Beyond dikes and dunes Research on management-related conditions to enhance the feasibility of the development of a more resilient coastal zone Carolijn Becker June 2014 Utrecht University Master Thesis Sustainable Development Beyond dikes and dunes Beyond dikes and dunes Research on management-related conditions to enhance the feasibility of the development of a more resilient coastal zone Master Thesis Sustainable Development C.L. Becker, BSc 3137481 [email protected] Supervisor: Dr. C. Dieperink Utrecht University Faculty of Geosciences 5th of June, 2014 The cover photo was taken at Vlissingen and is the author’s own material, as are all other photos unless stated otherwise. Beyond dikes and dunes Table of contents Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................................ 3 Summary ............................................................................................................................................................ 4 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 7 1.1 Problem definition: managing our coasts .......................................................................................................... 7 1.2 Social context: coastal management .................................................................................................................... 7 1.3 Paradigm shift: From protecting to adapting .................................................................................................. 8 1.4 Knowledge gap: linking coastal management theory to practice........................................................... 9 1.5 Research aim & relevance .......................................................................................................................................... 9 1.6 Research question and framework ..................................................................................................................... 10 1.7 Reading guide ............................................................................................................................................................... 11 2. Resilient coastal zones .................................................................................................................. 12 2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................... 12 2.2 Defining the coastal zone ........................................................................................................................................ 12 2.3 Types ................................................................................................................................................................................. 13 2.4 Functions & pressures ............................................................................................................................................... 14 2.5 Defining resilience ...................................................................................................................................................... 16 2.6 Resilience in policy ...................................................................................................................................................... 17 2.7 Resilience & coastal zones ....................................................................................................................................... 19 2.8 Indicators for resilience ........................................................................................................................................... 19 2.9 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................................................... 22 3. Coastal management ...................................................................................................................... 23 3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................... 23 3.2 A paradigm shift towards resilience and adaptation................................................................................. 23 3.3 Integrated Coastal Zone Management .............................................................................................................. 24 3.4 National Adaptation Strategies ........................................................................................................................... 28 3.5 Building with Nature ................................................................................................................................................. 29 3.6 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................................................... 31 4. Methods ............................................................................................................................................... 33 4.1 Success conditions ....................................................................................................................................................... 33 1 Beyond dikes and dunes 4.2 Case studies .................................................................................................................................................................... 34 4.3 Document analysis ...................................................................................................................................................... 37 4.4 Key actor interviews .................................................................................................................................................. 37 4.5 Interview questions .................................................................................................................................................... 37 4.6 Survey ............................................................................................................................................................................... 38 5. Results ................................................................................................................................................. 39 5.1 Case 1: the Sand Engine ....................................................................................................................... 39 5.1.1 Building the Sand Engine..................................................................................................................................... 39 5.1.2 Stakeholders and their responsibilities ......................................................................................................... 40 5.1.3 Process of the Sand Engine ................................................................................................................................. 41 5.1.4 Success conditions ................................................................................................................................................... 42 5.2 Case 2: Southwest Walcheren ........................................................................................................... 49 5.2.1 Weak Links ................................................................................................................................................................. 49 5.2.2 Stakeholders and their responsibilities ......................................................................................................... 50 5.2.3 Success conditions ................................................................................................................................................... 51 5.3 Survey: the other Weak Links ........................................................................................................... 57 5.4 Case study comparison: Sand Engine vs. Southwest Walcheren .......................................... 59 5.5 Conclusion: a new conditions list .................................................................................................... 62 6. Discussion .......................................................................................................................................... 63 6.1 Refined list of success conditions ......................................................................................................................... 63 6.2 Latest research ............................................................................................................................................................. 64 6.3 Limitations ..................................................................................................................................................................... 66 7. Conclusion .................................................................................................................................................. 67 7.1 Research question ....................................................................................................................................................... 67 7.2 Management-related conditions for a more resilient coastal zone ...................................................