Effectiveness of coastal management

Coasts (2016)

Effectiveness of coastal management

Coastal governance and integrated management

Cumulative impacts management

Understanding

Limited scientific understanding of the impacts of multiple pressures, particularly their interactions.

Year(s):

2016

Improving

Confidence (in grade):

Somewhat adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Somewhat adequate

Comparability (to previous reports):

Somewhat comparable

Cumulative impacts management

2016

Coasts

Effectiveness of management

Approach/Process

This assessment summary is the result of consultation with three or more independent subject-matter experts. Each expert was asked to provide scores for the state and trend of the topic, the confidence in their scores, and supporting information to explain their reasoning. Consensus scores were determined after considering responses from all experts in the light of supporting information, and in conjunction with other data sources where they were available.

Data/Information sources

Combined input from three or more independent experts (see Approach/Process above), together with the literature and data sources cited in the report text.

Comments

Nil.

Topics

Cumulative impacts and management of multiple uses

Planning

Cumulative impacts management has been used in some recent planning frameworks, but only in small proportion of managed areas.

Year(s):

2016

Improving

Confidence (in grade):

Somewhat adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Somewhat adequate

Comparability (to previous reports):

Somewhat comparable

Cumulative impacts management

2016

Coasts

Effectiveness of management

Approach/Process

Data/Information sources

Combined input from three or more independent experts (see Approach/Process above), together with the literature and data sources cited in the report text.

Comments

Nil.

Topics

Cumulative impacts and management of multiple uses

Inputs

Data on the direct effects of many pressures, and their interactions, is sparse in some areas.

Year(s):

2016

Improving

Confidence (in grade):

Somewhat adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Somewhat adequate

Comparability (to previous reports):

Somewhat comparable

Cumulative impacts management

2016

Coasts

Effectiveness of management

Approach/Process

Data/Information sources

Combined input from three or more independent experts (see Approach/Process above), together with the literature and data sources cited in the report text.

Comments

Nil.

Topics

Cumulative impacts and management of multiple uses

Processes

Seldom implemented due to knowledge gaps and lack of resources.

Year(s):

2016

Improving

Confidence (in grade):

Somewhat adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Somewhat adequate

Comparability (to previous reports):

Somewhat comparable

Cumulative impacts management

2016

Coasts

Effectiveness of management

Approach/Process

Data/Information sources

Combined input from three or more independent experts (see Approach/Process above), together with the literature and data sources cited in the report text.

Comments

Nil.

Topics

Cumulative impacts and management of multiple uses

Outputs and outcomes

Implemented in the Great Barrier Reef marine park zone management, though the reef remains in a poor state and is deteriorating.

Year(s):

2016

Improving

Confidence (in grade):

Somewhat adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Somewhat adequate

Comparability (to previous reports):

Somewhat comparable

Cumulative impacts management

2016

Coasts

Effectiveness of management

Approach/Process

Data/Information sources

Combined input from three or more independent experts (see Approach/Process above), together with the literature and data sources cited in the report text.

Comments

Nil.

Topics

Cumulative impacts and management of multiple uses

Assessment Summary Key

Grades

Very effective

Elements of management effectiveness and assessment criteria		Description of grade
Managing context (understanding of environmental issues; adequacy of regulatory control mechanisms and policy coverage)	Understanding of context Decision-makers and environmental managers have a good understanding of: environmental and socio-economic significance of environmental values, including ecosystem functions and cultural importance current and emerging threats to values. Environmental considerations and information have a significant impact on national policy decisions across the broad range of government responsibilities.	Understanding of environmental and cultural systems, and factors affecting them is good for most management issues
	Planning Policies and plans are in place that provide clarity on: objectives for management actions that address major pressures and risks to environmental values roles and responsibilities for managing environmental issues operational procedures, and a framework for integration and consistency of planning and management across sectors and jurisdictions.	Effective legislation, policies and plans are in place for addressing all or most significant issues. Policies and plans clearly establish management objectives and operations targeted at major risks. Responsibility for managing issues is clearly and appropriately allocated
Management capacity (adequacy of resources, appropriateness of governance arrangements and efficiency of management processes)	Inputs Resources are available to implement plans and policies, including: financial resources human resources information.	Financial and staffing resources are largely adequate to address management issues. Biophysical and socio-economic information is available to inform management decisions
	Processes A governance system is in place that provides for: appropriate stakeholder engagement in decisions and implementation of management activities adaptive management for longer-term initiatives transparency and accountability.	Well-designed management systems are being implemented for effective delivery of planned management actions, including clear governance arrangements, appropriate stakeholder engagement, active adaptive management and adequate reporting against goals
Achievements (delivery of expected products, services and impacts)	Outputs Management objectives are being met for: timely delivery of products and services reduction of current pressures and emerging risks to environmental values.	Management responses are mostly progressing in accordance with planned programs and are achieving their desired objectives. Targeted threats are being demonstrably reduced
	Outcomes Management objectives are being met for improvements to resilience of environmental values.	Resilience of environmental values is being maintained or improving. Values are considered secured against known threats

Effective

Elements of management effectiveness and assessment criteria		Description of grade
Managing context (understanding of environmental issues; adequacy of regulatory control mechanisms and policy coverage)	Understanding of context Decision-makers and environmental managers have a good understanding of: environmental and socio-economic significance of environmental values, including ecosystem functions and cultural importance current and emerging threats to values. Environmental considerations and information have a significant impact on national policy decisions across the broad range of government responsibilities.	Understanding of environmental and cultural systems, and factors affecting them is generally good, but there is some variability across management issues
	Planning Policies and plans are in place that provide clarity on: objectives for management actions that address major pressures and risks to environmental values roles and responsibilities for managing environmental issues operational procedures, and a framework for integration and consistency of planning and management across sectors and jurisdictions.	Effective legislation, policies and plans are in place, and management responsibilities are allocated appropriately, for addressing many significant issues. Policies and plans clearly establish management objectives and priorities for addressing major risks, but may not specify implementation procedures
Management capacity (adequacy of resources, appropriateness of governance arrangements and efficiency of management processes)	Inputs Resources are available to implement plans and policies, including: financial resources human resources information.	Financial and staffing resources are mostly adequate to address management issues, but may not be secure. Biophysical and socio-economic information is available to inform decisions, although there may be deficiencies in some areas
	Processes A governance system is in place that provides for: appropriate stakeholder engagement in decisions and implementation of management activities adaptive management for longer-term initiatives transparency and accountability.	Well-designed management systems are in place, but are not yet being fully implemented
Achievements (delivery of expected products, services and impacts)	Outputs Management objectives are being met for: timely delivery of products and services reduction of current pressures and emerging risks to environmental values.	Management responses are mostly progressing in accordance with planned programs and are achieving their desired objectives. Targeted threats are understood, and measures are in place to manage them
	Outcomes Management objectives are being met for improvements to resilience of environmental values.	Resilience of environmental values is improving, but threats remain as significant factors affecting environmental systems

Partially effective

Elements of management effectiveness and assessment criteria		Description of grade
Managing context (understanding of environmental issues; adequacy of regulatory control mechanisms and policy coverage)	Understanding of context Decision-makers and environmental managers have a good understanding of: environmental and socio-economic significance of environmental values, including ecosystem functions and cultural importance current and emerging threats to values. Environmental considerations and information have a significant impact on national policy decisions across the broad range of government responsibilities.	Understanding of environmental and cultural systems, and factors affecting them is only fair for most management issues
	Planning Policies and plans are in place that provide clarity on: objectives for management actions that address major pressures and risks to environmental values roles and responsibilities for managing environmental issues operational procedures, and a framework for integration and consistency of planning and management across sectors and jurisdictions.	Legislation, policies and planning systems are deficient, and/or there is lack of clarity about who has management responsibility, for several significant issues
Management capacity (adequacy of resources, appropriateness of governance arrangements and efficiency of management processes)	Inputs Resources are available to implement plans and policies, including: financial resources human resources information.	Financial and staffing resources are unable to address management issues in some important areas. Biophysical and socio-economic information is available to inform management decisions, although there are significant deficiencies in some areas
	Processes A governance system is in place that provides for: appropriate stakeholder engagement in decisions and implementation of management activities adaptive management for longer-term initiatives transparency and accountability.	Management systems provide some guidance, but are not consistently delivering on implementation of management actions, stakeholder engagement, adaptive management or reporting
Achievements (delivery of expected products, services and impacts)	Outputs Management objectives are being met for: timely delivery of products and services reduction of current pressures and emerging risks to environmental values.	Management responses are progressing and showing signs of achieving some objectives. Targeted threats are understood, and measures are being developed to manage them
	Outcomes Management objectives are being met for improvements to resilience of environmental values.	The expected impacts of management measures on improving resilience of environmental values are yet to be seen. Managed threats remain as significant factors influencing environmental systems

Ineffective

Elements of management effectiveness and assessment criteria		Description of grade
Managing context (understanding of environmental issues; adequacy of regulatory control mechanisms and policy coverage)	Understanding of context Decision-makers and environmental managers have a good understanding of: environmental and socio-economic significance of environmental values, including ecosystem functions and cultural importance current and emerging threats to values. Environmental considerations and information have a significant impact on national policy decisions across the broad range of government responsibilities.	Understanding of environmental and cultural systems, and factors affecting them is poor for most management issues
	Planning Policies and plans are in place that provide clarity on: objectives for management actions that address major pressures and risks to environmental values roles and responsibilities for managing environmental issues operational procedures, and a framework for integration and consistency of planning and management across sectors and jurisdictions.	Legislation, policies and planning systems have not been developed to address significant issues
Management capacity (adequacy of resources, appropriateness of governance arrangements and efficiency of management processes)	Inputs Resources are available to implement plans and policies, including: financial resources human resources information.	Financial and staffing resources are unable to address management issues in many areas. Biophysical and socio-economic information to support decisions is deficient in many areas
	Processes A governance system is in place that provides for: appropriate stakeholder engagement in decisions and implementation of management activities adaptive management for longer-term initiatives transparency and accountability.	Adequate management systems are not in place. Lack of consistency and integration of management activities across jurisdictions is a problem for many issues
Achievements (delivery of expected products, services and impacts)	Outputs Management objectives are being met for: timely delivery of products and services reduction of current pressures and emerging risks to environmental values.	Management responses are either not progressing in accordance with planned programs (significant delays or incomplete actions) or the actions undertaken are not achieving their objectives. Threats are not actively being addressed
	Outcomes Management objectives are being met for improvements to resilience of environmental values.	Resilience of environmental values is still low or continuing to decline. Unmitigated threats remain as significant factors influencing environmental systems

Recent Trends

Improving
Stable
Deteriorating
Unclear

Confidence

Adequate: Adequate high-quality evidence and high level of consensus
Somewhat adequate: Adequate high-quality evidence or high level of consensus
Limited: Limited evidence or limited consensus
Very limited: Limited evidence and limited consensus
Low: Evidence and consensus too low to make an assessment

Comparability

Comparable: Grade and trend are comparable to the previous assessment
Somewhat comparable: Grade and trend are somewhat comparable to the previous assessment
Not comparable: Grade and trend are not comparable to the previous assessment
Not previously assessed

Clark GF, Johnston EL (2016). Coasts: Effectiveness of coastal management . In: Australia state of the environment 2016, Australian Government Department of the Environment and Energy, Canberra, https://soe.environment.gov.au/assessment-summary/coasts/effectiveness-coastal-management, DOI 10.4226/94/58b659bdc758b

The Coasts theme did not include any assessment summaries in 2011. The effectiveness of management assessments can be considered to be somewhat comparable to parts of the 2011 Effectiveness of marine management assessment summary.

The assessment summaries in State of the Environment reporting provide snapshots of key information, and focus on identifying areas for continued or more concentrated attention on strengthening environmental systems to cope with pressures in the future. Assessment summaries are provided for state and trend, pressures and management responses in each of the themes. The summary text in the assessment tables should be read in conjunction with the explanatory text in each section of the theme chapters.

The authors have indicated the strength of the evidence for assessments with a ‘level of confidence’. If adequate high-quality data were available or consensus was high, confidence is indicated as high. If there were only limited data or consensus to determine grades, confidence is indicated as low. Where data are insufficient to attempt scores, this is also indicated, and the component remains on the list to remind readers that it is still an important aspect of the Australian environment, and that more information is needed to improve our understanding and capacity to respond to environmental challenges.

Effectiveness of coastal management