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Environment
and development
in coastal regions and in small islands |
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Institutional
strengthening of beach management capabilities in the organisation of
eastern Caribbean States and the Turks and Caicos Islands
EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
Against a background of mounting
shoreline erosion, increased hurricane frequency, rising sea levels and economic
dependency on coastal tourism, the small islands of the Caribbean face a major
dilemma - how to maintain and expand their coastal tourism industries while at
the same time conserving their beaches for residents and tourists alike.
This report describes the first phase of a project designed to help the
islands belonging to the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (Anguilla,
Antigua and Barbuda, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St.
Kitts-Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines) and the Turks and Caicos
Islands, develop the institutional capability to effectively manage and find
solutions to these problems.
The project
is funded by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and executed through a
co-operation agreement with the United Nations Educational Scientific and
Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). The objective of the project is to strengthen
in-country capability to analyse and interpret beach change data, such that
existing beach monitoring programmes become sustainable at the national level. For this purpose specially designed software had been
prepared (Beach Profile Analysis), and through this current CDB/UNESCO project,
the software was installed in environmental agencies in the
countries/territories and training was provided in the use of the software.
This project builds on the foundation
laid by the UNESCO/University of Puerto Rico Sea Grant College Program project
on ‘Coast and Beach Stability in the Caribbean’ (COSALC) in which beach
monitoring programmes, using standardised methodology, have been established in
government and non-government organisations in the islands.
An assessment of the phase 1 CDB/UNESCO
project activities indicated that seven of the eleven countries/territories have
vibrant beach monitoring programmes which can be expected to become
self-sufficient and continue without external support by the end of phase 2 of
this project. In the other four
countries/territories, either information was incomplete or it is expected that
further assistance will be required in the field of beach monitoring.
As a result of the COSALC project and
this present CDB/UNESCO project, many islands now have significant beach change
databases covering more than five years and in a few cases more than ten years.
This is a critical quantitative record showing the results of natural
factors such as hurricanes, and human activities such as sand mining.
Such data sets represent a solid foundation on which to base future
decisions concerning beach conservation, coastal development and tourism
activities. The length of the data sets also illustrates the commitment of the
islands to monitoring and to what is still a newly evolving field in the
Caribbean - integrated coastal management.
The results of the beach monitoring
activities were also discussed within a framework of integrated coastal
management. The tangible benefits
of beach monitoring include the establishment of beach change databases and the
skills to use them, but there are also intangible benefits such as giving
persons the opportunity for observation and assessment of activities on their
islands’ beaches thus providing them with the knowledge base to play an active
role in all aspects of beach management, from planning to pollution, from
erosion to beach access.
The difficulties of capacity building
in small island states is another very relevant issue. Innovative ways through
which some islands have maximised their limited institutional capacity were
described. However, it must be
recognised that most of these measures depend on having in place standardised
and simple monitoring protocols. One
of the most significant problems that needs addressing is the propensity for
island governments to call in outside experts rather than to trust the advice of
their own professionals.
The problems associated with trying to
develop an integrated approach within a sectoral system of government were
highlighted and an example of one island which has successfully achieved this
integration in their beach monitoring activities was described.
The nature of management, whether
top-down or bottom-up, was discussed. It
was recognised that while efforts should continue to be focused at the bottom-up
approach, this should not dilute efforts directed towards those at a senior
administrative/political level. Indeed
it was recommended that innovative ways must be found to continuously transmit
concise, relevant environmental information to senior administrators and
politicians in order to assist them make informed decisions.
The need for networking within the region about beach management issues
was also addressed. Focused
electronic discussion groups are a potential way to share information.
The activities proposed for phase 2 of the project were outlined, these
will be adapted to specific island needs.
