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An Evaluation of Coastal and Marine Spatial Plans

The concept of coastal and marine spatial planning (CMSP), a tool now used globally, was established as a way to manage increasing interests in development and conservation of coastal and ocean areas. Planning literature has recognized the importance of being able to characterize good quality plans; however, no standard for how to evaluate coastal and marine spatial plans exists. This research provides a foundational effort in establishing an evaluative tool (and baseline) for CMSP plan quality. The evaluative tool assesses the overall quality of the content of coastal and marine spatial plans according to existing planning literature; and assess the orientation of the plans towards the benefits of CMSP espoused by UNESCO. Case studies are also used to obtain a better understanding of the processes that created two coastal and marine spatial plans, and evaluate if any of the evaluation elements not evident in the plans were actually included in the planning process. The coastal and marine spatial plans scored quite low on the evaluative tool. Ultimately, the plans evaluated seem to present facts and intentions without telling a story. The case studies, on the other hand, show that while the plans do not exhibit information about many of the elements measured by the evaluation tool, their development processes were far more robust than the evaluation results indicate. The amount of support that the processes garnered also indicate that these were high quality and successful planning processes. The findings show that the planning process matters, and that it is important to then document that robust, meaningful participatory process in the plan. Key information about how coastal and marine spatial plans, and other plans, can be improved is presented. / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Urban and Regional Planning in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Spring Semester 2016. / April 15, 2016. / Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning, Marine Spatial Planning, Plan Evaluation / Includes bibliographical references. / Tim Chapin, Professor Directing Dissertation; Ralph Brower, University Representative; Chris Coutts, Committee Member; Will Butler, Committee Member; Donna Christie, Committee Member.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_366030
ContributorsBareford, Karen J. (authoraut), Chapin, Timothy Stewart (professor directing dissertation), Brower, Ralph S. (university representative), Coutts, Christopher (committee member), Butler, William H. (William Hale) (committee member), Christie, Donna R. (committee member), Florida State University (degree granting institution), College of Social Sciences and Public Policy (degree granting college), Department of Urban and Regional Planning (degree granting department)
PublisherFlorida State University, Florida State University
Source SetsFlorida State University
LanguageEnglish, English
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeText, text
Format1 online resource (524 pages), computer, application/pdf
RightsThis Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). The copyright in theses and dissertations completed at Florida State University is held by the students who author them.

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