All Baltic Sea countries are, without exception, engaged in ICZM work, although there is no specific legislation pertaining to ICZM in the Baltic region which must use existing policies and instruments. Experience suggests that these ICZM initiatives are meeting significant constraints which relate to continued institutional, traditional ways of thinking, the prevalence of a sectoral approach towards management issues, a lack of involvement of all stakeholders and problems with full public participation. Furthermore, the intensive, and increasing, anthropogenic pressure on the sensitive and vulnerable ecosystems and biodiversity of the Baltic Sea region means that Integrated Coastal Zone Management needs to be systematically implemented throughout the region. Therefore, the Third Meeting of the Nature Conservation and Coastal Zone Management Group (HELCOM - Habitat), held in Gdynia, January 29th - February 1st, 2002, decided that a Common Approach for ICZM in the region should be developed. Consequently, this review of current ICZM practice has been made to harness the experience already gained in the rest of Europe and elsewhere. |