The objective of the project was to explore the capabilities of ICZM for the sparing and environmentally friendly use of land as a resource, based on the evaluation and validation of land use, settlement development, environmental conditions, demographic change and coastal dynamics in the German coastal region. Case scenarios trace possible development paths up to 2030. In conclusion, recommendations for the adoption and further development of legal, economic and planning tools, as well as the ICZM management system are formulated.
Four case studies exemplify the influence of ICZM on land use with a practical orientation in different German coastal states. The extraction of clay soil to raise dykes in Wangerland, repowering non-privileged existing wind turbines in Dithmarschen, port development and management of the port area in Hamburg, as well as different projects in tourism on the Baltic Sea island of Usedom are discussed.
It is demonstrated that legal and planning tools can be successfully applied in the framework of local and regional ICZM processes to manage regionally and locally significant developments involving extensive configurations of actors/stakeholders and particular challenges in the sparing, efficient and environmentally friendly use of land. In some cases, however, the tools mentioned have proved unsuccessful and inappropriate. Drawing on scientific expertise and the experience gathered in the case studies, recommendations are made for the flanking application of economic tools.