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Environment and development in coastal regions and in small islands |
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Environment and development in coastal regions and in small islands |
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October 1997-March 1998
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Environment and development in coastal regions and in small islands (CSI)
Co-operative actions were continued, through pilot projects, on freshwater security in small islands and coastal urban areas, societal impacts of coastal instability and on community-based approaches to coastal resources management, as well as on biodiversity maintenance. Two community studies in Kiribati were completed, through the UNESCO Apia Office on Tungaru traditional concepts regarding climatic changes and sea-level rise; and on water resource conflicts in Tarawa.
To stimulate partnerships between coastal cities in North Africa and counterpart cities in Europe, a cross-sectoral, interregional seminar (Essaouira, Morocco, 24-26 November 1997) was organized on the CSI platform by the Management of Social Transformations Programme (MOST) and the International Hydrological Programme (IHP) and in co-operation with the UNESCO Rabat, Tunis, Beirut and Venice Offices. A network of historical urban coastal settlements in need of effective, integrated development was launched in order to face up to such issues as coastal degradation, freshwater security and important socio-economic transformations. The UNESCO Venice Office, a focal point of the project in the Adriatic subregion, launched concrete actions in favour of the town of Omisalj, Krk Island, Croatia, in co-operation with Italian municipalities.
As a follow-up to a workshop on submarine archaeology and coastal management held in Alexandria in April 1997, a cross-sectoral (natural and exact sciences, and culture) mission of international experts from France, Germany and Italy, was sent to Cairo and Alexandria, Egypt (6-12 September 1997), to assess coastal erosion, which threatens the medieval Qayet Bey Citadel, and the measures taken to control this erosion, which, in turn, threatens the submerged archaeological site of the Alexandria Lighthouse. A report with recommendations was submitted to the Egyptian authorities, outlining concrete and phased measures to be taken to safeguard both the on-shore Citadel and the submarine Pharos. Follow-up planning is now under way to reinforce the Citadel’s structures, collect medium- and long-term data on coastline instability, and assess the tourism potential and feasibility of an underwater archaeological museum.
In the framework of the Jakarta Bay pilot project, a series of activities related to coastal management matters was organized through the UNESCO Jakarta Office. Waste monitoring activities in Jakarta Bay (Indonesia) were undertaken. A training course for youth on waste-paper recycling was organized in Jakarta (6-7 September 1997), followed by a seminar on ‘Traditional Market Waste Management and Recycling: Towards Wise Practices’, Jakarta (16 September 1997). A training course for youth and women on composting was organized in Jakarta (2 December 1997), and a campaign to promote community-based waste management within the river bank community of the Jakarta Bay area was launched. In addition, a community-based recycling centre was established in Jakarta, mainly involving youth and women. A survey on the solid waste produced by the community was carried out by the youth in the Jakarta Bay. A document summarizing the lessons learned in the last two years of activity has been prepared.
In the framework of the Ulugan Bay (Philippines) pilot project, a symposium on sustainable tourism and coastal management was held in Palawan Island (1-2 December 1997), in collaboration with UNDP-Manila. This was followed by an advanced training course on the assessment and zonation of the coastal resources of Ulugan Bay (9-13 December). During the training course, a network for coastal zone assessment in Palawan was established.
Viet Nam was assisted by the UNESCO Jakarta Office with the nomination of its first Coastal Biosphere Reserve in Can Gio, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam, and with the definition of a management plan for the coastal area of Ha Long Bay. Technical support for activities to be undertaken by the Management Department of Ha Long Bay was provided and efforts to attract extrabudgetary funds with regard to the management plan for the coastal area of Ha Long Bay and the sustainable development of the area were undertaken. A pilot project on ‘Training in Development and Monitoring of Freshwater from Lakes and Groundwater in the Coastal Area of Gujarat (India)’ was launched through the UNESCO New Delhi Office. Phase 1 of this project assesses the impacts of remedial measures intended to provide long-term sustainability of freshwater development in a pilot area. As a follow-up to a national workshop in Sri Lanka (8-12 December 1997), a pilot project has been developed and study visits to India by national officers involved in coastal zone development carried out. A regional workshop on the conservation and sustainable management of coral reefs, India (15-17 December 1997) was also supported.
The first phase of the ECOPLATA project on sustainable development of the Rio de la Plata basin was concluded with the publication, in September 1997, by Dalhousie University (Canada), of a book entitled The Rio de la Plata: An Environmental Overview. A training course for Latin America on the use of the Linnaeus II biodiversity software was held in Uruguay (15-17 September 1997), in co-operation with the UNESCO-associated World Biodiversity Centre (ETI, University of Amsterdam).
In the Eastern Caribbean Islands, the ‘Planning for Coastal Change’ project was started with the publication of guidelines on ‘safe setbacks’ for construction (addressed to coastal planners, managers and other concerned stakeholder groups) such as CSI Info 4. This was widely distributed in the region, together with a poster ‘The Sea at your Doorstep’. Direct application of the ‘safe setbacks’ concept was started on three Caribbean islands, involving national planning agencies, and guidelines for Antigua and Barbuda had already been prepared. Institutional strengthening for better beach management in the Eastern Caribbean Islands was continued, with support from the Port-of-Spain Office. A mission to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was organized (21-25 September 1997) to assist the national coastal monitoring programme. Training in coastal monitoring techniques was provided to Saint John and the US Virgin Islands counterparts following the establishment there of a coastal monitoring programme. In co-operation with the Associated Schools Project, fact sheets on coastal zone usage and management in the Eastern Caribbean were produced through the UNESCO Port-of-Spain Office. The results of pilot activities towards the assessment of Haiti’s coastal resources and other management needs were published, in French and English, as Coastal Region and Small Island Papers No. 2.
Support was provided by the Venice Office to the UNESCO Chair in environmental sciences and management, at the University of Venice, which focused on problems directly related to the Venice lagoon. A regional workshop on UNESCO’s BILKO computer-based learning modules in coastal remote sensing was held in Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation (26 December 1997) with a number of correspondents participating via the Internet. The UNESCO Chair on integrated management and sustainable development in coastal regions and in small islands at Dakar University (Senegal) began its second year, supported by the UNESCO Dakar Office, with the launching of an international ‘DEA’ (Ph.D. preparatory) course, in addition to an undergraduate course in the same domain. A forum for the local population on sustainable coastal resources management was organized in Niodior, Saloum Islands, Senegal (3-6 September 1997). It was followed by a community-based training course in sustainable mangrove exploitation and reforestation, focusing on youth and women andcombined with field demonstrations. The course in Bassoul, Saloum Islands (23-25 October 1997), was attended by participants from some 40 coastal villages of Senegal.
