Information & Meetings
	Conferences & Events
	New Coastal Publications

Organisations
	New hyperlinks to websites

Environment
	Wadden Sea study points at decrease in environmental contamination
	Commission emphasises environmental co-operation on Black Sea Region
	North Sea Foundation started work on "Zero Emission Ship"

Development & Trends
	Trilateral Wadden Sea Conference: tiny steps forward
	EU tries to save the Kyoto Protocol with emissions trading system

Policy
	Commission welcomes Council's acceptance of ICZM Recommendations
	EU Environment Council agreed on ICZM relevant issues

Events recently announded

2002

May 19 - 22	The Coastal Society 2002 Conference: Converging Currents: Science, Policy and Culture at the Coast, Galveston, Texas, USA. Info: e-mail: coastalsoc@aol.com , Website
Aug 14 - 17	World Congress on Aquatic Protected Areas, Cairns, Queensland, Australia. Info: e-mail: apa2002@ozaccom.com.au, Website

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

New Coastal Publications
 
 

Proceedings of the MEDCOAST 99 - EMECS 99 Joint Conference: Land Ocean Interactions - Managing Coastal Ecosystems By E. Özhan (editor). (1999, 3 volumes, 1940 pp.). MEDCOAST Secretariat, Middle East Technical University, 06531 Ankara Turkey. Fax +312 210 14 12. ISBN 975 429 142 X (the whole set), ISBN 975 429 143-8 (volume 1), ISBN 975 429 144-6 (volume 2), ISBN 975 429 145-4 (volume 3). The Fourth International Conference in Antalya, Turkey, 9-13 November 1999, was a joint conference dealing on the Mediterranean Coastal Environment and Environment Management of Enclosed Coastal Seas. Topics are amongst others: integrated coastal zone and river management (volume 1); tourism, legislation, public awareness and a Black Sea workshop (volume 2); sea outfalls and modelling (volume 3).

1999 Waddensea Quality Status Rapport By F.de Jong et al. (2000, 246 pp.). RIKZ library, P.O.Box 20907, 2500 EX den Haag, the Netherlands. Fax +70 534 07 72. ISSN 0972 3980. This Dutch translation of 1999 Wadden Sea quality status rapport, Wadden Sea Ecosystem No. 9 has an addition on the Dutch situation. It lays the foundation of the discussions on the status of the Wadden Sea ecosystem and the future policy-making of sustainable use of the Wadden Sea Area.

Monitoring in Coastal Environments Using Foraminifera and Thecamoebian Indicators By David B. Scott, Franco S. Medioli and Charles T. Schafer (2001, 177 pp.). Cambridge University Press, The Edinburgh Building, Shaftesbury Road, Cambridge CB2 2RU, UK. ISBN 0 521 56173 6. Price UK £ 70 (US$ 100). This book is the first of its kind to describe comprehensively specific methodologies for environmental applications of foraminifera and thecamoebians in fresh water and marine assessment. They facilitate biological characterization by reacting quickly to environmental stress, occurring in large numbers in small-diameter core samples, and since they have a hard shell, yielding fossil assemblages. The book presents a comprehensive overview of sampling and sample processing methods as well as many examples in which these methods have been applied - from pollution impact studies to earthquake history investigations.

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The Coastal Engineering Manual (CEM), Parts I - IV (Version 1.01) Introduction, Coastal Hydrodynamics, Coastal Sediment Processes, and Coastal Geology is available for purchase from Veri-Tech, Inc. for 995 USD. This is the replacement for the long used and greatly outdated Shore Protection Manual. Parts V & VI will be available next year and include Coastal Planning and Design, and Design of Coastal Project Elements, respectively. The cost of Parts V & VI will be 595 USD for existing holders of a CEM Version 1.01 license. The complete CEM package (Parts I - VI), Version 1.02, will be available for purchase for 1.750 USD.

The Coastal Engineering Design and Analysis System (CEDAS), Version 2.01 is now available from Veritech, Inc., and includes the latest coastal research, techniques, and procedures developed by or for the Corps of Engineers. CEDAS is available for purchase from Veri-Tech, Inc. For 2.950 USD. Both CD publications were developed under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with the Waterways Experiment Station for commercial application. A University discount of 25 percent, and deeply discounted student licenses (50 - 100 USD each per year) are also available for both products. The CEM and CEDAS are a must for consulting firms; libraries; federal, state and local government agencies; and any organization having an interest in coastal areas. Voice 601-636-1454 or e-mail at info@veritechinc.com, or visit the website at www.veritechinc.com (including Power Point Presentation) for more information. Postal Address: Veri-Tech, Inc., P. O. Box 820109, Vicksburg, Mississippi 39182-0109 USA.

 

New hyperlinks

EcoPorts
http://www.ecoports.com/
Collaborative research project of more than 25 European seaports, focussing on exchange of practical information on port related environmental issues

Integrated Coastal Management Sustainability Research Project 2001 - 2002
http://www2.mozcom.com/~icm_proj/
Project of the University of Washington, USA, on sustainability of ICM in the Philippines and Indonesia

Check out the other Website Links on the Coastal Guide 
 

Wadden Sea study points at decrease in environmental contamination

According to a new study, the levels of mercury and organochlorines in bird eggs in the Wadden Sea have strongly decreased during the last two decades documenting the success of several measures and policies to reduce the burden of environmental contamination. Eggs of coastal birds have proved to be good indicators for the pollution level of the region. The study "Contaminants in Bird Eggs" was implemented within the Trilateral Monitoring and Assessment Program (TMAP). Since 1999, the spatial and temporal trends in contamination have been monitored in 13 sampling sites in the Wadden Sea from Balgzand in the western Dutch Wadden Sea to Langli in the Danish northern Wadden Sea. Residues of mercury and of the organochlorines PCBs, DDT and metabolites, HCB, HCH isomers and chlordanes were analysed in Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) and Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) eggs.
The full report can be downloaded at: http://cwss.www.de/TMAP/wse11/wse11.html

Commission emphasises environmental co-operation on Black Sea Region

At the end of October, the European Commission adopted a Communication on environmental co-operation in the Danube - Black Sea Region. The Communication calls for an increased involvement of the EU and its Member States in environmental co-operation with the region, including the co-ordinated action by all relevant sources of Community financial assistance. The main aim is to reduce the nutrient discharges entering the Black Sea in order to allow the sea to recover. The Commission proposes the establishment of a Task Force (The DABLAS Task Force), with the aim of creating a platform for co-operation. Apart from the countries of the Region, the Task Force would consist of the European Commission, interested EU Member States, the international financing institutions and bilateral donors. Furthermore the European Commission will explore and pursue the possibility of extending LIFE Third Countries, a Commission funding programme dedicated to environmental projects in third countries, to include all countries of the region. The Commission calls on the EU Member States to include the Danube and Black Sea Region in their priorities for bilateral support. It will work actively to increase investments by the International Financial Institutions (IFIs) and bilateral donors in the region.
For the full press release, go to http://europa.eu.int/rapid/start/cgi/guesten.ksh and choose "Environment" as topic and 31/10/01 as date.

North Sea Foundation started work on "Zero Emission Ship"

Shipping today is responsible for a range of emissions to land, air, and particularly to water, while it has the potential of being a very clean mode of transport. For this reason, the North Sea Foundation, a Dutch NGO aiming to protect the North Sea environment, recently launched a project called "Zero Emission Ship". The aim is to create the concept of ship without discharges of garbage or oily waste, cargo residues pumped into the seas, and acidifying smoke into the air. Various representatives of the Dutch maritime sector (shipping, ship designing and building) are co-operating in this project. In January 2002, a conference will be held on this theme.
For further information, please contact: Eelco Leemans e.leemans@noordzee.nl or Edo Donkers e.donkers@noordzee.nl. Website http://www.noordzee.nl/scheepvaart (in Dutch)

Trilateral Wadden Sea Conference: tiny steps forward

The 9th Trilateral Conference on the Protection of the Wadden Sea resulted in little but measurable progress. The ministers of Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands decided to propose to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) the designation of the International Wadden Sea as Particular Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA). Also, a Wadden Sea Forum was established to develop scenarios for a sustainable development of the Wadden Sea. The former environment minister of the Netherlands, Ed Nijpels, was elected chairman of this committee. The Wadden Sea Forum will take up its work by April 2004. Finally, the proposals of the Wadden Society to develop a Wadden Sea Convention was taken into consideration and the ministers decided to prepare a decision for the coming conference. The Netherlands will host this conference in 2005. Until then the Netherlands will also chair the trilateral cooperation. On the other hand, the designation of the International Wadden Sea as World Heritage Site was postponed. Too much resistance in the local communities was the major reason, according to Svend Auken, the Danish chairman of the meeting. Surprisingly, not too much was said about the Dutch plans to develop a huge wind farm in the Dutch part of the Wadden Sea North of the Enclosure Dike, although these plans are in complete contradiction to the trilateral policy. The Wadden Society and WWF Germany, united in the Wadden Sea Team, were allowed observer status during the preparations and the conference itself. The environmental NGOs were content that their proposals for the establishment of the PSSA and the Wadden Sea convention are now on the agenda of the trilateral cooperation. However, there is still a wide spread feeling that much more should be done in order to protect the International Wadden Sea.
For more information, contact Hans Revier of the Wadden Society, e-mail: revier@waddenvereniging.nl

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EU tries to save the Kyoto Protocol with emissions trading system

Officials from around 160 nations have gathered in Marrakesh, Morroco from October 29 to November 9 to finalise a climate change treaty so that their ministers can approve it and send it back to their national parliaments for ratification. EU leaders have been trying to save the 1997 Kyoto Protocol since the United States rejected it in March. On October 23, the European Commission issued a proposal to ratify and implement the Kyoto Protocol, and presented proposals for an emissions trading system within the EU and other emission reduction measures. The Commission thereby reaffirmed the EU's commitment to bring the Kyoto Protocol into force before the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in September 2002. By presenting its proposal for an early ratification of the protocol, the Commission hopes to convince other parties to follow quickly since both the European Union and the Member States have to ratify the Protocol to make it binding. Once the European Council adopts the proposal, the objective for the EU to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 8% between 1990 and 2008-2012 will become legally binding for each Member State. The Council Decision would also require Member States to prepare their ratification by 14 June 2002. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the Commission has announced a series of 10 actions that have been identified as cost-effective and feasible under the European Climate change Programme (ECCP). These measures alone should be sufficient to fill close to half of the gap between the EU's forecasted emissions in 2010 and its Kyoto target (340 Mt CO2 eq.). Furthermore, establishing an EU framework for greenhouse gas emissions trading and an EU-wide market for emissions will reduce the cost of emission reductions by ensuring that these reductions are made where they are least costly. The Commission proposes that emissions trading should start in 2005, and in a first phase cover CO2 emissions from large industrial and energy activities.
For more information on the climate summit and the Commission's policies visit: http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/13091/story.htm, http://europa.eu.int/rapid/start/cgi/guesten.ksh (choose "Environment" as topic and 23 October as date).
 

Commission welcomes Council's acceptance of ICZM Recommendations

The European Commission welcomed the Environment Council's political agreement on a Recommendation concerning Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) (see Coastal Guide News No 20-2000, Coastal Guide News Special Issue, 29 September 2000). The text approved by the Council closely adheres to the objectives of the Commission's original proposal. It also incorporates many of the amendments proposed by the European Parliament. The wording of the original proposal has been strengthened to emphasise that ICZM is a multi-sectoral approach, touching on all aspects of coastal zone management. The text adopted by the Council also makes clearer reference to the important role that the regions in the Member States have to play in the development and implementation of national ICZM strategies. The Council text allows Member States five years before having to report on results in terms of the development of national strategies. The Commission believes that this could be achieved more quickly. Now it is up to the European Parliament to mark its agreement on the Recommendations at the second reading.
Full press release as well as all related official documents can be accessed via the European Commission's ICZM website at http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/iczm/home.htm.

  EU Environment Council agreed on ICZM relevant issues

The EU Council of Environment Ministers held a meeting in Luxembourg on 29 October 2001 to reach common positions on Commission proposals in particular in the areas of integrated coastal zone management, public participation in environment policy decisions and bio-diversity action plans. A recommendation on integrated coastal zone management was agreed fostering a common vision on how the Community's coastal zones should be managed (see previous article). In order to implement the "Aarhus Convention" on Access to Information, the Council agreed on a common approach to the Commission's proposal to ensure increased participation of citizens in environmental consultations and decision-making, in particular those relating to waste management, air quality management and water pollution from nitrates. The Council also agreed on Draft Conclusions on the Commission's Communication on Bio-Diversity Action Plans, which was adopted in March 2001. These action plans concern the conservation of natural resources, agriculture, fisheries, economic aid and development and are intended to help meet the Community's obligations with regard to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. Finally, the Council also supported the new Action Programme promoting European environmental NGOs including the proposed budget of 32 million euro for the next five years and called for speedy adoption.
For more information: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/start/cgi/guesten.ksh (choose "Environment" as topic and search for press release of October 29)
Council of the European Union: http://ue.eu.int

Deadline for submitting contributions to Coastal Guide News No 22: 5 November, 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. 

Members of the Coastal Guide News editorial team: Hanna-Maria Baerlund, Erik Devilee, Irene Lucius, Hanneke Mesters, 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, POB 11232, NL-2301 EE Leiden, the Netherlands, tel.: +31-71-5122900, internet: http://www.eucc.nl
 

© European Union for Coastal Conservation