This page provides a summary on the following items:

1. The coastal zone
1.1 Description of the coastal zone
1.2 Definition of the coastal zone
2. Coastal Management
2.1 Authority
2.2 Policy
2.3 Legislation
3. Spatial Planning in the Coastal Zone
3.1. Authority
3.2. Policy
3.3 Legislation
4. Coastal and Marine Environmental Policy
4.1 Authority
4.2 Policy
4.3 Legislation
5. Coastal and Marine Nature Conservation Policy
5.1 Authority
5.2 Policy
5.3 Legislation
6. Economic developments, important sectors and trends
6.1 Recreation and tourism
6.2 Coastal defence
7. The Current State of Integrated Coastal Zone Management
7.1 Legal framework
7.2 Finished projects
7.3 Initiatives related to ICZM
7.4 Evaluation
8. NGOs and other private stakeholders
9. References

1. The coastal zone

1.1 Description of the coastal zone
The length of the Latvian coastline along the sea and the gulf is 496 km. The seaside lowland stretches along the seashore and the gulf. It’s width ranges from 5 to 40 km. The coastal zone is located within the boundaries of the seaside lowland and its continental boundary crosses a 3m isohypse. There are three different sub-zones within the coastal zone:

1.2 Definition of the coastal zone
The Law on Protected Belts (1997) gives several restrictions for land use in the coastal zone. It defines a protection belt of 300 m, starting from the permanent vegetation line, and also extending 300m seaward from the permanent vegetation line including the beach. If the dune or other coastal formation exceeds 300 m, the protected zone is extended to its natural boundaries. The law also defines a belt of 5-7 km with limited economical activities. Unfortunately, the law is not always respected.

2. Coastal Management

2.1 Authority
Planning takes place at three levels in Latvia. The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development (MEPRD) is responsible for national and regional plans. There are two levels of self-governments: the district (Rajon) and the local (Pagast), as well as seven independent cities. District plans are the responsibility of local district governments. Local self-governments are responsible for housing, making and adopting local building regulations and making master plans for their administrative territory. Responsibility for general plans of municipalities or towns lies with local authorities. The responsibilities of the districts are relatively limited. Cities are responsible for most infra-structural functions. All plans at one level are binding to plans on the next level.

2.2 Policy
A National Spatial Plan is in its first stage of development and an Overview on the Use of State Territory has been created (2001) which covers the entire area of Latvia. Special parts of the National Spatial Plan for the Coastal Territory of Riga Bay and Baltic Sea is being created, and will be adopted as, Regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers. Two of the six coastal districts, Riga and Limbazi, have elaborated District Plans, based on spatial integration principles, which include coastal issues. District plans for Liepaja and Talsi are also now under preparation. Several town and city development plans are based on an integrated approach e.g. the Development Plan for Riga 1995-2000, the Development Plan for Jurmala and the Development Plan for Ventspils.

2.3 Legislation
The Environmental Protection Law 1991 functions as a framework for defining the fundamental principles and different legal instruments for environmental protection. Most of these principles and instruments are further elaborated in specific environmental legislation:

3. Spatial Planning in the Coastal Zone

3.1. Authority
The planning administration comprises both state and local levels. At a state level, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development is responsible for the preparation of the National Spatial Plan, as well as methodical guidance, control and co-ordination of the physical planning process. The Cabinet of Ministers makes decisions about producing spatial development programmes at the national level, decides about their contents and is responsible for the adoption procedure. Spatial development plans at this national level refer to the whole country.

The implementing body under the authority of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development, the Centre of Spatial Development Planning, prepares the National Plan of Latvia and spatial development plans for Special Territories. Additionally, the Centre establishes and maintains a spatial development planning database.

There are two levels of local government. Districts (Rajons) embody the regional level, whereas at a local level, a distinction can be made between rural municipalities (Pagasts) and urban municipalities (Pilsetas). District municipalities and national cities may establish planning regions with the restriction that the involved municipalities are, inter alia, to sign an agreement on co-operation in the sphere of spatial development planning and establish a council of regional planning.

3.2. Policy
Latvia’s national policy aims to establish a system of, and a procedure for, development on state, regional and local levels to promote the implementation of sustainable development in the country and its regions. It embraces the overall principles, objectives and tasks of spatial development planning in which development planning and physical planning issues are combined and integrated. Furthermore, the law regulates competencies and co-operation of the national, regional, and municipal authorities in the spatial development planning process.

3.3 Legislation
The main legislative act concerning spatial planning is the Law on Spatial Development Planning, which was adopted in 1998. It embodies Latvia’s national policy and regulates competencies and co-operation of the national, regional, and municipal authorities in the spatial development planning process.

The new Regulations on Physical Plans (2000), issued by the Cabinet of Ministers, clarifies the competencies of state institutions, the contents and preparation order of plans on all levels and the public discussion on these plans.

There is no other legislation that directly regulates planning; there are a number of legal documents that apply indirectly to spatial planning:

4. Coastal and Marine Environmental Policy

4.1 Authority
The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development forms national environment protection policy, the Department of Environmental Protection being responsible for implementation of policy and management. The State Environmental Inspectorate monitors adherence to requirements and manages activities of Regional Environmental

Boards. The Marine Environmental Board implements state policy in sea-coast development, and utilisation and protection of marine environment resources. Potential interference of entrepreneurial activities with the environment is handled by the Environmental State Impact Assessment Board, which has recently been created, replacing the former Administration of State Environmental Expertise.

Regional Environment Boards implement state environment protection and regional development policy in the regions and towns of Latvia. Municipalities are responsible for environmental protection and rational use of natural resources in their administrative territory.

Local authorities and district authorities can issue compulsory regulations and have administrative responsibility where regulations are breached. The two national parks and the biosphere reserve have their own administration which is responsible for environmental protection of the area.

4.2 Policy
The National Environmental Policy Plan for Latvia (NEPP), adopted in 1995, contains policy goals and principles, gives priority environmental problems and recommendations for the use of political instruments. One of the policy principles described in the NEPP is an integrated approach to solving problems. The National Environmental Action Programme, 1997 (NEAP) foresees measures for every priority indicated in the NEPP to achieve its aims. It considers only environmental problems and aims at finding solutions that improve environmental quality. The National Programme for Biological Diversity (1999) considers problems of environmental protection - including ecosystems like the Baltic Sea, Riga Bay, beaches, dunes and coastal lakes - with potential economic solutions. The policy concerning investments in the environment is implemented by means of the National Investment Programme.

4.3 Legislation

5. Coastal and Marine Nature Conservation Policy

5.1 Authority
Local authorities have to maintain protected natural areas. They have rights to elaborate the regulations on the use of particularly protected natural territories in co-ordination with Regional Environmental Boards. The two national parks, a nature park and a biosphere reserve have their own administration. Latvia recognises seven categories of protected territories: state nature reserves, national parks, biosphere reserves, nature parks, natural monuments, nature reserves and protected landscape territories. Many nature reserves and three national parks have been established, two of which - as well as a biosphere reserve - are located in the coastal zone for which management plans have to be created, each according to the law relevant to its territory. The basis for species and habitats protection is the Law on the Protection of Species and Habitats (2000) and lists of Protected species and habitats (Regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers).

5.2 Policy
The long-term aim of the Nature Protection department is to promote sustainable development and to ensure conservation of biological diversity. In co-operation with the Department of Investments, the Environmental Protection Fund, the Environmental Investment Fund and other financial institutions, the Nature Protection Department participates in the co-ordination of the usage of national and international financial instruments according to priorities of the National Programme of Biological Diversity and the Strategy of Environmental Investments.

5.3 Legislation

6. Economic developments, important sectors and trends

6.1 Recreation and tourism
Tourism in coastal areas is growing steadily. The Ministry of Environment and Regional Development elaborates tourism policy, the State Tourism Board being responsible for its implementation. In 1997, the Conception of the Development of Tourism in Latvia was approved. The National Tourism Development Programme (2001 – 2010) will be accepted by the Cabinet of Ministers this year. A Strategy for the Development of Ecotourism is currently being elaborated by the Ministry. The Strategy for Tourism - Growth beyond 2000 - identified several locations in the coastal zone with opportunities for tourism but where development is hampered e.g. due to lack of financial support from state, poor infrastructure, under-developed service sector and poor international advertising. Poorly organised groups of holidaymakers cause problems for environmental protection.

6.2 Coastal defence
To fight coastal erosion, all forests of the coastal zone have been classified as protected and preserved forests. The Forestry Department (Ministry of Agriculture) is responsible for policy making and legislation. However, there is a lack of financial resources available. According to the Law on Protected Belts (1997), clear cutting is forbidden in the coastal protection belt.

7. The Current State of Integrated Coastal Zone Management

7.1 Legal framework
Since the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development (MEPRD) is responsible for state level spatial planning, it is the administrative body that is concerned with the integration of protection interests and it is also concerned with the interests of developing communications, industrial development, housing etc. in planning issues. As a result, the MEPRD is responsible for ICZM and the co-ordination of ICZM projects.

No specific legislation concerning ICZM exists so far although a number of international acts and agreements have been signed which can function as a legal framework.

 

7.2 Finished projects

Liepaja Environment Project (1995-2000)
This project was divided into two components: a water and wastewater improvement and an environmental management component. The latter consists of the development and implementation of comprehensive management plans for two coastal areas, Jurkalne and Lake Pape and the development of an integrated coastal zone management plan for the entire west coast of Latvia including a development plan for eco-tourism along the west coast of Latvia.

Kurzeme Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan (1996-1998)
The Kurzeme coastal development plan was made to foster agreement between the interests of local authorities, enterprises, organisations and state interests, nature resources, social goals with respect to the demands of nature protection in connection with regional development.

Kurzeme Ecotourism development plan & Slitere Nature Reserve and Livi Coast Management plan (1996-1998)
The Eco-Tourism Development Plan on the Courland coast (covering Liepaja, Ventspils and Talsu districts) is part of the integrated coastal zone management plan for the Courland Baltic Sea coast of the Liepaja environmental project. The main focus was on the co-existence of tourism with nature and the preservation of natural land and cultural values. The integration of tourism into local communities was encouraged.

ICZM Latvia (1996-1999)
This project was part of the European Union’s Integrated Coastal Zone Management Demonstration Programme. One of the main results anticipated, when adopting this project in 1996, was the preparation of integrated coastal zone management plans at both the national and the local level, the organisation of workshops, training seminars and studies at national level. Other aims were, inter alia, the establishment of a policy, regulatory, institutional and management framework for the management of the study area and the establishment of a programme of priority action and demonstration to protect the environment and reduce pollution.

ICZM Programme for the Baltic States and Poland
This satellite-image and GIS (Geographic Information System) based project was executed from December 1997 to the middle of 2000. The aim of this project was to give Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland the opportunity to better manage their coastal resources in an environmental and sustainable way. The project includes two pilot studies in Latvia: Latvia’s Ports and Harbours and Slitere Nature Reserve: nature conservation and cultural heritage.

7.3 Initiatives related to ICZM

Joint Comprehensive Environmental Action Programme for the Baltic Sea (JCP)
The JCP was adopted in 1992 to constitute a 'Strategic Action Plan' for the Baltic Sea region. It provides an environmental management framework for long-term restoration of the ecological balance of the Baltic Sea ecosystem through a series of preventive and curative actions to be undertaken in a phased manner in the region. The five recipient countries, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and the Russian Federation opted for Global Environment

Facility (GEF) assistance within this framework through the United Nations Development Programme and the World Bank. Updated and strengthened in 1998, the JCP Framework has formed a fruitful basis for further regional projects.

A Coastal Investment Strategy for Latvia was initiated with West and East Kurzeme and Vidzeme as the project area; so far with a good response and participation of the involved municipalities.

The district plans of Riga and Limbazi, two coastal districts, are based on spatial integration principles.

Management Plans for Lake Kanieris Area and Kemeri National Park have been elaborated.

The first phase of the project GIS - supporting spatial planning was the Amber trail Eco-tourism project. The second, ongoing phase is a management plan for this trail.

7.4 Evaluation
ICZM in Latvia suffers from legislative and constitutional problems. Conflicting legislation between, and within, sectors and a lack of communication between various levels of government result in failure of new legislation to amend or repeal existing legislation and create overlap and conflicts in interest between agencies at all levels of management. Financial issues undermine effective coastal management, rendering local governments under-funded and there is lack of qualified manpower and capacity for adequate plan preparation on several levels of local government. The lack of a National Spatial Plan is a problem for ICZM and spatial planning.

8. NGOs and other private stakeholders

Baltic Environmental Forum (BEF)
The Baltic Environment Forum started operating in June 1995. It was founded to enable the three Baltic States Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to co-ordinate information, expertise and experience exchange in the environmental field. It provides practical support for the environmental co-operation as laid down in a trilateral agreement of the three governments in 1995.

Coalition Clean Baltic (CCB)
The first environmental NGO-network established in the Baltic Sea Region, established in 1990. Today it has 25 member organisations in all 9 countries bordering the Baltic Sea. The main goal of CCB is the protection and improvement of the Baltic Sea environment and natural resources. It is gathering, producing and distributing information about environmental problems in the Baltic Sea Area.

Kurzeme Centre for Regional and Business Development
The Centre focuses on tourism opportunities and home heating in Kurzeme. It operates on a local and regional level, as well as national and international.

Latvian Environmental Protection Club
With over 30 regional offices, this organisation aims at promoting and providing education in the fields of water management and protection at a local level.

Latvian Fund for Nature
Aims at promoting and implementing nature conservation measures in Latvia.

Latvian Ornithological Society
One of the largest NGOs in the field of nature conservation dealing with bird protection.

Latvian Union for Coastal Conservation (LUCC)
The LUCC, a Latvia-based daughter-organisation of the European Union for Coastal Conservation, aims at promoting an integrated approach towards coastal management. EUCC is a partner in a number of nature conservation projects, among which the Kemeri National Park and the Randu Meadows projects.

Regional Environment Centre (REC)
REC Latvia aims at performing activities that benefit the local, national and regional environment thus filling gaps left uncovered by other environmental organisations.

Other important NGOs that are active in Latvia are, inter alia, the Latvian Botanist Society, the Latvian Entomological Society and the World-Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). An extensive list of nearly all NGO’s in Latvia can be found at www.rec.org.

Latvian Fund for Nature, Integrated Coastal Zone Management for Plan Engure – Kemiri Task Area. Riga 2000, p. 25/26.

Latvian Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development, Nature Protection in Latvia. March 1999.

Phare/DEVCO, Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan for Baltic Coast of Lithuania and Latvia: ICZM Plans - Final Text – LATVIA. Ireland June 1998.

PROCOAST State of the Art Report, Germany, August 2000, p.127/135

VASAB 2010 Compendium of spatial planning systems in the Baltic Sea Region, p. 47/54

© Copyright: EUCC, 2002

This report, prepared by EUCC - The Coastal Union, was commissioned by HELCOM HABITAT and written by Guy Monod de Froideville, Marian Eeltink and Alan Pickaver. It has been reviewed by Ilona Jepsena & Inga Belasova (Ministry of the Environmental Protection and Regional Development).