Full report LR.pdf - DLIST Benguela

NACOMA Project - Preparation phaseRapid Assessment of the Development Plans, Biodiversity Conservation Projects and Socio-Economic Situation of the Namib Coastal RegionsTable 8Root causes to biodiversity loss and potential contribution of NACOMA Project ComponentsRoot causes of biodiversity loss COMPONENT 1:Policy and legal framework forcoastal zone managementPoor awareness and lack of knowledge ofcoastal and marine valuesThe most pressing threat to biodiversityconservation is the lack of understanding ofthe values of the coast and their potentialfor development.Unclear and centralised responsibilitiesRoles and mandates at the national andregional levels in terms of coastal zonemanagement and biodiversity conservationnot clearly defined in the context of theongoing decentralisation process.Uncoordinated land use planningPoor and uncoordinated planning betweenthe different sectors and between thenational and regional levels make itimpossible to reconcile conservation anddevelopment, and environment loses outfirst.• Involvement of key stakeholders andthe wider population in developingcoastal zone policy• Regional Coastal Profiles developedas well as an overarching one for allthe Namibian coastal areas andpopular versions for awarenessraising• Identification of gaps in planning andconservation legislation• Involvement of key coastal players inpolicy development process and inclarification of responsibilities• Revision of the role of RDPs, theprocess followed in producing themand their level of statutory power• Coordination between sectoralpolicies with a view to reconciledevelopment and conservation• A policy that adequately addressescoastal issues and processes,including the access to resources,their use and conservation ofbiodiversityCOMPONENT 2Institutional strengthening andcapacity building• Training of Regional Councils onbiodiversity conservation and naturalresource management and boostMET regional staff• Institutional capacity building ofRegional Councils, specifically interms of environmental planning andmanagement and building ofpartnerships for these purposes• Enhanced integration between thedifferent ministries and betweenthem and the local government• Revision of RDP developmentprocess to integrate key stakeholderssuch as MET• Improved and skilled structure at theregional level for land use planningand biodiversity conservation• Capacity building of RegionalCouncils to play a key role in termsof coastal policy processesCOMPONENT 3Targeted investments in biodiversityconservation• Information on biodiversity andexplaining the value of well managedcoastal areas• Economic assessment of coastalresources and their potential aseconomic generators, which willprovide a basis for selection oftargeted investments• Further research in biodiversity areaswhere there are information gaps• Bringing tiers of government as wellas other partners together throughinformation sharing andimplementation of targetedinvestment projects• Guidelines on how natural resourcescan be used in an environmentallysound manner, how benefits can beshared and “lessons learned” frompilot targeted investments projects53