Investments as a lever for sustainable equilibrium between ecology and recreation at the Belgian coast
Slabbinck, B. (2005). Investments as a lever for sustainable equilibrium between ecology and recreation at the Belgian coast, in: Herrier, J.-L. et al. (Ed.) Proceedings 'Dunes and Estuaries 2005': International Conference on nature restoration practices in European coastal habitats, Koksijde, Belgium 19-23 September 2005. VLIZ Special Publication, 19: pp. 357-368 In: Herrier, J.-L. et al. (2005). Proceedings 'Dunes and Estuaries 2005': International Conference on nature restoration practices in European coastal habitats, Koksijde, Belgium 19-23 September 2005. VLIZ Special Publication, 19. Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee (VLIZ): Oostende. XIV, 685 pp., more In: VLIZ Special Publication. Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee (VLIZ): Oostende. ISSN 1377-0950, more |  |
| Available in | Author | | Document type: Conference paper
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| Keywords | Conservation > Nature conservation
Management > Ecosystem management > Coastal zone management
Recreation
ANE, Belgium [Marine Regions]; Belgium, Flanders [Marine Regions]
Marine/Coastal |
| Abstract | Nature and tourism: it wasn’t very often a very successful marriage at the European coasts. Like the Spanish ‘costas’, the Flemish coast was buried under concrete. This was of course devastating for the different vulnerable ecosystems and forced policymakers to take action. Not only did many countries start nature restoration projects like the Feydra-project in order to alter this trend. The problems were also tackled at the basis. Since the beginning of the nineties the tourism policy in Flanders did no longer focus just on the classic recipe of sun, sea and sand. Tourists also discovered the beauty of the polder-complex, tourists enjoyed bicycle trails,… This paper presents the evolution of nature and tourism ‘from threat toward opportunity’ / ‘from conflict to dialogue’ and vice versa. We will focus on four case studies spread over 15 years, showing the positive evolution of integrating rather than tolerating visitors in European Natura 2000-areas. |
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