Assessing Legislative Gaps in Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM): A Case Study of Lebanon

Lebanon, similar to various nations, does not possess a distinct legal structure focused on Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM). Coastal governance relies on a collection of disjointed environmental and sectoral regulations that were developed in a fragmented and uncoordinated manner, frequently lacking coordination and having weak integration among institutions. This article analyzes the key legal frameworks regulating Lebanon’s coastal zone, including legislation concerning maritime public assets, urban planning, sediment removal, environmental safeguards, coastal investments, and maritime transportation, while evaluating their effects on the implementation of ICZM. The assessment underscores that these redundant and occasionally outdated legal regulations have led to coastal deterioration, encompassing swift urban development, shoreline encroachment, pollution, loss of habitats, erosion, and limited public access to coastal areas. Despite recent changes and updates, including revised maritime occupancy regulations and penalties intended to enhance governance and boost revenue collection, their impact is hindered by poor enforcement and fragmented institutions. The article also points out a distinct discrepancy between national laws and the principles of the Mediterranean ICZM Protocol, especially concerning sustainable coastal management, environmental safeguarding, and public access rights. Ultimately, it asserts that realizing effective ICZM in Lebanon necessitates enhanced legal harmonization, better inter-ministerial collaboration, and more robust enforcement mechanisms to guarantee the sustainable safeguarding of coastal resources.