SUSTAINABLE COASTAL ZONE DEVELOPMENT IN HARMONY WITH THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
Integrated Coastal Policy via Building with Nature
Flexible integration of land in sea and of water in land, making use of materials and forces present in nature.
Ronald E. Waterman
Member of the Government of the Province of South-Holland Senior Adviser to the Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management of the Netherlands Senior Adviser to the Ministry of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands
Senior Adviser to the Municipality of Rotterdam Senior Adviser to the Municipality of The Hague Adviser of DELFT HYDRAULICS
Adviser of the State Geological Survey of the Netherlands Adviser of TNO Institute of Applied Geoscience
c/o Provinciehuis
Prinses Beatrixlaan 15
2595 AK THE HAGUE
The Netherlands
Tel: + 31(70)4417012
Fax: + 31(70)441 78 19
private address:
Prof. Evertslaan 122
2628 XZ DELFT
The Netherlands
Telephone + 31 15261 3345
Many civilisations found their origin in the border zone land-water in coastal and deltaic regions. In the year 2000 approximately eighty percent of the largest population centres in the world can be found in those areas. Striking examples can be found in nearly all parts of the world. There we have to deal with many existing and forthcoming problems that need solutions, but also with challenging opportunities.
Integrated Multi-Functional Sustainable Coastal Zone Development, based on careful analysis of these regions and their climate, their soil and subsoil characteristics, their river systems, the bordering sea and oceans, flora and fauna, and present use, gives an answer to the question how we can solve these problems in relation to each other and in relation to the hinterland on one hand and in relation to the bordering sea on the other.
An important element of integrated coastal policy - apart from but also including coastal protection and water resources management - is land reclamation using as much as possible the principle of building with nature.
Existing and forthcoming problems in coastal zone and hinterland can be solved and new opportunities can be found. Learning from mistakes and using the achievements of the past, the challenge of the future can be met, including sustainable development.
