The Protected Landscape Approach - Centre for Mediterranean ...

The Protected Landscape Approach: Linking Nature, Culture and Community
conflicts between fishermen and hoteliers over the use of the beaches for commercial
fishing or recreational and tourism-oriented activities”.
To address these issues, a planning process was facilitated which brought all the stake -
holders to the table, and in boats, to undertake a participatory conflict resolution and planning
exercise. The stakeholders took part in participatory mapping and zoning exercises and helped
to design the institutional and legal arrangements. All stakeholders are now party to an
agreement to manage the Soufriere Marine Management Area. Notwithstanding such an
agreement, at various periods in the last five years there have been problems stemming from
breaches of the agreement for various reasons. However, the adaptive and flexible nature of the
planning and management process resulted in acceptable solutions to all stakeholders on each
occasion. Such success has been recognised and crowned by various international awards.
In a case study of the Soufriere Marine Management Area, Pierre-Nathoniel (2003) identi -
fied several achievements of the planning process and the SMMA which include:
a significant improvement in communications among all stakeholders which has reduced
conflict;
establishment of an institutional arrangement that enhances communications and allows
conflicts to be addressed quickly;
agreement on the management zones by all stakeholders (Map 1);
improvement in the health of coral reefs and in fish stock in the marine reserves and the
fishing priority areas;
the approval of the site as a management area by the Cabinet of Ministers of St. Lucia and
the legal establishment of the site under the Fisheries Act of 1984 as a Local Fisheries
Management Area. The management authority was also designated a Local Fisheries
Management Authority under the Fisheries Act, which resulted in the devolution of some
authority to the newly named Soufriere Marine Management Association;
increased awareness of environmental issues among stakeholders and the community;
a better planned and implemented environmental monitoring and research programme;
support to community projects;
capacity-building of poorly organized stakeholders such as water and land taxi operators;
generation of user fees;
greater surveillance;
the establishment of customs services to assist with the processing of visiting yachts; and
international awards such as the 1997 British Airways Tourism for Tomorrow IUCN
Special Award for National Parks and Protected Areas and a position in the top five
marine management areas along with Algeria, USA, Spain and Canada for the 1997
World Underwater Confederation (CMAS) International Marine Environmental Award.
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