A proposed approach to the formulation of an integrated coastal zone management policy for the Erongo zone in Namibia

Gxaba, Lungiswa Thandiwe

A proposed approach to the formulation of an integrated coastal zone management policy for the Erongo zone in Namibia

Master Thesis

1996

Publisher

University of Cape Town

Department

Department of Environmental and Geographical Science

Faculty

Faculty of Science

Abstract

As a follow-up to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) which was held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, the Danish Co-operation for Environment and Development (DANCED) was established in 1993. DANCED was established with the overall objective of contributing to the restoration of the global environment in accordance with the recommendations of Agenda 21. The DANCED programme is managed by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. To support the DANCED programme in the Southern African region, a DANCED office has been established at the Royal Danish Embassy in Pretoria. In the Southern African region, activities were initiated in 1995 with South Africa, Namibia and Botswana as target countries. In February 1995, a DANCED programme formulation mission assessed institutional and organisational issues in relation to the future DANCED programme in Namibia. During this process, the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR) requested assistance from DANCED with an environmental management plan for Walvis Bay and surrounding areas. This concept fitted with DANCED's identification of integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) as one of its key areas of support. After discussions with the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET), and other key stakeholders, the project proposal was broadened into developing an integrated management plan for the Erongo coastal zone in Namibia. The mission for this project was carried out from September to November 1995. In November 1995, DANCED contracted the 1995/96 masters students from the Environmental and Geographical Sciences Department, at the University of Cape Town, to collect baseline information which would contribute to the development of an ICZM plan for the Erongo coastal zone in Namibia. 'Ibis exercise was initiated in November 1995. Information was gathered, synthesised and compiled into a baseline report which was submitted to DANCED at the end of March 1996. This dissertation focuses particularly on the policy aspects of an ICZM plan and draws on the information contained in the baseline report.