The Severn Estuary

1. The Severn Estuary Rhoda Ballinger

2. Format of talk • Brief background to the Severn & SEP • Integrated policy & management • Context • SEP / CU good practice • Factors influencing our performance • Transferability of good practice • Problems we need advice on

3. The Severn & SEP

4. Location

5. Severn characteristics • Highest tidal range in Europe • Low-lying surrounding areas • Flood risk • Major cities, ports & industry • Nature conservation & archaeological importance (Natura 2000) • Agriculture (Levels: 850km2) • Tourism & recreation • Offshore resources: • aggregates (80 - 90% supply for S Wales) • Renewable energy potential

6. Severn Estuary Partnership Set up in 1995 Independent, Estuary-wide NON-statutory initiative Led by Local Authorities & Statutory Agencies Involves all those interested in the future of the estuary Strategy document 2001

7. SEP’s new role • Establish a set of ‘principles’ for the estuary that are delivered locally through individual strategies, policies and action plans • Act as a coordinating body to ensure that agreed actions are delivered efficiently and effectively • Promote and publicise the estuary at national and international level • Add value and fill gaps providing extra capacity as necessary • Ensure effective communications between organisations and individuals • Under new marine legislation?

8. Integrated approach

9. Institutional Issues • Administratively complex • Lack of strategic STATUTORY policy framework • New Marine & Coastal Access Act 2009

11. Institutional Issues • Sectorally-based policy & management • Limited linkage between science/policy

12. Forum Joint Advisory Committee Management Group Staff Good Practice I • SEP Steering & Working groups • Events • Severn Estuary Forum (annually since 05) • Severn Wonders Festival (06) • Workshops & conferences • Secretariat for various estuary-wide sectoral groups • ASERA (Natura 2000 site) • SECG – flood & erosion risk • Joint Estuary Days

13. Good Practice II • Publications: • SEP website • Severn Tidings newsletter • information leaflets

14. Good Practice III • Information Provision: • Contacts Database (>2000); • Web-based ‘Who Does What’ Guide

15. Good Practice IV • Strategy document 2001 • 13 sectoral areas • 95 issues • >350 proposals for actions • Joint Workshop: for Severn River Basin Plan (WFD)

16. Good Practice V • INTERREG projects: • COREPOINT (IIIB) • Promoting ICZM • LIS / SEA with spatial planners • IMCORE (IVB) • Climate change adaptation • SECCGRAG • Futures scenario building

17. Evaluation • +ve • Survival • Many successes & initiatives • Neutral facilitation role recognised • Estuary-wide view recognised • Limited industry/business involvement • Drivers for ICZM • -ve • Strategy now somewhat outdated • not that well used by partner organisations • Resource and status issues • Reliance on short-term EC projects • NEW drivers (marine planning etc)

18. Transferability • Some aspects resource intensive • Could provide advice as required • Socio-cultural variations & issues • New policy drivers for integration (marine planning)

19. Our needs • Land-sea coordinated policy • In context of: • marine planning • devolved government • Advice on state of the estuary reporting • Including real-time monitoring • Translation of scientific information on environmental quality & climate change to policy sectors and the public

20. References • Knowles, S. & Myatt-Bell, L. (2001) The Severn Estuary Strategy: A consensus Approach to Estuary Management, Ocean and Coastal Management 44, pp. 135-159 • Stojanovic, T.S. and Ballinger, R.C.(2009) Integrated coastal management: a comparative analysis of four UK initiatives, Applied Geography, 29 (1), 49 – 62. • Stojanovic, T.S., Ball, I., Ballinger, R.C., Lymbery, G. and Dodds, W. (2009) The role of research networks for science-policy collaboration in coastal areas, Marine Policy, 33 (60), 901 – 911 • Ballinger, R.C and Stojanovic, T.S. (2010) Policy development and the estuary environment: a Severn Estuary case study"  for the special issue of Marine Pollution Bulletin, "The Severn Estuary and Bristol Channel : A 25 Year Critical Review.”  50 (8) 866-874 • Severn Estuary website: http://www.severnestuary.net

21. Thanks for listening! Contacts • Severn Estuary Partnership: • Severn@Cf.ac.uk • Dr Rhoda Ballinger • BallingerRC@Cf.ac.uk

22. Flood risk & sediment management – Good Practice • Other partners mainly contribute to this through statutory functions & responsibilities • e.g. Environment Agency • Shoreline Management Plan II for estuary • Severn Flood Risk Management Strategy under development • SEP provided some support for the above & has facilitated dissemination & public involvement

23. Improved environment- Good Practice • Other partners mainly contribute to this through statutory functions & responsibilities • Government Agencies e.g. Environment Agency • SEP role: • State of the Estuary report • Interreg IVb IMCORE project • climate change

24. Improved public awareness • Success • Good involvement BUT still only reached relatively small audience • Considerable support from partners (esp EA) • Transferability • Some aspects would be • Could provide advice as required • Socio-cultural variations & issues