Integration of Nature Conservation Instruments into General Planning

OECOS participated in cooperation with the Technical University Berlin - Department of Landscape Planning and the TU Freiberg - Prof. Dr. Rainer Wolf, Faculty of Economics, Professor of Public Law and the Law Firm v. Doehren - Mohr (RA Rüdiger Nebelsieck (LL. M) in a Federal Environment Ministry (BMU) founded R & D project for the development of conservation tools for spatial planning in the German Economic Zone (EEZ).

The marine environment has been used for navigation and fishing for a long time. Lately there has been a structural change: grit, oil and gas exploration, air force and navy as well as new uses such as offshore wind farms and marine cultures have become the major causes of changes in marine usage structures. The analysis of present uses in the German EEZ shows many conflicts and much spatial competition. Until now assessments of the different spatial interests have been made with regard to concrete projects (e.g. offshore wind farms). The necessity to manage marine uses through environmentally orientated spatial planning is more than obvious.

With the amendment of the Spatial Planning Act (ROG), control of spatial uses in the EEZ is required. A central part of the spatial planning strategy in the EEZ must integrate the protection of the marine environment. For a successful and effective formal procedure it is necessary to define conservation objectives within the so-called 12-mile zone and the EEZ. Furthermore, methods and procedures are needed with which conservation objectives can be integrated into development planning. The OECOS team is working on these subjects within the general R&D framework.