1 Integrated Coastal Zone Management: User Needs and Observational Requirements Hans-Peter Plag Shelley Jules-Plag

2 Coastal zones are complex areas of significant ecological, social, and economic value where many conflicting interests need to be resolved in order to ensure sustainable development. Many coastal zones are exposed to a wide range of hazards. Growing coastal population, urbanization, and climate-induced changes are increasing stress in coastal zones, posing serious risks to human health and safety, and reducing the capacity of coastal ecosystems to support critical goods and services. Understanding the needs of users in the coastal zone

3 Understanding the needs of users in the coastal zone In the frame of extending the GEOSS User Requirement Registry (URR), we were asked to populate the URR with coastal zone- related information. Previous approach used SBA-specific reports (US-09-01a): - bottom-up (local) approach taking small pieces and building their environment. Approach not applicable to coastal zone because cross-cutting through all SBAs.

The CZCP brings together experts in an effort to support coastal zone management through utilization of Earth observations and derived products. The CZCP focuses both on research and practical applications related to coastal zone management. It interacts directly with the GEO User Interface Committee and a number of GEO Participating Organizations. The Coastal Zone Community of Practice (CZCP) supports GEO in its goal to provide timely observations informing decisions concerning the coastal zone. High priorities for GEOSS are improved forecasts of sea- level rise and the associated increase in frequency and extent of coastal inundation, which may be exacerbated by an increase in the frequency of extreme weather, as well as changes in water quality and ecosystem health and productivity. Work supported by the Coastal Zone Community of Practice (CZCP).

5 Main Focus of Project: Coastal Zone Management: Key decision making processes; Relevant for many users; Resolution of conflicting interests Preferred Approach: Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Problem: ICZM is still at concept level ICZM is a process for the management of the coast using an integrated approach, regarding all aspects of the coastal zone, including geographical and political boundaries, in an attempt to achieve sustainability. European Commission: ICZM is a dynamic, multidisciplinary and iterative process to promote sustainable management of coastal zones. It covers the full cycle of information collection, planning (in its broadest sense), decision making, management and monitoring of implementation. ICZM uses the informed participation and cooperation of all stakeholders to assess the societal goals in a given coastal area, and to take actions towards meeting these objectives. ICZM seeks, over the long-term, to balance environmental, economic, social, cultural and recreational objectives, all within the limits set by natural dynamics. 'Integrated' in ICZM refers to the integration of objectives and also to the integration of the many instruments needed to meet these objectives. It means integration of all relevant policy areas, sectors, and levels of administration. It means integration of the terrestrial and marine components of the target territory, in both time and space.

A number of documents that address user needs and observational requirements were consulted, including: IOC, The integrated strategic design plan for the coastal oceans observations module of the Global Ocean Observing System. GOOS Publ. No UNESCO, Paris, 190 pp. Christian, R.R., Baird, D., Bowen, R.E., Clark, D.M., de Mora, S., DiGiacomo, P.M., Jiménez, J., Kineman, J., Mazzilli, S., Servin G., Talaue-McManus, L., Viaroli, P. & Yap H., Coastal GTOS Strategic design and phase 1 implementation plan, Environment and Natural Resources Service Series, No. 9, FAO, Rome, GTOS Report No. 36. IGOS, A Coastal Theme for the IGOS Partnership — For the Monitoring of our Environment from Space and from Earth. Paris, UNESCO. 60 pp. (IOC Information document No. 1220). UNESCO, 2010: Managing Disaster risk for World Heritages. UNESCO Report, 69pp. Task Team IFSOO, A Framework for Ocean Observing. Consultative Draft v. 7, 15 May 2011, Prepared by the Task Team for an Integrated Framework for Sustained Ocean Observing (IFSOO). Pielke Sr., R.A., R. Wilby, D. Niyogi, F. Hossain, K. Dairuku, J. Adegoke, G. Kallos, T. Seastedt, and K. Suding, 2011: Dealing with complexity and extreme events using a bottom- up, resource-based vulnerability perspective. AGU Monograph on Complexity and Extreme Events in Geosciences, in press.

7 Challenge: Documents use different data models to describe the coastal zone stakeholders, processes, issues, and needs; URR data model differs from the range of data models used in most published documents and existing data bases. Approach: (1) Global, application-focused view; (2) Add all other information on a local level.

8 Risk-based Planning Applications:

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Conclusions: The data model of the URR can capture complex connectivities; In many cases, the tranformation of information into the URR data model requires a global, top-down, application-focused analysis complemented by local environments; The graphical interface supports the analysis and helps to characterize the data quality in terms of completeness; Fully captured complex areas will support new discoveries; The URR will improve access to information on decision making processes.