The Habitats Directive as an Instrument to Achieve Sustainability? An Analysis Through the Case of the Rotterdam Mainport Development Project

Authors :
J. Palerm

This paper analyses the planning process leading to the approval of the expansion of the port of Rotterdam project in the Netherlands against sustainability criteria. Although it shows that the directive is powerful to promote sustainable planning, the success of the case study was due mainly to elements specific to the particular planning process, namely the use of deliberative public participation mechanisms as well as specific assessment tools. Lessons are drawn and recommendations made to strengthen the Habitats Directive and the national planning processes in relation to projects potentially affecting Natura 2000 sites.
 

Country :
Themes :
Key search term :