ANNUAL CONGRESS 2025

Coastal Governance in the Adriatic-Ionian Region: A comparative analysis of Spatial Planning Systems and Integrated Coastal Zone Management implementation

Not scheduled

20m

Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul

Oral Track 04 | GOVERNANCE

Speaker

Giulia Motta Zanin (Polytechnic University of Bari)

Description

Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) is an essential tool for ensuring sustainability and effective governance in coastal areas, particularly in regions facing high anthropogenic pressure and environmental vulnerabilities and uncertainties such as the Adriatic-Ionian Region. However, the implementation of its principles and recommendations still shows great difficulties.

This study conducts a preliminary comparative analysis of coastal planning systems in seven Adriatic-Ionian countries—Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Montenegro and Slovenia—within the framework of the ICZM Protocol in the Mediterranean.

The research aims to explore how the selected countries have engaged with the Protocol, analyzing both ratification status and subsequent actions. Through a comparison of national responses—whether through direct Protocol implementation or alternative coastal management strategies—the study reveals patterns of convergence and divergence in coastal policy approaches. This comparative analysis yields insights into effective coastal governance practices across the Adriatic-Ionian Region.

The study employs a comparative methodology based on seven case studies, providing a tentative evaluation of policy documents, legal frameworks, and spatial planning instruments related to coastal zone management. It also examines the key actors and stakeholders involved in decision-making processes, emphasizing their role in shaping coastal governance.

The preliminary findings highlight the challenges and opportunities associated with sustainable integrated coastal management in the Adriatic-Ionian Region, contributing to the broader discourse on coastal governance and the influence of international legal frameworks on national policy development. The study also provides recommendations for future research and reflects on the prospects for greater integration and coordination among coastal planning systems in the Adriatic-Ionian Region.

References

Alterman, R., Pellach, C. (eds.) (2020). Regulating coastal zones: international perspectives on land-management instruments. New York: Routledge. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/oa-edit/10.4324/9780429432699/regulating-coastal-zones-rachelle-alterman-cygal-pellach
Buono, F., Soriani, S., Camuffo, M., Tonino, M., & Bordin, A. (2015). The difficult road to Integrated Coastal Zone Management implementation in Italy: evidences from the Italian North Adriatic regions. Ocean & Coastal Management, 114, 21-31.
Motta Zanin G., Barbanente A., Romagnoli C., Parisi A. & Archetti R. (2023). Traditional vs. novel approaches to coastal risk management: A review and insights from Italy. Journal of Environmental Management, Vol. 346 (119003). DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119003 (IF: 8.7).
UNEP/MAP/PAP (2008). Protocol on Integrated Coastal Zone Management in the Mediterranean. https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/35671/08IG18_Final_Act_iczm_eng.pdf
Berisha, E., Čolić Marković, N., Cotella, G., and Nedović-Budić, Z. (2024). Chapter 10: Potential future enlargement: spatial planning in the Western Balkans. In Spatial Planning Systems in Europe, Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing. available from: https://doi.org/10.4337/9781839106255.00022.