Information & Meetings
	What's new in the website
	Conferences & Events
	Courses

Organisations
	New hyperlinks to websites

Environment
	New IPCC report on climate change alarms the world public

Development & Trends
.	International Year of Ecotourism provoking criticism
	Largest Dutch windmill park planned near Rotterdam

Policy
	Consultation process on new Bathing Water Directive launched
	European Commission proposes to phase out eleven hazardous substances
	EU and Norway agree on drastic cod recovery measures
	Norway ignores CITES ban by resuming export of whale products
	Commission proposes new Action Programme for the Environment

What's new in the website

New and updated Country Files

In our section Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) in Europe, the country file Denmark has been added and the country files for the following countries have been updated: Poland, Estonia and Norway. You can find them at http://www.coastalguide.org/icm/

Events recently announded

Please note:
The overview of the Coastal Guide conference and event  meeting list can be found at http://www.coastalguide.org/meetings/
 

Courses
 
 IHE-Delft workshop type course on ICZM

A workshop on integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) will take place from 1 - 11 May, 2001 in the Netherlands and consist of lectures (40% of the time), presentation of case studies and excursions (20%) and exercises/simulation game "Pesisir Tropicana" (40%). Through this combination, all relevant aspects of integrated coastal zone management are covered. Emphasis is put on active participation of the participants.
Further info: mvw@ihe.nl, http://www.ihe.nl/shortc/czmcours.htm

New hyperlinks to websites

Seal Rehabilitation and Research Centre Pieterburen: direct seal care, scientific research and inform the public about the problems of the seal and its environment

Pembrokeshire Marine Special Area of Conservation: information on why part of Pembrokeshire is a European Marine Site, what marine life can be found here and how you can become involved in the site's future management

Check out the other Website Links on the Coastal Guide

New IPCC report on climate change alarms the world public

Over 150 delegates from about 100 governments met in Shanghai, China from 17-20 January to consider the Working Group I contribution to the Third Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) "Climate Change 2001: The Scientific Basis". The main results are new and stronger evidence that most of the warming observed over the last 5 years is attributable to human activities and that global warming is happening faster than previously predicted. The globally averaged surface temperature is projected to increase by 1.4 to 5.8 °C over the period 1990 to 2100. The global mean sea level is projected to rise by 0.09 to 0.88 metres between 1990 and 2100. This is due primarily to thermal expansion and loss of mass from glaciers and ice caps. The full report, which runs to over 1000 pages, has been in production over three years and is the work of 123 Lead Authors from around the world. They in turn drew on 516 Contributing Authors. The report went through extensive review by experts and governments. In line with the IPCC Principles and Procedures, after line-by-line consideration, the governments unanimously approved the Summary for Policymakers of the report and accepted the full report.
The Summary for Policymakers of "Climate Change 2001: The Scientific Basis" can be downloaded at the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change IPCC website http://www.ipcc.ch

International Year of Ecotourism provoking criticism

While preparations have started for celebrating the International Year of Ecotourism (IYE) in 2002, a coalition of NGOs is lobbying for a more critical approach to the event. In recognition of the global importance of the growing ecotourism sector both economically and ecologically, the United Nations designated the year 2002 as the International Year of Ecotourism. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Tourism Organisation (WTO) are taking a leading role in co-ordinating activities. WTO and UNEP are encouraging the establishment of inter-ministerial working groups, national and local committees, and national strategies on eco-tourism world-wide. The year will culminate in the World Ecotourism Summit in Quebec, Canada, 19-22 May 2002. The NGO coalition against the IYE as it stands argues that many forms of ecotourism today are not sustainable and that its promotion consequently will have adverse effects on the environment and on local communities. They therefor launched the Campaign "International Year of Reviewing Eco-Tourism".
Visit the WTO site at http://www.world-tourism.org/omt/wtich.htm For information on the Campaign "International Year of Reviewing Eco-Tourism", contact tim-team@access.inet.co.th

Largest Dutch windmill park planned near Rotterdam

Twelve participants signed an agreement on 15th of January to construct the Netherland's largest windfarm in the coastal industrial and harbour area near Rotterdam until the year 2010. The windmill farm will be on-shore with 80 dispersed wind turbines. With a capacity of 120 megawatt they will provide 100.000 average households with energy.
More on wind power see http://www.coastalguide.org/windpower/index.html

Consultation process on new Bathing Water Directive launched

The European Commission has launched a broad consultation exercise on the revision of the 25 year old Bathing Water Directive. The adoption of a Communication to the European Parliament and the Council entitled "Developing a New Bathing Water Policy" is the first step towards revision of the Directive. All interested parties and stakeholders are invited to participate in the consultation process. The new Bathing Water Directive will ensure at least the same environment and health protection as the current Directive but at the same time will take into account new approaches, scientific findings and technologies. The consultation exercise will culminate in a Bathing Water Conference during Green Week (24-28 April 2001, Brussels), to which all individuals and institutions who have responded to this Communication will be invited. All comments and suggestions made (either in writing or during the Conference) will be taken into account by the Commission as it drafts its Proposal for a new Directive. Reactions to this Communication should be sent before 1 March 2001 to:
European Commission, DG Environment, Unit on Water protection, soil conservation and agriculture, Ave. Beaulieu 9, office 3/133, 1160 Brussels, Belgium,
e-mail: Env-Water@cec.eu.int,
http://europa.eu.int/water/water-bathing/index_en.html

European Commission proposes to phase out eleven hazardous substances

As a follow-up to the recently adopted Water Framework Directive, the European Commission has proposed a list of 32 priority substances to be phased out - including eleven substances identified as hazardous. Once this list has been finally adopted by the Council and the European Parliament, the Commission will propose Community-wide water quality standards and emission controls for these chemicals. For substances on the list classified as priority hazardous substances, the controls will mean that all releases to the aquatic environment will cease within a 20-year period. Some of these substances are well known pollutants, such as mercury, cadmium and the antifouling agent tributyltin. For another eleven of the priority substances, including lead and several plant protection products, the Commission is proposing that thorough scrutiny be carried out before the end of 2003 to ascertain whether they should be classified as additional "priority hazardous substances". The proposal comes shortly after the appearance of the new Water Framework Directive (Directive 2000/60/EC), which was adopted in September and entered into force on 22 December 2000 (see Coastal Guide News No. 24). The Directive emphasises a high level of protection of rivers, lakes, coastal waters and the seas from hazardous substances.
Full press release: http://www.coastalguide.org/news/ip0169.html
The EU Water Framework Directive: http://europa.eu.int/water/water-framework/index_en.html

EU and Norway agree on drastic cod recovery measures

Following negotiations in Brussels on 18, 19 and 23 January, the European Union (EU) and Norway have agreed on a conservation strategy to help the recovery of depleted cod stocks in the North Sea. The emergency measures will include setting up a temporary controlled area where spawning takes place. All fisheries likely to catch cod will temporarily be forbidden in this area to allow the maximum survival of fish from the reproductive activity of this year's spawning stock. As cod live at the bottom of the sea, pelagic fisheries (directed at mid-water species) will be allowed to continue during this period. Technical and control measures will also be put in place and will include special fishing permits, reporting requirements and the presence of observers on board of vessels for pelagic fisheries in the controlled zone for part of the time. The European Commission and Norway will meet again on 2 February to discuss the details of the technical and control measures. Additional technical and control measures will be established in March or April. The controlled area and attendant measures will be set up by Commission Decision. Last year's emergency measures for cod in the Irish Sea were established under the same procedure. The Commission Decision establishing the emergency package will expire after 6 months. This period will allow the Commission to submit proposals to the Council and the European Parliament for longer-term measures to help the recovery of cod in the North Sea. Norway will develop measures in waters under its jurisdiction within the framework of the strategy agreed with the EU.
For more information visit http://europa.eu.int/comm/fisheries/news_corner/press/inf01_04_en.htm
http://europa.eu.int/comm/fisheries/images/cod4.gif
See also Coastal Guide News: http://www.coastalguide.org/news/2000-25.html#pol1
Results of the Fisheries Council on 14-15 December 2000: http://europa.eu.int/comm/fisheries/news_corner/press/inf00_35_en.htm

Norway ignores CITES ban by resuming export of whale products

Norway announced its intention to resume sales of minke whale blubber and meat despite last year's decision by CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, against such exports and an international moratorium on whale hunting. The main markets for the products are Japan and Iceland. As whale blubber is not popular in Norway, it is piling up in storage facilities. Norway argues that this is a waste of resources when the product is highly valued in other countries such as Japan, and pledges to apply DNA testing methods to track all exports. However, it could not convince the CITES delegates in April of last year that this system is sufficient enough (see Coastal Guide News No 9, 2000). As the blubber comes from not endangered Minke whales, Norway does not expect international sanctions. However, Greenpeace regards the case as a matter of principle because it ignores a CITES decision and has called on the UK government to take strong diplomatic action. The Dutch government also handed a statement to the Norwegian government in which it expresses its dissatisfaction with the decision and asks for its review.
For more information, visit http://www.greenpeace.org,
read a Reuters article on http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=9545,
or read about the Dutch government's position (in Dutch) at http://www.minlnv.nl/infomart/persinfo/

Commission proposes new Action Programme for the Environment

On 24 January, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a new environmental strategy that outlines the priorities for action on the environment for the next five to ten years. "Environment 2010: Our Future, Our Choice" focuses on four major areas for action: climate change, health and the environment, nature and bio-diversity, and natural resource management. To achieve improvements in these areas, the new Programme sets out five approaches with the goal to - ensure the implementation of existing environmental legislation; - integrate environmental concerns into all relevant policy areas; - work closely with business and consumers to identify solutions; - ensure better and more accessible information on the environment for citizens; - develop a more environmentally conscious attitude towards land use. The new programme stresses the importance of involving citizens and business in innovative ways.
Further info including press release, full text of the Sixth Environmental Action Programme, executive summary, the booklet 'Environment 2010: Our Future, Our Choice" and background information can be found at http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/newprg/index.htm

Deadline for submitting contributions to Coastal Guide News No 3/2001:
Wednesday February 7,  2001

COASTAL GUIDE NEWS is a biweekly newsletter published by the European Union for Coastal Conservation (EUCC) with financial support of Stichting DOEN, the foundation of the Dutch lottery "Postcode Loterij" and the Department of International Nature Affairs of the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries. For free subscriptions, comments or contributions to this newsletter, please contact news@coastalguide.org. 

© Articles may be reproduced free of charge with acknowledgement and citation of Coastal Guide News and the URL of the Coastal Guide (http://www.coastalguide.org). The articles of this and previous issues of Coastal Guide News can be found at http://www.coastalguide.org/news

Members of the Coastal Guide News editorial team: Erik Devilee, Irene Lucius, Hanneke Mesters, and Albert Salman. 

Established in 1989, the European Union for Coastal Conservation (EUCC) is an association involving the largest coastal network in Europe with 750 members and member organisations in 40 countries. For more information please contact EUCC International Secretariat, POBox 11232, NL-2301 EE Leiden, the Netherlands, tel.: +31-71-5122900, internet: http://www.eucc.nl

© EUCC, 2001