27.08.2014

Strategies for an integrated Management of the Elbe Estuary- Handling Complexity and Conflicts of Interest Ivonne Stresius & Susanne Heise, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Contact: ivonne.stresius@haw-hamburg.de

In the EU funded research project ARCH – Architecture and Roadmap
to manage multiple Pressures on Lagoons and Estuaries aparticipatory workshop methodology was used to evaluate strategiesand actions for an integrated estuary management in 10 different casesites all over Europe. The German case site is the Elbe Estuary. Thisworkshop methodology based on the European Awareness ScenarioWorkshop (EASW).

Challenges for Integrated Management• Highly dynamic and complex system• Many risks and high uncertainty• Involvement of many different interests,institutions and stakeholders

The Elbe Estuary – a complexsystem

Institutions and Interests

The Elbe River – a border river• 3 federal states (Bundesländer), 3 parliaments,
3 different structures of administrations• 3,8 million inhabitants• Manifold and in part contradictory interests• High pressure to utilize resources• Agriculture, Flora-Fauna-Habitats, birdsanctuaries, recreation, fishery, flood protection• Hamburg is the economic centre of the region• The harbour is the biggest German seaport,
the tidal Elbe is a federal waterway

Stakeholder Analyses

Preparation

Stakeholder Interviews

For example:• Environmental and Citizen NGOs
• Administrations from Hamburg,
Schleswig-Holstein and Lower
Saxony• Chamber of Commerce• Chamber of Agriculture• Scientists

State of the Estuary Report• General Description of theRegion• Natural System• Human System• The Human-Nature
Relationship

••
•
••

Are we talking to the right person?
What is the most urgent problem?
What are the mostserious conflicts?
How should the Estuary
look like in the future?

Workshop 1: Understanding the System - System Analysis with the Sensitivity Model Prof. Vester Good switch
leversHighly criticalparts of thesystem
Good switch
levers:Variable No. 24 –Integration ofManagement
Variable No. 13 –Quality ofCommunication
Variable No. 9 –Intensity of Landuse

Finding a common Language

Understanding the System

Workshop 2: Challenges for the Future
Creating a common future vision

Identifying Problems and Objectives

Common Future Vision Elbe Estuary 2050
“We believe, that it is necessary to adapt the development ofthe Elbe Estuary to the natural conditions to preserve and form
the quality of life in this region for the future.
A consistent and integrated management in connection with atrustful and constant communication between all parties will beindispensable.”“ The resolution of conflicts of interests under equal
representation of all stakeholder and the adaption to climatechange will be the biggest challenges for the future.”

Workshop 3: Strategy for the Elbe Estuary
Development of an Elbe Estuary Forum
Organisation Structure

Functions:• Constant communication• Stakeholder Meeting• Conflict Facilitation• Policy Consulting• Access to Information• Enabling Participation• Creation of Transparency• Realisation of the Future Vision• Public Relation Works

Establishment of an Integrated Management Board
Working group• Independent from policy and election periods• Management plans will be inspected for transparency,
participation and integration
Principles• Guiding theme for the preparation of management plans
must be integration• Prove of integrated management must be part of the plan
approval procedure• Integration is more important than single expertise