A multi-discipline and multi-scale approach to coastal zone management and planning in suburban Mediterranean region. The ecological/connecting role of the ephemeral stream basin of Lama San Giorgio in central Apulia (Italy)

Since the beginning of the neneties, when the concepts of integrated Coastal management ICZM was definied and agree upon (RIO WCED '92 and Noordwijk WCC '93), an animated debate upon coastal area boundaries delineation has taken place. It was realized that: (i) the very boundaries of coastal zone area scale and purpose dependet i.e. they should extend as far as inland and as far seaward as necessary to achieve management objectives;(ii) the concept of ICZM should be widenead in order to include the area of neightbouring river basins to cope with key environmental issues. For the the purpose of both objectives the stady takes into account evidences risulting from expert (GIS - based), and common (community based) analyses prelyminary to the establishment af a protected area in the catchments area of an efphemeral steram in the south.east of Italy, lama san giorgio.