Full report LR.pdf - DLIST Benguela

NACOMA Project – Preparation PhaseReview of Policy and Legislation Pertaining to Coastal Zone Managementdecentralisation policy.6.9 The environmental laws and policies tend to be reactive rather than proactivein ensuring the sustainability of coastal resources. For example, if a developerwants to initiate a particular project or natural resource harvesting, it has tocross the various hurdles, in particular, carry out an EIA, before commencingan activity. The suggestion is to strengthen the planning laws referred toabove by indicating various uses areas to which the coastal zone can be putthereby anticipating sustainable development considerations rather thanreacting to particular project proposals.6.10 Mining is having a serious impact on coastal resources, and the degree bywhich it influences the coastal areas, including national parks makes it clearthat mining legislation has to be reviewed to bring this industry in line withthe sentiments so clearly expressed in the Namibian constitution (see 2.3above). Moreover there is a serious dearth in the mining legislation ofenvironmental protection and socio-economic provisions. This is in sharpcontrast to South African legislation which provides a pertinent model asmany Namibian mining companies have South African holdings orassociations. The positive effects that coastal areas policy and legislation willaspire to will be nullified if appropriate mining legislation is not developedconcurrently so that mining activities cannot so easily override all otherconsiderations as it the case presently.6.11 There is potential to incorporate sustainable development criteria into themarine fisheries legislation which is a mainstay of Namibia’s socio-economicdevelopment profile.6.12 Tourism policy and legislation is highly relevant to the coastal areas. Tourismis the fastest growing sector in Namibia, and it will be largely through tourismthat biodiversity conservation will be realised. For historical reasons the lion’sshare of the tourist industry ended up in a small sector of society and to alarge extent the tourism industry has remained untransformed in terms ofbroadening its benefits the wider population. Tourism policy makes reference29