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A community-based approach for site-specific policies and solutions on marine litter: the example of Paphos, Cyprus

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Abstract

We are living in the ‘plasticene’ era. Marine plastic pollution is a global problem, and increasing effort and funds are being invested towards identifying and implementing solutions. It is well accepted that the implemented solutions should take into account local specificities and culture, which requires the involvement and engagement of local decision-makers and key actors. This paper presents how the DeCyDe-4 method, which is based on a participatory decision-support concept, was implemented to develop community-based policy tools and action plans to combat marine litter. Through a presentation of the step-by-step implementation of the method at a 3-day workshop in the Paphos District of Cyprus, the DeCyDe-4 method is unfolded so as to showcase how a multi-disciplinary group of local stakeholders can co-create a Policy Tool, and identify and prioritize measures and solutions to marine litter. The case study shows that DeCyDe-4 can support a varied group of stakeholders to negotiate a complex environmental problem such as marine litter, and to make informed, unbiased decisions, through a process that encourages active participation and dialogue, so that opposite opinions are heard, consensus is reached and ownership of the solutions is achieved.

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Funding

This work was supported by the European Union and National Funds of the participating countries with project MELTEMI, under Subsidy Contract Number No BMP1/23/2231/2017 of the Transnational Cooperation Programme Interreg V-B ‘Balkan-Mediterranean 2014–2020’.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ISOTECH Ltd Environmental Research and Consultancy, P.O. Box 14161, 2154, Nicosia, Cyprus

    Xenia I. Loizidou, Demetra L. Orthodoxou & Michael I. Loizides

  2. Oceanography & Coastal Engineering Group, School of Civil Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Yannis N. Krestenitis

Authors
  1. Xenia I. Loizidou
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  2. Demetra L. Orthodoxou
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  3. Michael I. Loizides
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  4. Yannis N. Krestenitis
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Contributions

XIL: Conceptualization, Methodology, Writing—Reviewing. MIL: Methodology, Writing—original draft preparation. DLO: Writing—original draft preparation. YNK: Writing—Reviewing and Editing, Supervision.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xenia I. Loizidou.

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Loizidou, X.I., Orthodoxou, D.L., Loizides, M.I. et al. A community-based approach for site-specific policies and solutions on marine litter: the example of Paphos, Cyprus. Environ Syst Decis 41, 33–44 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10669-020-09786-9

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