Summary of the project
The increasing erosion phenomena and marine flooding risks arising on the mid-long term related to the effects of climate changes (sea level rising, extreme storm events, increasing frequency & intensity etc.) pushes Public Administrations towards strategic approach for the Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) with a particular emphasis on coastal protection. The loss of rivers solid transport (due to hydraulic works, bridles, crossbars, dams, on rivers), the presence of hard protection works and harbours along the coasts (that intercept the natural distribution of sediments) and the effects of climate changes increased the vulnerability of coastal stretches, today affected by diffuse erosive processes and marine flooding hazard. In this frame it is evident the need of a strategic and sustainable management of coastal sediments, paying attention to the new environmental aspects involved in the related activities. It is noteworthy that the E.U. project EUROSION stressed both the “Shortage of coastal sediments…” (Finding n°1) and the improperness of the “Current Environmental Impact Assessment
(EIA) practices…” (Finding n°2) in addressing coastal erosion matter. COASTANCE project is based on two main operative purposes:
a. Capitalization of knowledge and resources already acquired in the field of coastal protection:
i. Sustainable Technologies for exploiting sand stocks (behind river barrages, upstream harbour structures, geological seabottom deposits, etc.) based on Eurosion project, Beachmed, Beachmed-e/GESA/RESAMME Subprojects
ii. Sustainable Technologies for coastal protection and adaptation (marine-climate survey, beach nourishments, soft structures, use relocation etc.) based on Eurosion project, Beachmed, Beachmed/NAUSICAA/MEDPLAN/ICZM-MED Subprojects, Plancoast, Cadseland projects
iii. Environmental Impact Assessments of the new technologies (dredging activities, nourishment work etc.) and Strategic
Environmental Assessment on coastal plans based on Beachmed, Beachmed-e/EUDREP/POSIDUNE Subprojects
b. Mid to Long Term planning actions for climate change effects adaptation of coastal zones in line with the EU Directive
2007/60/EC:
i. Development of Territorial Action Plans for adapting coastal zones to climate change, against erosion effects and
submersion risk: Analysis of the erosion and submersion phenomena, Plans for coastal protection management, Guidance and
Recommendations for the development of Coastal Protection Management Plans based on Safecoast, Comrisk & Messina EU
projects
ii. Definition of Sediment Management Plans (SMPs) for both off-shore and littoral deposits exploitation (location,
characteristics, radius of competence/beaches to feed, exploitation technology, treatments needed)
iii. Appropriate Environmental Impact Assessment Protocols in order to assure the right procedures in intervening along
coastal zone
iv. Training and coordination of the competent authorities (ICZM & planning tools)
General and specific objectives of the project
The general objective of COASTANCE is to provide Coastal Administrations of new and adequate tools to face climate change challenges.
COASTANCE specific objectives and related main actions are:
1) Forecasting submersion risk: Implementation of new systems for a realistic forecast of the submersion risks, caused by climate change effects or any other overlapping phenomenon, with a special regard to the low-land coasts problems.
2) Reduce or mitigate erosion and submersion risk: Concrete development of management plans for adapting coastal zone to climate changes and erosion effects by both active actions (e.g. by management plans of littoral and off-shore sediments based on coastal stretch / sedimentary unit scale) and passive actions (e.g. improving beach resilience by planning different shore uses and activities). These actions will also include analysis of future scenarios (AFS) for the Mediterranean coastal zone, considering environmental, social, cultural, economic and political factors. The AFS will involve stakeholders (public and private) to make them aware of the problems and invite them to participate actively in the design of strategies and interventions.
3) Enhance environmental efficiency of coastal protection works and management:
Individuation and test of specific procedures for Environmental Impact Assessment in coastal protection works and Strategic
Environmental Assessment in coastal plans with a special regard to the environmental sensitive areas.
4) Create skills by Public Administrations: Training directed to public Administrations officers in order to foster the use of
COASTANCE management tools and approach in coastal protection activities to achieve an efficient Integrated Coastal Zone
Management (ICZM).