Knowledge sharing in project appraisals of coastal zone management: towards increased transparency in the decision process

Abstract

In this article we discuss coastal erosion, efforts to deal with it and its associated problems on both a national and international basis, and difficulties in making long-range predictions of it. We emphasise the need to: assemble and share knowledge, information and experience in this area internationally; upgrade shoreline management guidelines; employ the latest methods and techniques for combating erosion and evaluating projects with this aim; ensure adequate evaluation and prioritisation of such projects; utilise the competencies of the various disciplines of relevance; and overcome the isolation and fragmentation of knowledge of erosion and measures to combat it. Many initiatives have been established to facilitate knowledge-sharing concerning coastal erosion and integrated coastal zone management. This paper focuses on examining project appraisal methods and factors that enable decision-making to be made more transparent to the general public.

Keywords:

• coastal erosion
• project appraisal
• integrated coastal zone management
• cost-benefit analysis
• cost-efficiency analysis
• multi-criteria analysis