EU ICZM policy stresses the need for appropriate information transfer from science to end users such as decision-makers and the public at large to improve the management of coastal zones. Indicators are instrumental to this process by providing information about a more complex reality and thus helping the communication process. The INTERREG IIIB project SAIL (Schéma d'Aménagement Intégré du Littoral) is embedded in the EU ICZM policy and one of its objectives is developing a suite of indicators to monitor progress towards a more sustainable future in the SAIL coastal region. Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) addresses this objective by continuing the work taken forward under the first phase of the SAIL program (2000-2002) and by which 25 sustainability indicators were chosen to represent the economic, social and environmental aspects of the region. During 2004-2005, VLIZ will develop a database and GIS application on the SAIL set of sustainability indicators. A first State of the North Sea Report and a common SAIL data portal on the internet will also be realised. The VLIZ's work on the SAIL project is a team achievement and members of the team are Ann-Katrien Lescrauwaet, Francisco Hernández, Sofie Bracke, Ann Vanhoorne and Jan Mees. |
