Curriculum Vitae:
Dr. sc. Ante Ivcevic is a Programme Officer at PAP/RAC (UNEP/MAP) in Split, Croatia, specializing in climate adaptation and coastal risk management. With over seven years of experience, he has significantly contributed to integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) under the GEF MedProgramme project.
He oversees the coastal plan preparation for the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region in Morocco and the preparation of the ICZM national strategy in Lebanon.
Additionally, Ante is involved in the work on science–policy interface in risk management at laboratory Mesopolhis, Aix-Marseille University, where he is an associated researcher on the project Proteus, and he is a member of a European RiskScape research group on risk perception and behavior. Ante holds a PhD in Geography (Risk Management), an MSc in Oceanography (Marine Environment) from Aix-Marseille University, and an MSc in Physics – Geophysics (Meteorology and Physical Oceanography) from the University of Zagreb, Croatia.
How do policy-makers effectively manage densely populated coastal zones with limited resources? What strategies do they employ to advocate for coastal setbacks or other climate change adaptation measures? Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) is a long-standing policy framework aimed at promoting sustainable coastal development. While it is not new or revolutionary, does it still fulfill its intended purpose? To address this question, I will begin by providing a theoretical analysis of the key components that influence the success of ICZM: integration, implementation, the interface between science and policy, and governance mechanisms.
Next, I will present several examples from the Mediterranean basin to illustrate how the framework operates in practice and extract lessons learned from current ICZM planning efforts. Finally, I will discuss the role of science in shaping the context-specific interpretation of ICZM. While the effective integration of science and policy requires time, energy, and steadfast institutional commitment, collaborative knowledge creation between science and policy—ideally extended to encompass the broader community—is crucial for achieving sustainable solutions.