tidal energy generation across Scotland can help achieve this target and must be balanced with other users of the inshore environment.
Travel Industry - Freight intensity - Target to transfer 21 million lorry miles per year off Scottish roads onto rail and water by 2003. Ports will have an important part to play and their successful development in linking with rail network is important. The expansion of ports has been highlighted as an issue for sustainable development of the coast of Scotland.
The Scottish Coastal Forum intends to continue its work in providing a national perspective in ICZM. Within this it will present an evaluation and monitoring recommendation based on the national indicators series and the current monitoring programmes of government agencies such as SEPA, SNH and Scottish Enterprise and the local authorities. There will also be a requirement to incorporate other forms of information such as that generated by the local coastal partnerships or other NGOs working on the coastal and marine environment.
To summarise, SCF propose that a list of ICZM process indicators for Scotland be developed that link to other national and international reporting systems.
ICZM work should relate to a series of outcome "indicators" that show progress towards sustainable use of coast and marine resources.
« Previous | Contents | Next »