The Systems Approach Framework (SAF) Handbook provides a stepwise guide to sustainable Integrated Coastal Management (ICM).
Sustainable Integrated Coastal Management
Coastal systems are highly complex, often behaving in non-linear fashion and need a holistic approach for sustainable management. The Systems Approach Framework (SAF) aims to provide a step-wise approach to sustainable Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) and provides a platform for integrating scientific evidence and stakeholder knowledge.
The SAF for use in ICM, was initially developed within the EU project SPICOSA (spicosa.eu), and further developed in the BONUS BaltCoast project (baltcoast.net). The developments made within the BONUS BaltCoast project aims to enhance science-policy integration and prevent stakeholder fatigue.
Six steps process
The SAF breaks down the ICM process into six steps. The original five steps (spicosa.eu) were revised and merged into four steps, and two new steps introduced. The SAF guides the ICM process from the identification of an issue to the implementation of policy decisions and validation of the process.
The Ecological-Social-Economic (ESE) Assessment (blue boxes in the figure) is conducted in collaboration with stakeholders throughout all the steps.
Click to see larged version of the figure
Duration
A SAF application from Issue ID to Implementation can be conducted within 12-18 months with an experienced team.
Learn more
Learn more about SAF in the Learn more box on this page.