Browsing by Author "Forss, Kirsi"

Abstract Land-sea interactions are intensifying and getting more complex. Marine spatial planning (MSP) and integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) are concepts for organising the use of marine space in a sustainable manner. Due to the EU Marine spatial planning directive the European coastal states are required to compile coherent MSP by 2021. Cross-border interactions are needed in order to organize sea management coherently. At the same time interactions on regional level create new regionalized marine spaces. The aim of this thesis is to study construction of the trilateral Wadden Sea region as a common marine space between Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands, and to explore the dialogue between the trilateral regionalisation and the MSP processes in the area. Transboundary and national construction of the Wadden Sea space are investigated by conducting content analysis to relevant policy documents. 7 experts were interviewed in order to gain deeper understanding of MSP processes taking place in the region. The results show that the Wadden Sea region is constructed in a complex manner and it is characterized by multi-layered regulation. Wadden Sea region consists of the trilateral cooperation, which relies strongly on nature protection discourse. At the same time the Wadden Sea regionalization can be recognized at the national scales as well, as the Wadden Sea provinces and municipalities have created their own cooperation structures. In addition, the Wadden Sea region is recognized by the external parties especially due to the ecological values. EU directives and the UNESCO World Heritage nomination are based on the nature protection discourse, and they direct the construction of the Wadden Sea region. Furthermore, the results show that the Wadden Sea is visible in the MSP processes mainly via its’ physical, environmental understanding. Second, due to the mutual understanding of the ecological values, it the Wadden Sea is perceived as a harmonizing factor in cross-border MSP processes in the southern North Sea. In the light of results there would be more potential to utilize the trilateral Wadden Sea network more efficiently in MSP, but currently the countries prefer to e.g. use their national data.