year 15, Issue 3 (Autumn 2025)
E.E.R. 2025, 15(3): 81-95 |
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Dastranj R, Alavinaeini A, Nohegar A, Ansari E. Investigating and prioritizing of the Factors Affecting integrated coastal zone management to achieve sustainable development (Case Study: Western Coasts of Mazandaran Province). E.E.R. 2025; 15 (3) :81-95
URL: http://magazine.hormozgan.ac.ir/article-1-891-en.html
URL: http://magazine.hormozgan.ac.ir/article-1-891-en.html
Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran, Tehran , ali.alavinaeini@ut.ac.ir
Abstract: (703 Views)
1- Introduction
Coastal zones, as critical interfaces between terrestrial and marine ecosystems, play a pivotal role in maintaining ecological, economic, and social equilibrium. These areas host diverse ecosystems, including wetlands, estuaries, mangroves, and coral reefs, that are essential for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services. Additionally, they support vital economic activities such as tourism, fisheries, maritime transport, and industrial development. However, increasing anthropogenic pressures, including rapid urbanization, industrial expansion, tourism growth, and excessive resource exploitation, have led to numerous challenges such as pollution, biodiversity loss, habitat destruction, coastal erosion, sea-level rise, and unplanned development. These threats significantly compromise the long-term sustainability of coastal resources and livelihoods. Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) offers a holistic framework for sustainable development, harmonizing environmental protection with economic progress through inter-organizational coordination. It ensures that the multiple and often conflicting uses of coastal zones are managed in a balanced and integrated manner. ICZM encourages the participation of local communities, governmental agencies, NGOs, and other stakeholders to foster consensus-based decision-making. Formalized at the 1992 Earth Summit, ICZM was adopted by 145 countries by 2002 as a global strategy to address the degradation of coastal zones. In Iran, ICZM is recognized as a vital tool for sustainable coastal development, particularly in the southern and northern coastal provinces. The western coast of Mazandaran Province, located along the southern Caspian Sea, is a region characterized by high population density, valuable natural resources, and intense developmental pressures. Key challenges in this area include population concentration, environmental degradation, natural hazards such as floods and landslides, unauthorized construction, and restricted coastal access for the public. The lack of coordinated planning, fragmented institutional responsibilities, and insufficient public participation further complicate the effective management of this coastal zone. Effective ICZM requires policy integration, aligned objectives, and cohesive management strategies. It demands the establishment of a comprehensive legal and institutional framework, capacity building, and the adoption of participatory approaches. As a dynamic process with defined geographic boundaries, ICZM fosters strategies to balance coastal and marine systems. Sustainable coastal development hinges on environmental conservation, disaster risk management, sustainable urban planning, economic growth, community engagement, and prudent water resource management. Therefore, assessing public participation and prioritizing key influencing variables is essential to advance ICZM strategies in the region.
2- Results
To assess the reliability of the pairwise comparison questionnaire in this study, Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was calculated using SPSS, yielding a value of 0.7 (exceeding the 0.7 threshold), confirming the questionnaire’s reliability. The questionnaire was distributed among local experts and stakeholders involved in coastal management, including environmental authorities, urban planners, and academic researchers. Based on a review of prior studies on Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM), socio-cultural, economic, environmental, and governance variables were identified as key factors influencing public participation in coastal management. A pairwise comparison matrix was constructed using expert opinions and analyzed with Expert Choice software. The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was employed to determine the relative importance of each variable. The inconsistency ratio of the matrix was 0.05, below the 0.1 threshold, indicating consistency and reliability of expert judgments. Results revealed that the environmental variable held the highest weight, ranking first, followed by the economic variable in second, socio-cultural in third, and governance in fourth. The prioritization highlights the prominence of ecological concerns such as coastal erosion, pollution, habitat loss, and biodiversity in shaping public perspectives and management needs. The economic factor encompassed aspects such as job creation, income generation, and financial incentives, which significantly influence public engagement and support for ICZM programs. The socio-cultural variable included local customs, beliefs, education, and public awareness, while the governance variable referred to the role of institutional capacity, transparency, bottom-up decision-making, and regulatory enforcement. These findings suggest that, to achieve ICZM and sustainable development, priority should be given to environmental factors, followed by economic, socio-cultural, and governance factors, in that order. This prioritization can serve as a guideline for designing participatory strategies that align with the community’s perceptions and expectations.
3- Discussion & Conclusions
This study identified and prioritized variables influencing Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) by reviewing prior research, considering national and regional contexts, and incorporating expert opinions. The results ranked environmental variables (biodiversity, water quality, coastal erosion, pollution, etc.) first, economic variables (income, financial incentives, employment generation) second, socio-cultural variables (public awareness, local customs, beliefs) third, and governance variables (managerial attitude shifts, bottom-up decision-making, reduced bureaucracy) fourth. The dominance of environmental variables underscores the growing concern for ecosystem sustainability among stakeholders and the public. This aligns with global trends emphasizing nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based management approaches. In the context of Mazandaran’s western coastal zone, increasing environmental pressures necessitate urgent action to preserve fragile ecosystems and mitigate negative impacts. To enhance public and NGO participation, priority should focus on environmental variables to ensure ecosystem sustainability and resource conservation. These require management within comprehensive environmental impact assessment frameworks and stakeholder engagement to balance development and conservation effectively. Moreover, promoting environmental education, strengthening regulatory frameworks, and fostering community-based monitoring can further empower public participation. The study emphasizes the need for transparent governance, integrated planning, and institutional reforms to streamline coastal zone management. In conclusion, a successful ICZM approach in Mazandaran's western coast requires prioritizing environmental sustainability, followed by addressing economic and socio-cultural needs, and reforming governance mechanisms. These efforts should be embedded in a participatory, adaptive management framework that reflects local realities and global commitments to sustainable development.
Keywords: Integrated Coastal Zone Management, Sustainable Development, Pairwise Comparison Matrix, Western Coast of Mazandaran Province
Type of Study: Research |
Received: 2025/04/27 | Published: 2025/09/21
Received: 2025/04/27 | Published: 2025/09/21
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