ABSTRACT
Germany has two different coastlines, given that it borders two seas: The North Sea and the Baltic Sea. The environmental characteristics of these seas are vastly different and thus pose different management challenges. Although Germany's coastline length does not make up a high proportion of its borders, as in other countries in this book, it is a significant resource for the country: It is highly varied, home to several major cities, and a popular tourist destination in the summer months. Germany has adopted comprehensive climate change policies on both national and state levels, and its environmental legislation includes strong protection of the coastal zone from inappropriate development. Only the basic protection of coastal land is safeguarded through federal regulations. More detailed coastal protection measures are administered through state-level land use regulations. Those regulations vary considerably across the states and even across neighbouring municipalities. Nevertheless, Germany demonstrates good, sound practice in coastal zone management. In addition, Germany was an early adopter of the Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) strategy format recommended by the European Parliament and the Council in 2002.
