Benefits of COREPOINT to the Severn Estuary and Severn Estuary Partnership
COREPOINT is good news for the Severn Estuary. It will raise the profile of SEP within the UK and North West Europe. This is particularly important given the review of the EC Recommendation on Integrated Coastal Zone Management next year (2006). The project will also facilitate a number of key work packages, supporting and building on the work of the Severn Estuary Partnership and the COASTATLANTIC project. In particular, the project will enable the fulfilment of a number of key actions which were proposed within the Strategy for the Severn Estuary (2002), notably:
Issue Reference M7: the Co-ordination of information and research, and the need for sound science for estuary management; and
Policy M7a: To encourage the availability of recent studies and ongoing research on the Estuary to aid understanding and awareness of its natural dynamics and the interrelationship with social, cultural and economic needs.
COREPOINT Work-Packages Relevant to the Severn Estuary
- Local Information System (November 2005 – October 2007)
This work package focuses on getting coastal partners and stakeholders to 'buy into' and to get involved in using information systems and will complement and build on the current GIS component of the Severn Estuary Partnership’s other INTERREG project, the COASTATLANTIC project. The aim will be to develop a positive, systematic, easily communicated and clearly understandable 'common methodology' for information use.
- Estuary-Wide Research Strategy and Forum (November 2005 – October 2006)
This COREPOINT work package has been designed specifically to improve the scientific and research base of the SEP programme and other estuary-wide initiatives. To achieve this, ‘expert couplets’ between Research Centres of Excellence and Local Authorities are being established and developed by the COREPOINT project across NW Europe. In the Severn this will include the compilation of a searchable database of relevant research institutions, publications and projects; the establishment of an estuary-wide research forum and hosting of a related conference on Severn estuary research; and the development of a research strategy for the Severn Estuary.
- Maritime Heritage Interpretation and Education Strategy (November 2006 – 2007)
This work package will raise awareness of the maritime heritage of the Estuary through a range of interpretation and educational activities, including the development of a maritime interpretation and education strategy for the estuary and the establishment of a maritime heritage forum. This which will evaluate the existing range of interpretation sites and programmes and identify gaps in maritime history interpretation.
Evaluation of the Management of the Severn Estuary Against ICZM Principles (2007)
The COREPOINT project will provide for the testing and demonstration of the European principles of ICZM at local levels. In the Severn Estuary, the COREPOINT project will include:
• a review and evaluation of the estuary management programme, including recommendations
• a strategic, scoping exercise on the future programme development, focusing on long-term trends and pressures, external policy shifts and triggers for change
The COREPOINT project will also allow coastal practitioners in the Severn Estuary (on both English and Welsh side) to learn from their European neighbours and will focus international expertise on the coastal regions of the Severn Estuary and Inner Bristol Channel.