Policy & Strategic Planning Program Development Program Implementation Resource Assessment Environmental Assessment Information Technology Observer Programmes Institutional Development Performance Monitoring Information Sharing Technical Training Coastal Zone Management NRSP Land Water Interface Social Development
Coastal zones contain some of world’s most fragile and valuable natural habitats. However, the increasing demand for coastal resources is leading to their degradation, loss of fisheries resources, reduced water quality and quantity, accelerated erosion, accumulation of pollution, etc. Moreover, this degradation has negative social and economic consequences. Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) is designed to ‘join up’ all the different policies which have an effect on the coastal regions. It is about both planning and management of coastal resources and coastal space and is not a ‘one off’ solution but an ongoing dynamic process that should evolve over time. The need to bring together all the local, regional, national and regional policy-makers and other stakeholders whose activities affect coastal regions is central to ICZM as, without coordination at all levels, efforts to protect coastlines will only have limited success. Stakeholders should include not only government officials and policy-makers but also other interested parties such as local residents, non-governmental organisations and businesses. At the same time, while the need to protect the functioning of natural ecosystems is a core aim of ICZM, it also seeks to improve the economic and social well-being of coastal zones and help them develop their full potential as modern, vibrant communities. In the coastal zone, these environmental and socioeconomic goals are intrinsically interconnected and ICZM can be applied in many of the world’s coastal areas which face problems of deterioration of their environmental, socio-economic and cultural resources and competition for space by the fishing, shipping and tourism industries.
ICZM underpins many of the projects implemented by MRAG. In particular, MRAG is responsible for the implementation of the Land Water Interface (LWI) system component within the Natural Resources Systems Programme (NRSP), a DFID research programme with an annual budget of approximately $750,000. This programme focuses on integrated management of natural resources and the term 'integrated management' defines not only the adoption of a holistic view of the NR base (landforms, soil, water, vegetation and organic residues) but also appreciates the integrated and dynamic nature of people's livelihood strategies and how these affect their decision-making and capacity to use and manage the NR base. The LWI programme is located in regions where both aquatic and terrestrial resource systems co-exist in space and time, targetting two ecosystems - coastal zones and floodplains. The Caribbean is the target region for the coastal zone, with priority given to the aquatic environment, emphasising coral reefs and lagoons, mangroves and sea-grass beds. Bangladesh is the target country for floodplains research. The research takes a wider approach to production constraints and considers land use practices and zoning in coastal ecosystems. In this way, the research aims to establish appropriate management actions to address all factors that may impact on the target habitats.
In addition to management of the LWI programme within NRSP, MRAG has developed considerable experience in the undertaking of projects involved in ICZM in developing countries. Projects have included provision of expertise in planning for protected area management, promoting institutional support for ICZM and supporting community based fisheries management. Projects have been conducted on behalf of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Global Environment Facility (GEF), UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the UK Department for International Development (DFID).