Environment and development
in coastal regions and in small islands
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Coastal region and small island papers 12: papers

WISE PRACTICES FOR CONFLICT RESOLUTION THROUGH UNESCO CHAIR ACTIVITIES: THE UNESCO CHAIR IN MARINE SCIENCES AND OCEANOGRAPHY

by Antonio Mubango Hoguane
Eduardo Mondlane University, Faculdade de Ciências, Departamento de Física

Introduction

Coastal zones are special in the sense that almost all sectors are involved, unlike other geographical areas like river valleys, grazing fields, forests or offshore marine fisheries, where the key organisations are relatively well defined, namely departments responsible for water, agriculture, forestry or fisheries. In the coastal zones all these sectors are somehow involved and claim the right for access and use of the resources, but often no one is responsible for proper management. Furthermore, some of the sectors may have conflicting interests. Thus, coastal zones are areas highly vulnerable for conflicts between users.

Wise coastal practices for conflict resolution imply, among other things, the involvement of various stakeholders in the effort to seek solutions that will satisfy all the stakeholders. The participatory approach entails acknowledgement of the principle of equal rights to coastal resources among the different users, as well as the acknowledgement of the interrelationships between coastal uses and environment. Participatory processes can ensure that rational decisions on resource use are taken.

In addition to the participatory approach for coastal conflict resolution, there is a need for understanding the sources/causes of conflicts. Most of the conflicts are related to the fact that the resources and space are finite and inversely related to the ever-increasing demand. In this exercise, it is essential that experts and relevant stakeholders know to a desirable degree what governs resource availability and distribution, and can determine sustainable ways of using the resources for the maximum benefit for all the users. Here, education and science can play an important role.

In order to bring together people of different interests, background, institutions, sectors and vocations, there needs to be common terms of reference for all the stakeholders. Often, there are difficulties in communication between scientists from different areas of expertise, let alone between scientists and managers.

The UNESCO Chair of Marine Sciences and Oceanography was established at the Eduardo Mondlane University in March 1999 with the main purpose of build teaching and research capacity for Marine Sciences within the country. The Chair was charged with the task of bringing together scientists from different disciplines and departments within the university, and from other institutions outside the university, so as to promote multidisciplinary research. The Chair may contribute towards conflict resolution by helping to build the necessary knowledge of the factors governing resource availability and distribution, and by helping to build a common understanding between scientists and different resource users.

Typical conflicts in coastal zones

Conflicts exist between resource users, between different management sectors, and also between different areas of knowledge or technical/scientific expertise. 

Typical conflicting sectors in resource use include building and/or tourism, and agriculture and/or fisheries. Building sectors tend to claim land for construction invoking development needs or the provision of employment. This is also the case with tourism centres or any other development initiatives such as harbours. In some cases these constructions are made in critical habitats like nursery or breeding grounds, habitats that sustain large ecosystems with associated natural resources. Another example of conflict in resource use is the use of river water resources. The conflicts between water users such as urban/industry, irrigation and hydropower production are common. These in turn conflict with the downstream river water coastal requirement.

The conflicts between managers are often related to a lack of clarity about who is in charge in the coastal zone. Typical conflicts are between the maritime offices and the district administration offices, the fisheries administration and the harbour development authorities, and the river authorities and the fisheries/agriculture offices. The district offices are often in change of regulating and enforcement in all domains including maritime affairs, whereas the maritime offices are in change of maritime issues only. In the coastal areas, however, there are issues that are not strictly maritime or terrestrial, for example land tenure and coastal planning.

There is also a conflict between researchers.  Marine biologists often claim special treatment and priority for they consider their inputs are more relevant to managers than input from other disciplines. Physicists, on the other hand consider themselves more important than biologists, and the same applies to the geologists.

Resolution of these conflicts requires people coming together, and through discussion, understanding each other’s problems and the need and importance of each contribution to the well being of the people and to the overall development of the country. Hence there is a need to integrate efforts.

Contribution of the UNESCO Chair to conflict resolution

The Chair is contributing to conflict resolution in three ways: (i) through building capacity for a better understanding of the factors governing resource availability and distribution; (ii) through promotion of communication between scientists with different areas of expertise (multidisciplinary research); and (iii) through promotion of the linkages between scientists and managers.

In the area of building capacity for a better understanding of the ecosystems, the Chair has promoted applied research that contributes to sustainable management of the resources. Some of the research undertaken is as follows:

Formal education is also essential in building long-term capacity. The Chair has helped the Department of Physics in establishing a degree course in oceanography. The Eduardo Mondlane University is now the second university in the region with a degree course in Oceanography, the other is Cape Town University.  The Chair also worked with the lecturers, Heads of Departments and Dean of the Faculty in order to review the syllabus of the main marine science modules taught in the various departments of the Faculty of Sciences. These modules include physical oceanography, fluid dynamics, marine chemistry, marine geology and marine biology. 

The research undertaken involved both social and natural scientists, including biologists, oceanographers and geographers. These experts were from academic, research as well as management (government) institutions. In bringing together scientists from different areas of expertise and institutions, the Chair contributed to build a common understanding between scientists. This could help to reduce future conflict between them. 

The Chair promoted workshops attended by participants from academia, research and management institutions. Results from applied research were presented and different management options were discussed among the relevant stakeholders. 

Future directions

The Chair will continue to develop activities towards:

In these ways, the Chair may contribute to conflict resolution or to its mitigation.

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