COASTAL QUALITY POLICIES,

ICZM IMPLEMENTATION AND

ADAPTATION TO CHANGE:
LESSONS LEARNT FROM THE CASE STUDY OF
OLÉRON ISLAND, ATLANTIC COAST OF
FRANCE

Virginie DUVAT
Professor in Geography

UMR LIENSs 6250

“QUALIBEACH 
University of France-
” RESEARCH CNRS
PROGRAMME

LITTORAL 2010 « Adapting to global change at the coast », London, UK, 21-23 September
 Demonstrate that ICZM is a valuable
OBJECTIVE
management model to address
challenges in the context of Global
Change: we don’t necessarily have
to renew our approaches, tools and
practices, but to improve our
management2.capacities
Experimental
1. Theoretical
approach: case study
approach: interest
of Oléron Island
of quality-based
(France)
policies for
Results of the research
integration building
programme
Review of literature
Territorial
“Qualibeach”
project
3. Benefits of
ICZM for
adaptation
Conclusions
TORAL 2010 « Adapting to global change at the coast », London, UK, 21-23 September V. DUV
1. THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS OF DELIBERATION
(1)
Quality-based policies can be beneficial for ICZM:
(a) They are based on a holistic &
integrative approach:
- The elements that contribute to the value of the
coast are both “objective” and “subjective” (Zube & Pitt,
1981; De Ruyck et al., 1995; Cendrero & Fischer, 1997; Chua, 1993;
Morgan, 1999; Ergin et al., 2006; Cendrero et al, 2003; Pereira et al.,
2003; Micallef et al., 2004; Roca et al., 2007; Cervantes & Espejel,
2008)
- They address the ICZM requirement for public
participation through surveys, awareness raising activities &
development projects that meet user demand (Morgan,1999; Ergin et
al., 2006; Chua, 1993)
- They enable the integration of science &
management: research contributes to the building of a
comprehensive view of coastal issues (Cicin-Sin, 1993), a commonV. DUV
TORAL 2010 « Adapting to global change at the coast », London, UK, 21-23 September
1. THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS OF DELIBERATION
(2)
Quality-based policies can be beneficial for ICZM:

(b) They are favourable to the establishment of

development and management plans at a
territorial scale of suitable dimension on
the basis of shared issues (Cendrero & Fischer,
1997; Ferrarini et al., 2001)
Strengthen territorial attractiveness (Leatherman, 1997)
+ Reduce socio-spatial inequalities (Nelson and Botterill, 2002)
= Structural role for territories that are divided into multiple
administrative jurisdictions and regulatory areas

TORAL 2010 « Adapting to global change at the coast », London, UK, 21-23 September V. DUV
1. THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS OF DELIBERATION
(3)

Quality-based policies can be beneficial for ICZM:

(c) They provide a positive, balanced &

dynamic vision of coastal development
& management which allows the
building of a social project involving all
stakeholders

A prerequisite to reach ICZM in an oft-confrontational

context

TORAL 2010 « Adapting to global change at the coast », London, UK, 21-23 September V. DUVA
 2. THE MOD’S “TERRITORIAL PROJECT” (1)

THE MARENNES OLÉRON DISTRICT (MOD)

MAIN CHALLENGES
- Protection of coastal
environments and valuable Location map

landscapes
- Maintenance of traditional
activities, patrimony and identity MARENNES
BASIN (7
- Increase in tourism revenues municip.)

(jobs) OLÉRON
ISLAND (8
- Improvement of the quality of the municip.)

tourist experience and quality of

life of residents

TORAL 2010 « Adapting to global change at the coast », London, UK, 21-23 September V. DUV
 MAIN STAGES IN ICZM IMPLEMENTATION
“The public voice:  Participatory approach:
action for responsible integration of all challenges &
and cohesive stakeholders
development” (2000-  Emergence of a “territory of
2006) issues”: consistent spatial unit

Territorial project
Sustainable Development
Charter (2004)

Territorial Coherence
Plan (2005) + 4 Action
plans

Oléron Coastal Quality  Implementation of ICZM:

Action Plan (2005-…) management & monitoring committees,
strengthening of scientific participation, GIS,
Community of Observatory of Sustainable Devt…

municipalities  Beach charter (2007)

TORAL 2010 « Adapting to global change at the coast », London, UK, 21-23 September V. DUV
 « BEACH CHARTER »

Beach typology
(2005)
Remote natural beach
Nature-based uses
Sportive beach
Seaside resort beach

Initiated
project
Finalised
project

Fourth International Conference on Sustainable Tourism – 5/7 July 2010, New Forest, UK
 MAIN STAGES IN ICZM IMPLEMENTATION
“The public voice:  Participatory approach:
action for responsible integration of all challenges &
and cohesive stakeholders
development” (2000-  Emergence of a “territory of
2006) issues”: consistent spatial unit
Methods for ICZM
Territorial project implementation
(networking of stakeholders, projects et
Charter for Sustainable resources ; development of knowledge
Development (2004) and diagnoses; making MOD a laboratory
& centre of excellence for ICZM)

Territorial Coherence  Consistent spatial unit

 Common principles
Plan (2005) + 4 Action
 Common methods and tools
plans (database, GIS, checklists, indices….)

Oléron Coastal Quality  Implementation of ICZM:

Action Plan (2005-…) management & monitoring committees,
strengthening of scientific participation, GIS,
Community of Observatory of Sustainable Devt…

municipalities  Beach charter (2007)

TORAL 2010 « Adapting to global change at the coast », London, UK, 21-23 September V. DUV
 Oléron Coastal Quality Action Plan District Planning
Community of
Oléron Island:
8 municipalities

Key references STEP 1 – DIAGNOSIS

Underdahl, 1980 Land and water-use conflicts
Chua, 1993
Violation of regulations by beach-users
Cicin-Sain, 1993
Olsen, 1993 Decrease in person security
Scura et al., 1993 Acceleration of coastal dunes degradation
Christie, 2005 Lack of organization & control of
beach activities

STEP 5 – Oléron STEP 2 – PLANNING

Coastal Elaboration of the Beach Plan by
EVALUATION Quality the Community of Municipalities of
Monitoring of the OCQP Oléron Island (2003-2005)
Action Plan

Adapted from Olsen, 1993 & Christie, 2005

STEP 4 – IMPLEMENTATION STEP 3 – FORMAL ADOPTION
(2008-…) & FUNDING
Adoption as 1 of the 4 action plans of the
Establishment of a
Territorial Coherence Plan (2005)
“Beach Charter” Strategy: Security reinforcement, upgrading
Redevelopment and operational management of the tourist experience, environment and
of the most frequented beaches landscape protection
Funding: multi-scale funding

TORAL 2010 « Adapting to global change at the coast », London, UK, 21-23 September V. DUVA
 3. BENEFITS OF ICZM FOR ADAPTATION

(a)The ICZM approach enables the

continuous integration of new
problems, stakeholders and
challenges: effective to cope with change

(b) ICZM is based on planning: a useful

experience to set
up and implement adaptation policies

(c) ICZM is based on a continuous

evaluation of
the implementation of public policies:
strengthens the diagnosis capacity of territories,
required to cope with constraints & change
 CONCLUSION
• Two key elements for the
development of adaptive
strategies in the context of Global
Change:
(1) A “territorial project”
(2) Implementation of the ICZM
building process

•We have a relevant model to face

the future: one of the main
challenges is to put it into
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION

“QUALIBEAC
H ”
RESEARCH
PROGRAMME

Virginie DUVAT
virginie.duvat@univ-lr.fr