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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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January 1998 - July 1998
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Environment and development in coastal regions and in small islands (CSI)
Highlights
In order to achieve sustainable development in coastal regions and small islands, which are characterized by complex natural and anthropogenic processes, the CSI initiative promotes cross-sectoral action whereby partners from relevant sectors within society, as well as within UNESCO, are brought together to seek integrated solutions. In this manner, lessons learnt from CSI pilot projects provide the basis for elaborating ‘wise coastal development practices’. Between January and July 1998, the ongoing pilot projects were consolidated and rendered increasingly cross-sectoral by expanding the scope of their objectives. For example, in Alexandria (Egypt), the initial focus on underwater archaeology and coastal erosion has been extended to address the problem of coastal pollution (with IHP); the pilot project in Essaouira (Morocco) has been extended to cover additional coastal cities in the region. In addition, eight pilot projects planned during the previous year were advanced to operational phase in North Africa (Tunisia), West Africa (Nigeria), South-East Asia (Thailand), the Caribbean (Haiti, Jamaica), the Mediterranean (Croatia) and the Pacific (Papua New Guinea, Samoa).
The coupling of UNESCO Chairs in Sustainable Coastal Development with pilot projects is a further strategic element, promoting a vital interplay between scientific reflection, education and local application. The Chair at Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar, Senegal, trained 15 graduate students in interdisciplinary studies through cross-sectoral research on pilot project sites. A linkage was established between the above Chair and UNESCO Chairs at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in ‘Tourism and Sustainable Island Development’, ‘Environment and Resource Management in Coastal Areas’ and ‘New Information and Communication Technologies’.
During the remainder of the biennium, four UNESCO Chairs in Sustainable Coastal Development will be established. The interlinking of pilot projects and networking of Chairs, already initiated through electronic means, will be further reinforced via a workshop of pilot project leaders (UNESCO Headquarters, 30 November-4 December 1998). This workshop will focus on the elaboration of a set of preliminary ‘wise practices’ and the establishment of a ‘virtual forum’ which will serve as the major vehicle throughout 1999 for the continuing elaboration of wise management and development in coastal regions and small island states.
As a ‘cross-sectoral platform’, this intersectoral project creates unique partnerships which, while offering integrated solutions, also require new ways to communicate, reflect and implement its activities. Introducing this new ‘work culture’ involving a horizontal mode of operation has proven to be a major challenge at both the national level and within UNESCO. In this regard, the essentially vertical organizational structure within UNESCO would need to be managed with the necessary flexibility in order to achieve cross-sectoral objectives.
Other main activities undertaken under this project were:
Training courses
Conferences and meetings
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Major publications and documents
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