Framework Workshop

Workshop on “Developing a Framework for Managing Land-based Activities that Impact the Coastal and Marine Environment in the Maldives”

A Joint SCZMC – ERC – IUCN “Meeting on Formulation of SAARC Coastal Zone Management Action Plan”

Wednesday 10^th August 2005

4^th Floor, Jamaaluddheen Complex

Male’, Maldives

Background

The five SAARC nations, apart from the two land-locked countries of Nepal and Bhutan, are very sensitive to adverse effects on the coastal environment. The coastlines of these countries are washed by the Indian Ocean and the coastal zone is an essential part of the life support system of the region.

Over the last decade, the management of coastal resources for their sustainable use has become a critically important issue for the SAARC region. Included among these resources are some of the most extensive mangrove areas in the Indian Ocean and some of the world's least disturbed coral reefs. These coastal ecosystems have been subjected to increasing exploitation particularly over the last 20 years.

The broad priority areas for integrated coastal zone management in the SAARC region can be categorized under:

• Reduction of threats through exchange of information and experiences;
• Building capacity at local, national and regional level;
• Development of appropriate research and monitoring;
• Review of the success of initiatives in these action areas.  

The region as a whole has important assets of, human and institutional capacity in Institutional scientific, economic, social and technology fields and planning experiences. Therefore, specifically targeted regional co-operation activities could boost the exchange of experiences, information, data and expertise in coastal zone management; promote co-operative research programmes and technology transfer; and, scientific and technological means and capacity- building activities.  

Meeting Concept

This one-day workshop is aimed at identifying critical aspects of CZM in the Maldives.  Specifically, this workshop is the national component of a regional project aimed at identifying and developing appropriate coastal management framework largely from land –based sources of marine pollution. However, in the aftermath of the December 2004 tsunami event, which severely impacted most of the south Asian countries, a more holistic approach to coastal zone management-related issues is warranted.   

IUCN is coordinating this UNEP initiated regional project with SACEP to identify the socio-economic background, the biophysical conditions, the stresses on and the threats to the coastal resources, and the appropriate tools that can be used to regulate aspects of coastal zone management in concerned counties. A regional synthesis of the country reports will be compiled and presented for approval at the Governing Council of SACEP later this August in Bhutan.

The SAARC Coastal Zone Management Centre together with the Environment Research Centre of the Maldives is organizing the national component of this regional project. A regional approach to CZM issues will serve many benefits. First, this approach can collectively address common issues such as pollution especially from land-based or sea-based sources. Appropriate regional agreements rather than national actions will serve to be more effective mechanisms to address such issues.

Second, sharing regional expertise, experiences and facilities will prove to be cost effective and time saving for the participating countries.  

Thirdly, this exercise will promote greater cooperation between the member states of the SAARC and SACEP as the MOU between SAARC and SACEP is almost finalized.

Organizing this event by the SAARC Coastal Zone Management Centre will provide the opening to introduce itself to the concerned authorities of the Government of Maldives and participate in a regional activity.  Furthermore, the Centre avails this opportunity to continue further and future cooperation in the area of coastal zone management with other member states, international and regional organizations and other interested parties.