Good Practices in the Formulation, Design, and Implementation of Integrated Coastal Management Initiatives. (Extracts; Source: IWICM, 1996)

1. CONCEPT, FUNCTIONS AND PROCESS

1.1 CONCEPT

ICM provides a framework and practical tools to assist policy-makers, planners, and resource managers to meet the challenges of sustainable development in coastal areas. When applied in a timely and comprehensive manner, ICM provides a vehicle for sound investment and sustainable use of the coastal areas and their natural resources.

ICM is a dynamic process. The time required to complete the stages in an ICM programme cycle may vary, according to institutional capacity and the complexity of the issues addressed. From the start, ICM initiatives are designed to develop public awareness, build capacity, foster cooperation, strengthen institutional and legal frameworks, and formulate and implement issue-driven action plans. With the development of enhanced experience and skills, the scope of the ICM programme expands to address new problems, explore new development opportunities, and further strengthen management skills, interagency cooperation, collaboration and integration of development and environmental protection.

1.2 FUNCTIONS

ICM improves the traditional forms of development planning in four distinct ways, namely:

• Furtherance of a thorough understanding of the natural resources systems which are unique to the coastal areas and their sustainability within the context of a wide variety of human activities,
• Optimization of the multiple use of the coastal resource systems through the integration of ecological, social and economic information,
• Promotion of interdisciplinary approaches and intersectoral cooperation and coordination to address complex development issues and formulate integrated strategies for the expansion and diversification of economic activities, and
• Assistance to governments to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of capital investment and natural and human resources in achieving economic, social and environmental objectives as well as meeting international obligations concerning the coastal and marine environment.

1.3 PROCESS

ICM is most effective as a proactive planning and management mechanism. Developing the ICM initiatives involve the following steps:

1. Awareness

• Developing awareness of the value of coastal resources within national economic and social development programmes.
• Developing awareness of the ability of coastal ecosystems to sustain more than one economic or social activity.
• Developing awareness of the common dependence of different groups on the availability of goods and services generated by the coastal ecosystems.

2. Cooperation

• Promoting cooperation among the different sectoral institutions -- the private sector and community groups -- to achieve common objectives.

3. Coordination

• Developing coordinated policies, investment strategies, administrative arrangements, and harmonized standards by which performance can be measured.

4. Integration

• Implementing and monitoring policies, investment strategies, administrative arrangements, and harmonized standards as part of a unified programme, and making adjustments, if necessary, to ensure stated objectives are being met.

ICM can operate at all levels of governance. It is not necessary to wait until the national policies are in place before attempting to use its principles, concepts, and guidelines to address coastal management problems or to stimulate new forms of development at the local level.

2. GOOD ICM PRACTICES

The following statements outline the good practices which apply to all coastal management situations:

• Adopt a systematic, incremental approach in developing and implementing ICM projects and programmes.

• Apply ICM framework for sectoral management.
• Use a combination of management actions.
• Adopt precautionary approaches.
• Strictly follow the ICM process.

• Involve the public in the ICM process.

• Integrate environmental, economic, and social information from the very beginning of the ICM process.

• Promote management-oriented research.
• Integrate EIA in ICM programme development and implementation.
• Consider common property features in economic assessments.
• Include cost-benefit analysis in the assessment of development alternatives.

• Establish mechanisms for integration and coordination.

• Establish sustainable financing mechanisms.

• Develop ICM capacity at all levels.

• Monitor the effectiveness of ICM projects and programmes.

3. EVOLUTION OF ICM PROGRAMMES

ICM programmes mature through the successive completion of its cycles. Each cycle follows the essential ICM processes in addressing management issues, formulating and implementing policies, strategies and action plans, monitoring progress, and evaluating impacts. ICM begins with a few urgent issues in the first cycle. Through successive cycles, the geographical scope and scale of the programme can be increased to incorporate new and more complex problems and issues. The evolution from a small ICM demonstration project to a full-fledged national programme can be described as follows:

3.1 DEMONSTRATION - Establishing an ICM demonstration project

1. Create management support.

Establish broad, long-term goals, for ICM with national government and specific, short-term objectives for a demonstration project.

1. Select a demonstration site, based on the following criteria:

• a) Manageability: The area of the site and the issues to be addressed are within the finical and hum capacity of the project.
• b) Transferability: The institutional framework and management practices will be applicable to other areas.
• c) Significance: The site and the issues are important enough to merit attention.

1. Focus on a few specific issues whose resolution will likely build political and public support for ICM.
2. Create public awareness and policies to support ICM initiatives.
3. Formulate the ICM programme.
4. Establish an institutional coordinating mechanism to foster interagency cooperation.
5. Build capacity at the local level.
6. Initiate research on selected management issues.
7. Strengthen legislation governing coastal land and water management and marine resources.
8. Solicit funding source for programme implementation.
9. Implement the ICM programme.

3.2 CONSOLIDATION - Consolidating achievements and gaining confidence in the broader application of ICM

1. Monitor progress and assess impacts.
2. Distill lessons learned and reassess operational strategies and methods.
3. Refine ICM plans and management strategies; also, update management information based on monitoring.
4. Implement a refined ICM programme.
5. Evaluate achievements against set objectives and goals.
6. Sustain the ICM programme at the demonstration site.
7. Consolidate experience, knowledge, approaches, methodologies, and skills acquired from the demonstration project.

3.3 REPLICATION - Expanding the application of normally established ICM programme.

1. Market the success of the demonstration site and promote ICM in other areas by showing that its institutional framework is functioning and its role is understood by other government agencies and the public.
2. Demonstrate that selected coastal problems are being managed successfully at a significant scale and opportunities for sound development as well as needs for proactive action, are recognized and acted upon.
3. Promote adoption of ICM in other coastal areas at the local level, using the same or modified typologies.
4. Further improve ICM approaches and methodologies for application in the management of sectoral development, including fisheries, aquaculture, ports, navigation, tourism, and industries.
5. Develop coastal policies at the provincial and national levels to establish ICM programmes in the coastal areas.
6. Increase the national and provincial capacities in ICM within the government, academe, and private sectors.
7. Ensure and sustain stronger political commitments and priority for ICM.

3.4 EXTENSION - Developing an effective national coastal programme.

1. Establish an appropriate coastal policy to facilitate ICM programme development at national, provincial and local levels, determined by the coastal area's geographical size and physical and socio-economic conditions.
2. Establish an appropriate coastal programme which responds to evolving national, provincial, and local development goals and objectives and environmental conditions.
3. Harmonize local, provincial, and national coastal and marine legislation to increase the effectiveness in management and law enforcement.
4. Enhance interdisciplinary research on common management problems and develop standardized environmental quality monitoring objectives.
5. Ensure a balance between private and public rights and between local and national interests.