Enhancing Governance

11. Coastal Governance
Supporting national integrated coastal management programmes

Integrated coastal management (ICM) an be defined as the process by which multiple uses of the coastal and marine environment are managed together so that a wide range of needs are catered for, including both ecosystem protection and sustainable development. It is now an accepted framework for the management of coastal activities to reduce conflict and ensure that the natural resources and ecosystems upon which coastal economies are founded are used sustainably.

ICM allows all stakeholders (including governments, NGOs, private sector and local communities) to participate and benefit. Due to the need to involve and reflect the needs of multiple sectors and stakeholders, ICM programmes generally require some kind of umbrella institution or coordinating body which comprises representatives of these different groups, and meets regularly to ensure transparency and accountability in coastal management, promote an integrated approach to planning and management, and enhance information exchange about sectoral development issues and appropriate collaborative action.

Each country differs due to different institutional legal and policy mechanisms which have developed, based on their specific interests and circumstances. However, effective management requires consolidated efforts to support and strengthen ICM.

This programme of work carries out actions to generate the following outputs:

11.1 Assessment of national institutional mechanisms and programmes for ICM in order to identify and operationalise appropriate, inclusive and sustainable governance mechanisms for MFF.

11.2 In India, support to the operations of state-level coastal zone management authorities.

11.3 In Indonesia, support to the finalisation of ICM legislation and plans for its implementation, capacity building to enable the development of Provincial and District level ICM arrangements, support to the implementation of the National Mangrove Ecosystem Management Strategy, with particular emphasis on Aceh Province.

11.4 In Maldives, support to the development of measures and mechanisms for inter-sectoral coordination in integrated coastal management. 11.5 In Seychelles, support to the revision of policy and legislation on coastal development to reflect ecosystem concerns. 11.6 In Sri Lanka, support to inter-sectoral mechanisms for integrated coastal zone management through the Coast Conservation Department. 11.7 In Thailand, continued support to the development and implementation of Promotion of Marine and Coastal Resources Management Act and National Coastal and Marine Policy.

The actions carried out under this programme of work contribute towards the following MFF results: Increased prioritization of coastal ecosystem management in the development agendas of regional institutions. Increased prioritization of coastal ecosystem management in the development agendas of regional institutions. Increased prioritization of coastal ecosystem management across national development agendas, policies and budgets. Increased and more effective investment of funds in coastal ecosystem management. Enhanced investment in ecosystems as infrastructure.