Sustainable Governance of Coastal Zone – Apathy or Commitment: Evidence from North Cyprus (TRNC)

ABSTRACT: Coastal zones are one of the most sensitive and fragile environments around the world. As increasing numbers of world population is gravitated toward the coasts, they have become prone to numerous problems including, population pressure, recreation, tourism, urbanization, accommodation/residential development, infrastructural pressure, oil drilling and sewers. As the coastal population increases, demand for a continuing supply of clean water, waste disposal, public health, food, protection from natural disasters and conservation is also increasing. However, the relationship between coastal ecosystems and tourism is highlighted through sun, sea and sand tourism which is mass oriented and its impacts are challenging in terms of sustainability issue. Coastal resource management has been established as a significant environmental undertaking wherever the productivity and health of these zones is in question. In respect of sustainable management of coastal zones, Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) has been recognized as a planning instrument to address and manage these unique ecosystems. In the case of island states, this issue demands greater responsibility from the institutions and policy makers in these environments as they are highly dependent on coastal zones as natural capital, not only for the purpose of tourism, but also for the sustainability of these island states as they are highly vulnerable to natural and man-made disasters. The aim of this research is to assess and explore policies of and planning approaches to ICZM in the case of TRNC which is dependent on the sustainability of these ecosystems for various economic and development purposes and more so for the purpose of tourism. It is assumed that policy makers approach to ICZM is not necessarily according to the coastal zone specific management system. Moreover, it has not captured the attention of the relevant institutions as an urgent issue that demands a scientific analysis, legal body, public awareness, as well as, an organizational system. Nonetheless, to reveal a clear picture and investigate the condition of ICZM in TRNC, a qualitative research method based on inductive reasoning has been utilized through interviewing 11 respondents who are directly or indirectly associated with institutions supposedly in charge of planning and management of the coastal zones. To achieve the aims of the research, 30 semi-structured in-depth interview questions were administered in an open-ended manner to delve into the minds of policy makers and their conduct toward a sustainable management of coastal areas known as ICZM. for the purpose of an inductive research and subsequent data analysis, questions were designed based on literature, case studies and main principles of ICZM as conceptualized by Stephen B, Olsen‘s (2011,2009,2007) well known ICZM framework that remains to be the conceptual backdrop in this subject. Interviewees who have been contacted are related to and involved in this issue either directly or indirectly. They are mainly involved with the issue in question through municipalities, town planning departments, ministry of tourism and environment, as well as, scholars, NGOs and people who involved in eco-tourism. Based on data analysis and synthesis of information collected, the research revealed that there is a general perceptual feeling among the policy makers and those who are involved with environmental issues that coastal areas might need a special management system; however, this is a very simplistic view and at best can be described as superficial. Study revealed that except for a few regulations left form British colonial time, coastal zones have not been given deserved attention and have been neglected. The study has not found any traces of ICZM based on its practical principles as they are implemented in different cases. In fact, an ICZM supposed to be in the context of wider Environmental Management System (EMS); however, despite the presence of an environmental office (i.e., as an appendix of ministry of tourism), is ill equipped and lacks the basic knowledge and expertise in this area and more so regarding ICZM. The research revealed that the policy maker‘s behavior toward coastal zone management can be described as apathetic at best and lacks vision of and commitment to the sustainability of the coastal zones. What is needed is an articulate framework of governance with full involvement of public, as well as, a constitution to address this issue in the context of a highly regulated and monitored process. Keywords: Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM); Sustainability and Governance; Environmental Management System (EMS); Coastal zone planning; Tourism and the coastal zone; North Cyprus. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………