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. Spatial Planning in the Coastal Zone
2 .1. Authority
2 .2. Policy
2 .3 Legislation
3. Coastal and Marine Environmental Policy
4. Coastal and Marine Nature Conservation Policy
4.1 Authority
4.2 Policy
4.3 Legislation
5. Economic developments, important sectors and trends
5.1 Recreation and tourism
5.2 Coastal defence
6. The Current State of Integrated Coastal Zone Management
6.1 Legal framework
6.2 Finished projects
6.3 Ongoing projects
6.4 Initiatives related to ICZM
6.5 Evaluation
7. NGOs and other private stakeholders
8. References

1. The coastal zone

1.1 Description of the coastal zone
The Baltic coast of Lithuania extends to 91 kilometres. The southern half is formed by the Curonian Spit, a narrow peninsula separating the Curonian Lagoon from the Baltic Sea. The Curonian spit is a sandy stretch of land extending 98 kilometres, half of which belongs to Lithuania, the other half to Russia. The width of the peninsula varies from 400 metres to 3.8 kilometres. As a result of the input of sediments from the Nemunas River and sand from the wandering dunes of the Spit, the Curonian lagoon is becoming increasingly shallow. The Curonian Lagoon includes important wetland areas, e.g. the Nemunas delta. The delta is also economically important as agricultural land which is protected from flooding by a system of dykes with water-pumping stations.

North of the Curonian Spit and Lagoon the Lithuanian coast changes into erosive - accumulative coastline, where cliff and dune coasts occur alternately. Ledges of moraines are cut off by abrasion and bights are filled with the material. In this region, there are a number of important coastal forests, such as the Klaïpeda forests which include over 2000 ha of woodland, mainly of pine and birch.

1.2 Definition of the coastal zone
There is no legal definition of the coastal zone. Nor is there a proper definition of the set back line.

2. Spatial planning in the Coastal Zone

2.1. Authority
Within the coastal strip, on a national level, the Ministry of Environment (MoE), namely the Territorial Planning Department, forms and implements policy in the field of territorial planning, urban development, architecture, landscape management and protection, coordinates the process of legal regulation of construction and elaborates rules and standards of territorial planning and construction. It is also involved in ensuring integration of coastal management and protection issues and manages regional environmental protection departments, regional agencies and inspections, counties and municipal territorial planning services. The exclusive right to issue a permit for construction or reconstruction belongs to the Lithuanian government mediated by the Klaïpeda County (since the entire coastal zone falls within the administrative boundaries of this county) and the Ministry of Environment. Proposals are usually made by different municipality administrations.

Within the coastal strip, at a county level, planning is organised by the Klaïpeda County Administration. Its Territorial Planning Department is responsible for integration of coastal management through supervision of territorial planning procedures. A Regional Environmental Protection Department under supervision of the MoE has been established which is responsible for overall planning and management protection and inspection of the territory of the coastal zone. Furthermore, an inspectorate directly supervises construction processes in the county.

Outside the coastal strip, the five municipalities of the Klaïpeda County are responsible for territorial planning and development and have the right, each for their own territory, to develop comprehensive and detailed territorial plans which must be in accordance with state interests. There are several national protected areas (1 National Park, 2 regional parks and 4 landscape and botanical reserves) in the coastal zone viz. Curonian Spit National Park, Nemunas Delta regional park, Pajuris regional park, landscape reserve Kliosiai and botanical reserves Smelte, Luzijos and Kintai.

The Ministry of the Environment is the main responsible body for the marine affairs. The following specific bodies of the Ministry are responsible for Integrated Coastal Zone Management:

• The Centre of Marine Research
• The Regional Environmental Protection Department of Klaïpeda
• The Landscape and Environmental Assessment Divisions.
  

The following bodies of the Ministry are responsible for marine environmental protection:

• The Centre of Marine Research
• The Joint Research Centre
• Coast Guard Service of Klaïpeda
• Regional Environment Protection Department
  

The Klaïpeda State Seaport Authority is also involved but falls under the Ministry of Transport.

Issues of sustainable use and conservation of marine living resources belong to:

• The Klaïpeda Regional environmental Protection Department
• Water Resources Department
• The Marine Research Department
• The Fishery Department of the Ministry of Agriculture.
  

On an inter-governmental level, Lithuania is closely aligned with the National Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) Committee. It was established in 1998 to facilitate co-ordination among all of the responsible organisations for the preservation of the Baltic Sea Region.

2.2 Policy
Lithuania has a national strategy on ICZM that aims to minimise the pollution in the land and seawater basins during intensive economic activities. Requirements exist to prepare territorial planning documents for coastal zone management and assess environmental impact of the planned solutions. The Biodiversity Conservation and Action Plan (1998) also affect the management of coastal and marine areas. The National Environmental Strategy (1996) aims to improve control and minimise pollution and preserve natural resources. Lithuania also has a National Oil Spills Contingency Plan which is expressed in the above Action Plan and Strategy.

At a local level, there is "the Master Plan of the Klaïpeda Palanga cities" which include issues on ICZM. There is a comprehensive plan (general scheme) of the Kursiu Nerija national park, adopted in 1989 by Cabinet of Ministers, which is used as state policy in the whole national park territory as well as in ICZM. In 1999, the Neringa municipality began the preparation of special ICZM programmes where special measures are planned to manage and protect the coastal zone.

The Klaïpeda county master plan is currently under preparation (as is compulsory according to the Law on Territorial Planning of 1995) and some issues of ICZM might be regarded as state policy as Klaïpeda County covers the whole coastal area of Lithuania. The master plan is due to be adopted this year. It aims to provide clear guidelines for sustainable and integrated development priorities of the Klaïpeda county until the year 2020. It is to become a key part of the state spatial planning system and a guide for other plans. Since the approval of the Law in 1995 only a few municipalities have proceeded with a new master plan. In many municipalities the previous plans are still in force. Although they are bigger than municipalities in Estonia and Latvia, they still depend on external assistance for territorial planning.

2.3 Legislation
ICZM is regulated by the Administrative Law Violation Code of the Republic (1994) with some amendments later, Statute of the Klaïpeda State Sea Port of the Republic (1996), Inner Water Transport Code of the Republic (1996), Law on Construction of Buildings in the Coastal Zone and Kursiu Nerija (1995), and the Governmental Decree on Delineation of Coastal Zone 78 (1996).

Marine environmental protection is regulated by the Decree No 495 (1998), order of the Transport and Communication Ministry No 185 (1998), Law on Marine Environment Protection No VIII - 512 (1997), and the Methodical Recommendations for the calculation of damages of Nature according to the Environmental Protection Law (1992).

Sustainable use and conservation of marine living resources is regulated by the Law on Fisheries (2000), Rules on Fishing and Protection of Fish Resources in the Economic Zone of the Baltic Sea, Order on Enforcement and Management Measures for Lithuanian Fishing Vessels in the Conventional Area of the North West Atlantic and the Law on Wildlife.

Furthermore there are regulations for navigation such as the Navigable Regulations of the Klaïpeda State Port (1993)

3. Coastal and Marine Environmental Policy

Environmental policy is based on the principle that natural and recreational values of the coast must be preserved. In the national policy documents such as the National Environmental Strategy and Action plan (1996) and the National Bio-diversity Conservation Strategy and action Plan (1998), it is foreseen that natural resources and coastal landscapes should be protected. In the planning documents of the Klaïpeda county and other relevant municipalities, the Lithuanian coastal zone is interpreted as an area of environmental protection priority with sustainable tourism and fisheries proposed as the main activities to be developed. Recent proposals for harbour development, dumping, etc. have been carefully analysed and assessed in terms of environmental impact and coastal zone protection. Restoration of degraded coastal dunes in recent years is the major concern of the Ministry of the Environment and Palanga and Neringa municipalities. A precondition for implementation of the special programmes and plans is the preparation of an ICZM plan.

4. Coastal and Marine Nature Conservation Policy

4.1 Authority
The master plan of protected areas, such as state parks, is to be approved by the government. National and regional parks are administered by park administrations which fall under the responsibility of the newly formed State Service of Protected Areas under the Ministry of Environment. If objects and regions of cultural heritage are concerned then the Department of Cultural Heritage is involved.

4.2 Policy
Nature conservation in the coastal zone mainly focuses on the Kursiu Nerija National Park and two regional parks - Pajuris and Nemunas delta - as well as state reserves. Nature protection activity is also carried out in the state forests along the coastline where forest categorisation is used as areas of limited economic activity. In total approximately 70% of the Lithuanian Baltic Sea and Kursiu Lagoon coast fall under some form of nature conservancy.

The gill-net fishery in the coastal zone is managed via a special licensing system and set quotas.

4.3 Legislation
Legal acts pertaining to nature conservation protection are:

• Law on Protected Areas (2001)
• Law on Wildife (2002)
• Law on Protected Animal, Plant, Fungi Species and their Communities (1997/revised 2002)
• Law on Protection of Plants (1995)
• Law on Wild Fauna (1997)
• Law on Forests (1994, 1998) states that all coastal forests on the Curonian Spit and on the continental coast of the Baltic and the Curonian lagoon are state-owned with exclusive state interest and special coastal management function.
  

5. Economic Developments, important sectors and trends

5.1 Recreation and tourism
Lithuania has a long tradition of tourism and leisure at the coast which exerts significant development pressures on the coast. Changes are taking place in this sector and in the future a strong growth of leisure industry, stabilisation of recreational flows and intensification of tourism connections in the Baltic region is foreseen. The increasing number of western tourists is encouraging investment in renovation and improvements in holiday facilities.

5.2 Coastal defence
Coastal erosion is increasing annually. Coastal forests are, according to the Law on Forests, specifically regarded as a protected category. The use of forests is limited, clear cutting of trees is not allowed in a zone of 1 km.

6. The Current State of Integrated Coastal Zone Management

6.1 Legal framework
There is no national legislation for the regulation of ICZM although an international framework for the development has been secured by ratifying several conventions.

6.2 Finished projects

ICZM Plan for the coastal zone of Lithuania
The project formed part of the EU Demonstration Programme on ICZM. The project aimed to have an integrated approach to management as well as trying to promote public participation. It further aimed to establish a policy, regulatory, institutional and management framework for the management of the study area which covered the whole coastline including the coastal lagoon. It also set out to establish 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.

6.3 Ongoing programmes

Conservation of Rusne island
The island, located in the Nemunas delta, formed the background for successful integration of economic development and environmental protection. The programme has been running since 1994 and has become of model of the integration of sustainable agriculture, sustainable farming and conservation of natural values.

The urban waterfront development project
The objective of this project is to find solutions for downtown and dock areas in ports and small towns situated on the waterways in their hinterlands. Especially in the eastern part of the Baltic Sea Region, city development has been discouraged from the waterfront and a new use has to be found for abandoned military sites. The project aims to create a network for exchange of experience from the various projects to be launched in the participating cities.

Environmental atlas for the Curonian spit, Kaliningrad and Lithuania
Mapping of the shore line of the Curonian spit is being done. The environmental mapping will provide a foundation for oil protection planning of the coast. The atlas is following HELCOM recommendations.

6.4 Initiatives related to ICZM

The General Klaïpeda Region Project
The project was funded by the Lithuanian government and carried out by the Klaïpeda Country Administration. The plan forms the basis of the different projects set up in the region. It contains the various regulations, decrees and point of criteria the projects have to fulfil in order to receive funding. An example of such a project is the Klaïpeda Environmental Project that integrates improvements of the Klaïpeda water and waste water system with a management plan and programme for the Curonian Lagoon and Nemunas River Delta.

Olando kepure nature reserve
Situated in the Palanga city coastal zone, the municipality of Palanga is implementing its plans which place particular emphasis on integrated coastal management. Interests of local private tourism and fishery enterprises are carefully balanced with conservation and environmental education. Additionally the municipalities of Neringa and Palanga have drawn up special programmes for coastal dunes protection and sustainable management.

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.

Chemical industry and the environment project
The purpose of this pilot project is to improve the standards of environmental conservation in Dirbtinis Pluostas, a large chemical company based in Kaunas and producing synthetic fibres. Finnish expertiseis being used to help the company develop an environmental management system that corresponds to western standards. The project also aims to promote environmental co-operation between businesses, colleges and the authorities in Kaunas and Tampere regions. This objective will be given further support in the final phase of the project by a special environment sector contact event to be held in Kaunas.

6.5 Evaluation
Information for evaluation of the projects is scarce but PROCOAST has reported that there are still problems and constraints for further development on ICZM. One such problem is that there are no special agencies or institutions responsible for planning, implementation and evaluation of ICZM. The non-existence of these specialised bodies has led to numerous conflicts among the different levels of management which are in charge of implementation. The management institutions' activities overlap each other, making the implementation of successful ICZM a slow and bureaucratic process. Additionally, the level of public participation in the decision making process is also low because there is no opportunity for it to occur. Furthermore the decision making process is unnecessarily complex as a result of the overlapping of authorities among the levels of management.

7. NGOs and other private stakeholders

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.

Environmental Centre for Administration and Technology - Lithuania (ECAT-Lithuania)
ECAT-Lithuania is a support unit for Lithuanian municipalities and organisations involved in environmental issues. It is an independent non-profit-making and non-governmental organisation.

EUCC Baltic Office
A branch office of the European Union for Coastal Conservation aims to promote an integrated approach towards coastal management. The Office is a partner in a number of nature conservation projects.

Lithuanian Fund for Nature
An independent charity organisation promoting any activities aimed at the preservation of living nature. The Fund was established in 1991 and it was the first public organisation in Lithuania that accumulated funds and was supporting programmes and projects designed to preserve wildlife and vegetation.

Lithuanian Green Movement (LGM)
The Lithuanian Green Movement (LGM), or Friends of the Earth Lithuania, was established in 1988 and it is among the biggest and strongest Lithuanian environmental NGOs. Its most famous actions influenced the process of democratisation of Lithuania in the period 1988-1990. LGM is an umbrella union of environmental clubs, groups and individuals. Its main activities are protection of the Baltic Sea, conservation of protected territories and natural landscape, an energy campaign that works for decentralisation and democratisation of the existing energy system, and air pollution and acid rain. Environmental education is a big part of LGM work, focusing on sustainable development and creation of a pluralistic, democratic society.

The Regional Environmental Centre for Central and Eastern Europe (REC)
The Regional Environmental Centre for Central and Eastern Europe (REC) is a non-advocacy, not-for-profit organisation with a mission to assist in solving environmental problems in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). The Centre fulfils its mission through encouraging co-operation among non-governmental organisations, governments and businesses, supporting the free exchange of information and promoting public participation in environmental decision-making.

8. References

Anon. Procoast 2000: Interregional seminar on the harmonisation of uses and interests in the Baltic Sea Coastal zones. Procoast, Eckernförde, Germany, September 2000

Anon. Procoast 2000, Background for coastal zone planning and management in the Baltic Sea Region. Procoast, August 2000

Baubinas, R. & Taminskas, J. (1996): Military degradation of the environment in the Lithuanian coastal area. – Coastline 1996-2: 5-8.

European Union on Coastal Conservation. Lithuania. Nemunas Delta: Rusne island.

Eeltink, M. Background document, ICZM national files: Baltic Sea region . EUCC International Secretariat, Leiden, the Netherlands, June 2000

Greiciunas, V. (Director of Klaïpeda State Seaport Authority), Sea Transport Survey. October 1998

Klaïpeda State Seaport Authority. The main functions of the Port Authority. April 2000

Lithuanian Environmental Strategy; Action Programme 1996

Lithuanian Environmental Protection Strategy, 1996 Vilnius

Lithuanian Biodiversity Conservation strategy and action plan, 1998 Vilnius

Macijonas, A. & Sudavicius, B. (1998): Litauen. – In: Heyen, E.V. [Hrsg.]: Naturschutzrecht im Ostseeraum: 157-168. Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft. Baden-Baden.

Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania http://www.gamta.lt

Povilanskas, R., (EUCC- Lithuania). National report: ICZM in Lithuania. January 2000

Phare report. Lithuania 1998

Phare, DEVCO - TEBONIN, Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project General. Lithuania 1998

Povilanskas, R., (EUCC- Lithuania), National Report: ICZM in Lithuania. January 2000.