Full report LR.pdf - DLIST Benguela

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NACOMA Project - Preparation phaseRapid Assessment of the Development Plans, Biodiversity Conservation Projects and Socio-Economic Situation of the Namib Coastal Regions5.2.2. Unclear and centralised responsibilitiesThe coastline is mostly covered by protected areas and mining concessions and thus falls under theadministration of MET, MME and MFMR. Regional Councils are not directly involved in themanagement of the parks or in concession allocation. The coastal zone – particularly in the Kunene andKaras regions – is an area that is unknown to the region’s population and where local and regionalauthorities, let alone the communities, are excluded from planning and use of natural resources. Theissue was raised during the NACOMA Preparation Workshop whether the protected areas should be theresponsibility of MET or devolved to regional authorities in the context of decentralisation.Coordination between line ministries, namely MET, MFMR and MME, is also poor. The MFMRfocuses on captures, often disregarding issues pertaining to degradation and conservation of the marineenvironment, which are perceived as MET’s responsibility 98 99 . According to the MET, this is slowlychanging as MFMR is starting to give more importance to protection of the marine environment 100 101 .The proclamation of the islands as MPAs and future concessions process where MET may have a role toplay, and the proclamation of the Sperrgebiet that extend into the sea, are important issues that requirebetter coordination between the two line ministries.Coordination between local players is sometimes also lacking, as the example of Walvis Baydemonstrates – the Walvis Bay Lagoon is a biodiversity site that needs to be protected in face ofdevelopment trends in the area, but where the roles of the municipality and other stakeholders are notclear 102 . A common vision, clear mandates and coordination are sometimes lacking between thedifferent players involved in biodiversity conservation. The decentralisation process offers an avenue todefine these roles and ensure that the required capacities are built at the different levels.5.2.3. Uncoordinated land use planningThis <strong>report</strong> has shown that there is a myriad of plans and projects in place along the coast. While lineministries develop management plans and policies in their respective mandates, the Regional Councilsprepare regional development plans. In addition, sectoral and structural plans exist for specific areas.Current coordination between different planning instruments is poor. Vision 2030 recognises thatNamibia’s parks and reserves face challenges such as a lack of linkages to local, regional and nationalplanning and management systems, which sometimes leads to inappropriate development withinprotected areas. In turn, the process of preparing the RDPs has not sufficiently engaged MET, which is akey stakeholder in all four coastal regions. The involvement of MET in regional planning wouldcontribute to clarify roles and change people’s perspective about conservation and the importance andpotential benefits of protected areas 103 .Clearly defined zones need to be established for different economic development activities to ensurethat current and future developments are in line with the potential and sensitivity of each differentarea 104 . This coastal zoning should then form the basis for any form of regional development planning.The RDPs are key instruments that can provide the framework for regional planning and which all otherland use and sectoral plans could refer to. As an example, the NWTOP suggests that tourism plansshould be integrated into regional plans and other ministries and activities should take cognisance of98 Barnes, J., 2004. Personal communication, Windhoek, 18 August 2004.99 Maketo, C. S. and R. Brady, 2004. Personal communication, Swakopmund, 16 August 2004.100 Shikongo S., 2004. Personal communication, Windhoek, 12 October 2004.101 Beytell B. 2004. Personal communication, Windhoek, 13 October 2004.102 Barnes, J., 2004. Personal communication, Windhoek, 18 August 2004.103 Barnard, P., 2004. Personal communication, Cape Town, 8 September 2004.104 Barnes, J., 2004. Personal communication, Windhoek, 18 August 2004.48
NACOMA Project - Preparation phaseRapid Assessment of the Development Plans, Biodiversity Conservation Projects and Socio-Economic Situation of the Namib Coastal Regionsthese plans. The protected areas management plans should also be considered in the RDPs. There is thusscope in the NACOMA Project to revisit the legal power of RDPs and their role in coordinatingplanning at the different levels. The legal framework should be examined as to how RDPs can becomemore participative and how their role can be strengthened so that spatial developments plan in them cancarry some weight. NACOMA can also contribute to bring relevant stakeholders together for theforthcoming preparation of NDP3 (including line ministries and regional councils). In addition, sectoralpolicies are still evolving, with the Tourism Policy and the Aquaculture Policy still in draft forms forexample 105 . These policies should provide a framework in which sustainable development is ensured butmoreover reconciled with biodiversity conservation.Regional capacity and an enabling framework for coordination between the different sectors at thenational and regional levels are, however, lacking. Geographic Information System (GIS) capacity hasto be installed in the Regional Councils as well as an officer that understands conservation issues verywell and has the ability to integrate them into the RDP and also muster the Regional Council machineryto the best advantage of biodiversity conservation.5.2.4. Insufficient natural resource management and protection of some key biodiversity hotspotsKey biodiversity hotspots along the coastal zone of Namibia need to be protected by adequate andenforced legal status defining exactly what land use options are suitable. Some key biodiversity hotspotsare not protected in the law and their use is thus unregulated in terms of access and activities. This is thecase of the coastal wetlands of Walvis Bay and Orange River Mouth (and to some extent the KuneneRiver Mouth), as well as offshore islands, undermining the protection of marine and coastalbiodiversity.New or revisited plans that may be required in the light of the forthcoming Parks and Wildlife Bill forkey biodiversity hotspots, such as the coastal wetlands and offshore islands, provide ideal opportunitiesto promote planning processes that involve local people and regional authorities and are integrated withthe national and regional visions. Particular effort should be put into getting effective conservationframeworks for them in place that also allows benefits to the local communities. NACOMA can supportthese planning processes by creating adequate conditions for preparatory assessments, broad regionalconsultations, participatory planning meetings, and wide dissemination of information.Enforcement of regulations in protected areas needs to be strengthened and an assessment needs to beconducted to evaluate the impact and rehabilitation needs from uncontrolled activities in protected areas,such as mining in the Skeleton Coast and he Sperrgebiet. This will require the development ofmonitoring and evaluation capacity in the Regional Councils so they can play that important roleeffectively. Players on the ground such as tour operators can help control activities and ensurecompliance with regulations.5.2.5. Insufficient public involvement on how the resources are used and inequitable benefitsharingThe level of public participation in biodiversity management planning (for example in the preparation ofprotected area management plans) and in the use of natural resources in protected areas has been poor,despite the potential of local involvement to enhance the use of traditional knowledge to utilise andpreserve biodiversity. This is the result of restricted access to the coast, on one hand, and of awidespread perception that coastal resources are controlled by the government and used only by asection of society, on the other hand. Vision 2030 highlights that communities generally see parks asland that only benefits government and foreign visitors. The concession framework is perceived bymany people, including the Topnaars, as lacking transparency and benefiting only a small section of105 Please see “Review of Policy and Legislation Pertaining to Coastal Zone Management” Report.49
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FOREWORDThe Namib Coast Biodiversit
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ANALYSIS OF THE INSTITUTIONAL CAPAC
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