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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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July 2000 - December 2000
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Environment and development in coastal regions and in small islands (CSI)
The
23 intersectoral pilot projects have been continued,
uniting decision-makers, local communities, cultural heritage experts, natural
and social scientists. These field-based activities provide a “hands-on” approach
to sustainable coastal development and the lessons learned from their successes
and failures offer a tangible means of assessing progress.
A
third UNESCO Chair in Sustainable Coastal
Development was officially launched in the Philippines (July). Preparations
are under way towards the establishment of a UNITWIN network between universities
in India, Indonesia, Thailand, Papua New Guinea, Philippines and Samoa. Two
interregional consultations (July and December) of pilot project leaders advanced
the CSI scope and approach and laid the basis for 2002-2003, programming and
planning.
The
Internet-based Wise
Coastal Practices for Sustainable Human Development Forum (user name
= csi, password = wise) expanded its contents to 52 example wise practices
and 134 discussion items from all over the world. Over 4,500 people are now
directly connected to the Forum. The major themes addressed by participants
in the Forum include small-island issues, community empowerment, tourism, fisheries,
local and indigenous knowledge systems, freshwater resources, coastal erosion,
planning, gender issues and human rights. The concept of “wise practices” acknowledges
the inequalities of the real world and provides guidance on “what can wisely
be done with that which is available” so as to achieve a “better than before
state”.
In
Africa, communication and education strategies
for sustainable coastal development, which include UNESCO Chairs, are the
major foci – elaborated in cooperation with, among others, the sectors for Communication
and Information, and for Education and Social and Human Sciences. Twelve students
from Senegal and one from France graduated in December from postgraduate training
at the UNESCO Chair at Dakar University
(Senegal). In the Pacific Region and specifically in Samoa, field implementation
on the pilot project “Education for sustainable
village living, Saanapu-Sataoa, Upolu Island, Samoa” became fully operational
(July). In Papua New Guinea, field activities continued on “Sound
development in the Motu Koitabu urban villages, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea”.
A third report was presented to the National Parliament by the Parliamentary
Committee on Urbanization and Social Development (November), established following
the Motu-Koitabu Summit in 1999. The November report addressed the issues of
customary land ownership and urban development, and made specific recommendations
for solving the socio-economic impacts on the Motu-Koitabu resulting from continuous
expansion and development of Port Moresby.
The first phase of the UNESCO-UNDP Ulugan Bay project on “Community-based coastal resource management” was successfully terminated (December). The project inter alia improved scientific understanding of natural, cultural and social processes related to human beings interacting with the coastal environment; provided information for decision-making on coastal resource-use; established a framework for sustainable development and protection; identified and implemented and evaluated alternative income-generating activities. The project results were summarized in three volumes.
