 |
Environment
and development in coastal regions and in small islands |
 |
|
Environment
and development in coastal regions and in small islands |
|
 |
Coastal region and small island papers 9
Annex 6.4
Planning
for people and human settlements,
southern coastal area of Havana Province, Cuba
Pilot Project Summary
| Revision Date: | 1st March, 2001. | |
| Title: | Planning for people and human settlements, southern coastal area of Havana Province, Cuba. | |
| Goal: | To provide for the presence and development of the human population in a fragile coastal area, utilizing the principles of integrated coastal management. | |
| Location: | Southern coastal area of Havana Province, Cuba | |
| Starting date: | 1999. | |
| Partners: | The Physical Planning Directorate of Havana Province (DPPF); the Provincial Government; the Physical Planning Directorates of the nine municipalities involved; the Provincial Delegation of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (CITMA); UNESCO through its Regional Office for Culture in Latin America and the Caribbean (ORCALC) in Havana, and the Coastal Regions and Small Islands (CSI) platform. | |
| Pilot project leader: |
Antonio
Diaz Tablada |
|
| Description: | The land area lies on the south coast of Havana province; it is 142 km long, 2.5–12 km wide and has a total area of 846 km2; it is characterised by wetlands. The marine area lies in the Gulf of Batabano, under the jurisdiction of Havana Province and extends 55–60 km offshore. The main activities are: | |
| Major activities: | 1 | Preliminary diagnostic survey (1999), which contains a synthesis and analysis of the bibliography and the territorial, statistical and cartographical information. |
| 2 | Supplementing the diagnostic survey (2000), following a review of the preliminary document by a UNESCO consultant, by adding the key marine aspects and searching the cadastral and statistical databases for information on the human settlements on the coastline, and special analysis of four of the seven settlements. | |
| 3 | Publicity and awareness about the project was conducted during and after a visit by a UNESCO evaluation mission in April 2000. Interviews with local actors at one of the coastal settlements, the project leader and a specialist from CITMA, were broadcast on national and provincial television. An interview with the project leader about the origin and goals of the project was broadcast on the provincial radio station. A project dossier was prepared and discussed with provincial and municipal leaders and specialists, to obtain external support to solve urgent, short-term problems at one of the coastal settlements. | |
| Achievements & Assessment: | 1 | The preliminary diagnostic survey has allowed the clear defininition of the area’s boundaries. This provides an integral vision of the area, its dynamics and the linkages between the ecological and socio-economic viewpoints. Through the diagnostic survey, knowledge of international trends and the national instruments available for planning, management and territorial control of coastal areas has been obtained. The diagnostic survey was the only document mentioned in the research category of the Annual Physical Planning Awards. In addition, the preparation of the database and bibliography has enhanced the capabilities of the project team. |
| 2 | The additions to the diagnostic survey and the analysis of the human settlements along the coastline have added new components to the land-sea interaction and have allowed for the identification of priority settlements and the origin of negative impacts being experienced in the coastal area. | |
| Future Directions: | Future work will be focused on the population in the settlements situated in the first 1,000 m from the shore, and their relationship with the environment and will include: | |
| 1 | Completion of the analysis of the other three settlements on the coastline. | |
| 2 | Evaluation of the dynamics of land use and the territorial transformations linked to the identified processes. | |
| 3 | Investigation of the psychological and social aspects of some of the identified impacts such as the loss of wetland areas. This will require complete sociological investigation and analysis. | |
| 4 | Integration of the sociological investigation results into the conclusions of the diagnostic survey. | |
| 5 | Sharing the results with the stakeholders in workshops focused on defining the development strategy for the area in the short- medium term. | |
| 6 | Establishment of an Action and Monitoring Plan to be executed by local agencies. | |
| 7 | Training of members of the research team in new planning techniques and tools. | |
| 8 | Exchanging experiences internationally through conferences and other events and publication of the final project report. | |
|
9 |
Seeking funding for implementation of the plan. | |
|
|
