Lääne-Viru integrated coastal zone management plan

English. SustainBaltic i.e. ICZM Plans for SustainingCoastal and Marine Human-ecologicalNetworks in the Baltic Region project isimplemented for 27 months during 2016-2018. SustainBaltic (CB354) is fundedby the European Regional DevelopmentFund (ERDF) under the Central BalticProgramme 2014-2020. SustainBaltic isa joint cooperation project of Universityof Turku, Estonian University of LifeSciences, Finnish Environment Institute,Regional Council of Satakunta and TallinnUniversity.The project targets to improve the shareof the managed coastal networks in theCentral Baltic area by the cross-borderpreparation of the ICZM plans for totalfour case areas with their public assessmentin Estonia and Finland. This wasplanned to achieve by 1) Integrating multidisciplinaryhuman-ecological data on thewhole project area: in Finland the regionsof Satakunta and Southwest Finland andin Estonia the areas of Lääne, Harju andLääne-Viru with their land-sea interfaces;2) Selecting the themes of ICZMs andcase study areas which locate along thecoast of Lääne and Lääne-Viru in Estoniaand in the region of Satakunta in Finland;3) Making four digital ICZM plans whichwere first tested with the current regionalland use of the project area; 4) Publicassessing of the plans using both e-platformsand arranging working groups with the stakeholders and end-users directedby the project members; and 5) As thefinal results of SustainBaltic the updatedcompleted ICZM plans can be downloadedfrom the websites of the partner organisationsand at the http://www.utu.fi/SustainBaltic, also beyond the project lifespan. In addition, the interim results andthe other activity phases of the preparationof the first ICZM drafts are found atthe https://blogit.utu.fi/sustainbaltic.This ICZM plan (hereinafter: the managementplan) covers the Lääne-Virucase area, which extends from Käsmu toKunda (see Figure 1). The managementplan has a 10-year perspective, with theaim of outlining the current trends andthe necessary activities. The managementplan is a knowledge-based guidancedocument that combines variousdevelopment strategies and can be usedin the development of several plans, developmentplans, and strategic projects(see Figure 2).The management plan consists of twoparts: a description of the situation andcontext based on values and challenges;and an operational part of the managementplan that includes integrated activitiesand a scheme. The managementplan is based on the maritime vision ofLääne-Viru county, which focuses onthree main areas:a) ensuring the development of diversemaritime transport, ports, and maritimetourism, b) strengthening the viability of historiccoastal villages and communities,c) using the natural resources of themarine and coastal zones sustainably.In this management plan, the socio-ecologicalnetworks of the sea and the landare determined and the suggestive activitiesare based on aspects of sustainableand balanced development. Sustainabilitymeans diverse cultural and economicactivities that are integrated with environmentalvalues and do not harm natureand natural resources in the long term.The management plan is primarily focusedon the greater integration of traditionalfields of activity and the opportunitiesfor diversification, especiallyconsidering the possibilities of using thecoastal sea and the land together, as wellas the seasonal nature of many activities(recreational economy, coastal fishing). Itis also important to integrate the fieldsof activity (combining activities) – coastalfishing and tourism, ports and sportscamps, nature conservation, and entrepreneurship– as well as develop cooperationboth within the areas of activity(ports, bathing spots, etc.) and betweenthem.In the context of spatial planning in theEuropean Union, the ICZM is formallyconsidered separate from Marine SpatialPlanning – MSP. The preparation ofMSP is obligatory for Member States.The realisation of the Integrated CoastalZone Management, however, is up tothe countries and local authorities themselves.Therefore, there is no explicitlyaccepted methodology for the managementplan.Many people have contributed to thepreparation of the management plan. Anumber of interviews and meetings withdifferent stakeholders were conductedduring the preparation of the plan andthe steering group of the Lääne-Viru casearea advised in drafting the plan. Thepeople who prepared the managementplan thank the steering group consistingof representatives of local authorities –Anneli Kivisaar (Haljala rural municipality),Ivar Lilleberg (formerly Vihula rural municipality),Mati Jõgi (formerly Lääne-Virucounty government), and Marit Laast(Viru-Nigula rural municipality) –, ImbiMets and Maret Vildak from the EnvironmentalBoard, and Jaan Kangur fromthe Ministry of Finance. Many thanks toKristel Toom (Tallinn University) for thefinancial administration; to all Finnishcolleagues, and project colleagues fromEstonian University of Life Sciencesworking with Läänemaa ICZM case. Wealso thank all the interviewees, participantsin public discussions, and respondentsto the questionnaires.

English. The project involved partners: Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tallinn University, University of Turku, Finnish Environment Intitute, and Regional Council of Satakunta