Marine uses, synergies and conflicts. Evidence from Crete Island, Greece

Abstract

Coastal zones and marine areas attract a large number of people and productive activities, a fact that causes important pressures on ecosystems and affects the cohesion of local societies. These areas – that is, the large number of islands and the extended coastline - are important for Greece, because of its geography. Coastal zones and marine areas are vulnerable socio-spatial systems exposed to menaces, such as: sea level rising, desertification phenomenon, built-up areas excessive expansion etc., thus, spatial planning is required for their sustainable management, something that is not always easy to implement. The paper aims to discuss key issues of spatial planning emerged from the ratification of an integrated framework for marine planning in the national spatial planning system. For better understanding of the particularities of Greek spatial planning procedures, the island of Crete is chosen as a case study area, where synergies, conflicts and methodological issues come up at regional and local level.