Policy Instruments For Coastal Management In Greece

Greece has the most extensive coastline among all Mediterranean countries and a large number of islands, some of which are quite small. Its coastal zone has significant value from both a socio-economic and ecological viewpoint. However, in the last decades the coastal zones face continuous deterioration, as a result of increasing pressures for development. The protection and proper management of coastal areas in Greece should be a priority. Integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) offers a proper framework for organizing action in coastal areas in a broader framework of a strategy towards sustainable development. However, so far, coastal issues are dealt with in the context of general environmental protection and land-use planning policies. Recently a Special Framework for Spatial Planning and Sustainable Development for Coastal Areas h