Integrated Coastal Zone Management. Action Plan

Transcription

1 Integated Coastal Zone Management Action Plan Decembe 2000

2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Action Plan fo Integated Coastal Zone Management is intended to guide the wok of stakeholdes involved in Integated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) eithe diectly o indiectly in an effot to foste a moe coodinated and integated appoach to management of the coastal zone. It will seve as the backbone of an evolving plan fo Integated Coastal Zone Management in Guyana. The objectives of the plan ae: To stengthen the capacity of key national institutions to execute effective Integated Coastal Zone Management pogammes. To pomote and suppot sustainable development of coastal esouces. To incease public awaeness and education on Integated Coastal Zone Management issues. To impove coastal data compilation, management and shaing. To facilitate eseach and taining in Integated Coastal Zone Management. To povide guidelines towads alleviating the advese impacts on the coastal zone with special efeence to sea level ise. The EPA will seve as the oveall coodinating body to facilitate the implementation of the activities cited in the plan to be implemented by the stakeholdes in Integated Coastal Zone Management. i

3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The following epesentatives of the Integated Coastal Zone Management Committee woked on and developed the Action Plan: Ms. Vea Adams Ms. Pauline Fanklin-Ajoon M. Rovin Bhookmohan M. Phillip DaSilva Ms. Ravita Diaam M. Julian Evans Ms. Denise Fase M. Taig Kalichaan Ms. Susy Lewis Ms. Dawn Maison Ms. Andea Maie Ms. Deboah Montouth M. Zainool Rahaman M. Neville Waldon Land and Suveys Depatment Geogetown Seweage and Wate Com. PEU, Sea and Rive Defence Division Univesity of Guyana Envionmental Potection Agency Guyana Foesty Commission Envionmental Potection Agency Hydogaphic Office, T&HD Guyana Natual Resouces Agency Fisheies Depatment Envionmental Potection Agency Ministy of Housing and Wate Hydomet Sevice Consevation Intenational FINAL DOCUMENT: DECEMBER 2000 APPROVED BY CABINET: MAY 29 TH 2001 ii

4 1.0 INTRODUCTION Oveview Of Guyana s Coastal Zone O BACKGROUND What Is Integated Coastal Zone Management Benefits Of Integated Coastal Zone Management Scope Of Integated Coastal Zone Management Pinciples Of ICZM NATIONAL INITIATIVES IN COASTAL ZONE... 8 MANAGEMENT IN GUYANA (1750 TO PRESENT) 3.1 Pevious National Initiatives In Coastal Zone Management Role Of The EPA EPA S Involvement In ICZM Institutions That Play A Role In Integated Coastal Zone Management GUYANA S COASTAL NATURAL RESOURCES AND THEIR USES Human Settlement Agicultue Fisheies Aquacultue Mangoves Touism Industy Tanspotation Wate Supply INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY AND INTEGRATED COASTAL ZONE iii

5 MANAGEMENT: ISSUES, PROGRAMS AND PROPOSED ACTIONS Delineation Of The Coastal Zone Public Awaeness Majo Issue Hydological And Climatological Data Collection Systems Goundwate Resouces Of Coastal Aquife Shoe Zone Monitoing Sea Defence Stuctues Mangove Management Institutional Set-Up Aeial Photogaphy Suvey Of The Coast Monito And Check Benchmaks Status of Coastal And Maine Resouce The EIA Pocess As A Planning Tool In ICZM Taining MATRIX OF MAJOR ISSUES AND PROPOSED ACTIONS BIBLIOGRAPHY iv

6 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Oveview Of Guyana s Coastal Zone Today, the coastal zone of Guyana is consideed one of the most impotant natual egions in the county since ninety pe cent of the population as well as economic and administative activities ae concentated in this aea. Thee is no single desciption of the coastal zone fo the Integated Coastal Zone Management pocess; boundaies ae delineated based on the paticula poblems that integated coastal zone management attempts to solve. The exact delineation of the coastal zone of Guyana is still to be detemined. Howeve, the commonly used definition of the coastal zone is The aea of dy land and adjacent ocean space (wate and submeged land) in which teestial pocesses and land use diectly affect oceanic pocesses and uses and vice vesa 1 Map 1 -Settlement Distibution. This definition is used to guide the wok set out in the Action Plan. As such, Guyana s coastal zone can be descibed as occupying appoximately 7 pe cent of the total land aea of the county (216,000km 2 ), and extending along the entie 430km of the Atlantic coast (Map 1). It vaies in width fom 26km to 77km and is as much as 1m below mean high tide levels in some aeas. The geology and geomophology of the Guyana coast is that of coastal Amazon clay deposits 2. These extend unde the continental shelf and have eached an aveage thickness of 20m ove the last 6,000 yeas, poducing a flat, lowlying, coastal plain. They wee laid down due to seveal geological fomations (Map 2). The coastal plain consists of natual and man-made sea defences, mud banks, mangoves and sand flats, all of which seve to potect the coast fom inundation and flooding. The county is divided into ten (10) administative egions, with egions one (1) to six (6) lying within the coastal zone (Map 3). Guyana s colonial expeience and post-colonial modenization pojects have tansfomed the coastal envionment. The coastal mangove swamps have been dained, and in many places the wood extacted and eplaced by sea walls, iigation canals, poldes and human settlements 3 (Map 4). 1 Ketchum, Abenethy, Bynoe, 1996; Williams, 1997; FAO,

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8 N Venezuela VII-1 Five Sta Kaituma I-1 Moawhanna VII-2 VIII-1 I-2 Kokeite Velgad VIII-2 Kuukabau Paamakatoi Oinduik Kato Puwa Monkey Mountain Santa Rosa Mission Kwabanna Chaity Anna Regina II-1 II-2 Geogetown Paadise Mahaica III-1 Mahaicony III-2 IV-2 Batica Fot Wellington III-3 New Amstedam IV-1 V-2 Rose Hall V-1 VI-2 Linden Maa Rockstone VI-1 VI-3 Cabwood Kibilibii Kumaka VI-4 Ituni Takama Potao Landing X-1 X-2 VI-5 Mahdia Kwakwani Konawauk Kuupukai Envionmental Potection Agency Administative Regions of GUYANA VI-6 Scale 1:3,400, Kilometes Bazil Kaasabai Toka Annai Kaanambo Suiname Lethem IX-1 New Rive Base Camp Sand Ceek Wichabai Mauanawa IX-2 Place Cities Roads Majo Rives Bode Admin egions Raad Aishalton Isheton Mamipawa VI-7 Bazil Base map povided by GINRIS

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10 1.2 The Need Fo ICZM In Guyana Guyana thee is need fo Integated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) because of the absence of a compehensive integated famewok fo policy planning and management. This is manifested in the social, economic and ecological stesses that impact on the coastal zone. These include: Social Pooly coodinated sectoal appoach to the management of coastal esouces used and the coastal zone. Impope solid waste disposal. Low level of awaeness and expetise about management of coastal esouces. Economic Flooding due to: o ovetopping of weakened sea defences and associated high cost of maintenance o impope dainage. Quick pofit entepises, which degade coastal esouces, fo example beach sand and seashell emoval. Lack of undestanding of the economic contibution of coastal esouces to society. Ecological Beach sand and shell emoval. Ove havesting of mangove vegetation. Excessive tageting of cetain maine fish species. Habitat destuction Degadation of wate quality due to contamination fom solid wastes, pesticides and fetilizes fom agicultual fields. Degaded fisheies habitats and lack of altenative livelihoods. Theats to tutles and othe biodivesity. Natual Effects Sea level ise due to global waming. Changes in coastal pocesses e.g. movement of mud shoals esulting in eosion. Modification of un off pattens and sedimentation. Floods 5

11 2.O BACKGROUND 2.1 What Is Integated Coastal Zone Management Integated Coastal Zone Management can be defined as The planning and coodinating pocess, which deals with development and management of coastal esouces that focus on the land/wate inteface 4. The Integated Coastal Zone Management pocess povides the oppotunity to allow policy oientation and development of management stategies to addess the issue of esouce use conflicts and to contol the impacts of human intevention on the envionment. It povides an institutional and legal famewok, focuses on envionmental planning and management and coodinates vaious concened agencies to wok togethe towads a common objective. Sectoal planning and management should opeate within the geneal famewok of Integated Coastal Zone Management. 2.2 Benefits Of Integated Coastal Zone Management ICZM pogammes if implemented popely and in a timely manne, can: Minimize costly delays in poject implementation, Minimize damage to coastal and maine envionments and thei esouces, Make the most efficient use of available infastuctue and technology. Benefits can include: Sustained economic gowth based on sustainable natual esouce use. Consevation of natual habitats and species. Contol of pollution and alteation of shoelines. Rehabilitation of degaded esouces. 2.3 Scope Of Integated Coastal Zone Management ICZM is a special type of pogamme established fo the pupose of conseving coastal esouces o envionments though sustainable development. Sustainable Development is development that meets the needs of today s geneation without compomising those of futue geneations 5. The coastal zone is a dynamic ecosystem and hence boundaies can change, theefoe any geogaphic divide needs to conside these dynamics. In Guyana, thee is no clea/defined delineation of the coastal zone. To date, the woking concept used includes the geogaphical coastal plain. Howeve, the geogaphic boundaies of the coastal zone goes beyond that specified fo the coastal plain. Theefoe, in keeping with the concept of sustainable development, a tue definition of the coastal zone must fist of all be developed. 4 FAO 1992 Integated Management of Coastal Zones 5 Rio 1992 Ou Common Futue 6

12 A coastal zone includes seveal types of esouces and envionment, which may compise shipping, housing, tanspot, manufactuing, fisheies, agicultue, electic powe geneation, natue consevation and touism. 2.4 Pinciples Of ICZM ICZM is based on some fundamental pinciples and pemises and ae as follows: The coastal aea is a unique esouce system, which equies special management and planning appoaches. Wate is the majo integating foce in coastal esouces systems. Land and sea uses should be planned and managed in combination. Coastal management boundaies should be issue based and adaptive. Coastal esouces management is to conseve common popety esouces. All levels of govenment must be involved. Consevation fo sustainable use is a majo goal of coastal esouce management. Multi-secto involvement is essential to sustainable use of coastal esouces. Multi- use management is appopiate fo coastal esouce systems. Taditional management should not be ovelooked. Envionmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is essential fo effective management. 7

13 3.0 NATIONAL INITIATIVES IN COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT IN GUYANA (1750 TO PRESENT) 3.1 Pevious National Initiatives In Coastal Zone Management : Pivate Management of the Coastal Plain Initially, coastal zone management was peceived as management of the sea defences. Euopean plantation ownes undetook all coastal management, and thoughout this peiod it was individualized, uncoodinated and unsuppotive of non-plante goups, poducing inceased geneal vulneability to flood hazad. Lack of govenment suppot and the high maintenance cost of coastal defence caused a numbe of plantations to be abandoned. Unde the Sea Defences Odinance of 1883, state funds fist became available fo polde maintenance. Commencing with the Sea Defence Odinance, 1883, and culminating with the Dainage Act 1994, coastal zone/polde management was gadually bought unde state contol 6. Post 1941 Unfotunately, public management systems have also been unsuccessful at obtaining sufficient inputs fo pope coastal management. Ealy state management was undemined by conflicts of inteest and lack of esouces leading to neglect. Post 1960's Stimulated by independence in 1966, and a peceding decade of heavy coastal eosion, was a peiod of inceased inputs, intensive eseach, taining and engineeed woks 7. Fom 1975 howeve, withdawal of extenal financial suppot and deepening national economic and political cisis esulted in infa-stuctual and institutional deteioation. Post 1980's National policy change in 1989 and the etun to elations with extenal donos allowed some incease in expenditue on sea defence and the stengthening of land dainage and iigation (Map 5). The concept of coastal zone management was inceasingly becoming moe popula. Seveal inte-agency committees wee set up including a subcommittee on Coastal Zone Management unde the guidance of the Guyana Agency fo Health Sciences and Food Policy (GAHEF). This Committee was set up in 1990, with the ole of coodinating all inte-agency committees and activities elated to developments within the coastal zone. Howeve, weak institutional capacity lagely a function of past economic decline impeded effective management of the coastal zone. The low salay levels within the govenment sevices made it impossible to ecuit and etain competent staff. In addition, funds wee not available to execute seveal of the pogammes. This esulted in coastal zone management continuing to follow a sectoal appoach, in esponse to specific issues. 6 Mak Pelling, Depatment of Geogaphy, Univesity of Livepool, Roxby Building, Livepool L69 3BX pg 7 7 Latchmansingh

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15 3.2 Integated Coastal Zone Management Today The National Envionmental Action Plan, 1994 ecognized that impoved coastal zone management was necessay and equied an integated appoach. As such, the Envionmental Potection Agency in accodance with the Envionmental Potection Act 1996 was given the mandate to coodinate an Integated Coastal Zone Management pogamme Role Of The EPA The EPA has the mandate to coodinate an integated coastal zone management pogamme. 8 The Agency s ole as the coodinating body is to: Pomote and stengthen inte-agency and inte-sectoal collaboation; Reduce inte-agency ivaly; Minimize ovelapping activities of line agencies; Povide a foum fo conflict esolution; Monito and evaluate the pogess of integated coastal zone management pogamme and pojects; Implement activities esulting fom the evaluation pocess EPA S Involvement In ICZM To this end, the EPA is involved in: Coodinating the activities of the Integated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Committee established since Januay 1999 to foste a moe integated appoach to coastal zone management. Identifying existing gaps among agencies in an effot to stengthen the institutional set-up fo Integated Coastal Zone Management. Facilitating and conducting taining in Integated Coastal Zone Management. A two weeks taining on ICZM was conducted in Novembe 1999 fo the membes of the ICZM Committee. As a follow up to the taining, five community consultation wokshops wee held to identify poblems of coastal concen to esidents. Wokshops wee held in Regions One (Baima/Waini), Two (Pomeoon/Supenaam), Thee (Essequibo Islands/West Demeaa) and Six (East Bebice/Coentyne). Two wokshops wee held in Region Thee. Pomoting awaeness on coastal vulneability, coastal zone management and climate change. A web page ( and bochue on ICZM was developed. Aticles fo the newspapes and adio messages ae also done on an ongoing basis. 8 Envionmental Potection Act,

16 Coodinating the implementation of Component 3 - Inventoy of Coastal Resouces and Uses and Component 6 - Coastal Vulneability and Risk Assessment of the Caibbean Planning fo Adaptation to Climate Change (CPACC) Poject. CPACC is a GEF funded poject being implemented in Caibbean counties by the OAS. CPACC is suppoting Caibbean counties to cope with the potential advese effects of global climate change, paticulaly sea level ise, in coastal aeas, though vulneability assessment, adaptation planning and capacity building. Component 3 The ultimate goal of component 3 is to futhe develop each paticipating county s inventoy of coastal esouces to povide the necessay baseline data fo the execution of othe poject components. It involves ceation of metadata, pepaation of a list highlighting souces of data sets fo a Coastal Resouce Data Inventoy (CRIS), pepaation of epots descibing each dataset and digitising of 1:50,000 base maps that cove the pilot aeas. To date metadata sets wee ceated and base maps fo the pilot sites digitised. The list highlighting souces of datasets fo CRIS has been completed. In addition, digitisation of some coastal map sheets was done. Component 6 The oveall objective of Component 6 is to assist counties with planning fo adaptation against the potential impacts of climate change though the pepaation of vulneability assessments. The vulneability assessment of sea level ise has thee stages. These ae the sceening assessment, vulneability assessment and planning assessment. The EPA though the ICZM Committee has completed the sceening assessment. The vulneability assessment commenced in Mach This component of the poject would be completed in 2001 with the majo outputs being fomulation of adaptation stategies to facilitate sea level ise and pomotion of awaeness on this Institutions That Play A Role In Integated Coastal Zone Management Envionmental Potection Agency (EPA) Integated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Committee In ode to effectively fulfil its mandate fo Integated Coastal Zone Management, the EPA established the Integated Coastal Zone Management Committee with esponsibility fo: Coodinating the activities of the vaious sectoal agencies with some involvement in management of coastal esouces; Recommending policies fo the identification, monitoing, utilization and management of esouces within the coastal zone; 11

17 Pefoming advisoy function on issues of concen to coastal zone management; Advising the EPA on pioities fo eseach, management and monitoing of activities within the coastal zone; Advising the EPA on stategies, plans and pogammes elating to coastal zone management; Paticipating as necessay in taining activities fo coastal zone management. Seveal othe agencies and institutions have undetaken some fom of activity o pogamme elated to coastal zone management. Thei specific esponsibilities ae examined in the following section. INTEGRATED COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE Envionmental Potection Agency Hydomet Sevice Sea Defence Division, Ministy of Public Woks Lands and Suveys Depatment Hydogaphic Office, T&HD Ministy of Housing and Wate Fisheies Depatment Univesity of Guyana Guyana Wate Authoity Geogetown Seweage and Wate Commissiones Guyana Natual Resouces Agency Guyana Foesty Commission Consevation Intenational National Dainage and Iigation Boad Hydomet Sevice, Ministy of Agicultue The esponsibility of this Agency includes monitoing of oceanogaphic elements such as wind and waves, level of the sea, sea suface tempeatue and salinity. With egad to coastal zone management, the Agency collects and analyses achived and cuent data, such as ainfall, tidal levels, steam dischage and gound wate levels. Sea and Rive Defence Division, Ministy of Public Woks and Communication The Sea and Rive Defence Division has esponsibility fo maintenance of both the man-made and natual coastal defences including mangoves not unde state contol. Lands and Suveys Depatment, Ministy of Agicultue Aeas of esponsibility of this Depatment include: hydo gaphic suveys; aeial photogaphy and photo mosaics of the coastline and of sea and ive defence woks; maps; cetification of suvey wok on sea defence, and suvey of land fo land use title. Hydogaphic Section, Tanspot and Habous Depatment The Hydogaphic Section (T&HD) is esponsible fo the management of habous and pots of Guyana and fo ive navigation, including maine envionmental aspects elating to pollution and damage. The aeas of esponsibility elated to coastal zone management include: hydogaphic suvey and dedging of ship channels; piloting of vessels enteing and leaving habous, data collection fom a tide gauge. Cental Housing and Planning Authoity (CH&PA) The Town and County Planning Depatment of CH&PA is esponsible fo oveall physical planning and allocation of lands with espect to housing and community developments. 12

18 Fisheies Depatment. The Fisheies Depatment has esponsibility fo the consevation, management and development of all fisheies. This includes captue, pocessing and tade of fish and fishey poducts, fishing opeations, aquacultue, fisheies eseach and the integation of fisheies into coastal aea management. Univesity of Guyana (UG) The Univesity of Guyana is a souce of coastal zone infomation though taining and eseach of students and staff. Guyana Natual Resouces Agency (GNRA) GNRA s ole is one of policy fomulation, planning and coodination of the natual esouce s secto. Guyana Foesty Commission (GFC) GFC has esponsibility fo oveall management of Guyana s foests including mangoves of the Noth Westen egion of the county. Consevation Intenational Consevation Intenational offes suppot and assistance to encouage the people and govenment of Guyana to design and implement a Potected Aeas System though envionmental education, public awaeness, entepise development and scientific eseach. 13

19 4.0 GUYANA S COASTAL NATURAL RESOURCES AND THEIR USES Guyana s coastal natual esouces ae of citical impotance to the county since they suppot human settlement, agicultue, fisheies including aquacultue, mangoves, touism, industy, tanspotation and wate supply (Map 6). 4.1 Human Settlement Human settlement and infastuctue ae essentially concentated on the coastal zone whee ninety pecent of the population esides. The population is concentated on cetain locations influenced by the availability of land fo housing and othe utility sevices. Highe population densities ae obseved in Geogetown and adjoining aeas due to the availability of these sevices and the close links with impotant uban centes. Consequently, housing schemes and squatte settlements have been developed. The latte stems fom the huge demand fo housing due to the fact that socio-economic conditions ae poo, and extended households ae ovecowded. Squatting is mainly an uban phenomenon, since people migate fom ual aeas in an attempt to gain some of the benefits that ae offeed in uban aeas. Anothe poblem lies in the fact that the aeas identified, legally and illegally, fo housing settlements ae mostly in the vulneable low-lying coastal zone (Map 7). 4.2 Agicultue Agicultue is the dominant economic activity on Guyana s coastal zone. The coastal belt has favouable soil and climate fo lowland cops such as sugacane and ice. In 1997, the Goss Domestic Poduct (GDP) fo agicultue was G$53.6 million (US$ 2.9 million). The economic contibution of the secto to the economy is vital hence the need fo sustaining its vitality cannot be oveemphasized. 9 Almost all of the agicultue poducts impotant to the national economy ae havested along the coast. 4.3 Fisheies Fisheies may be consideed the second most impotant economic activity along the coast. About 6.5 billion dollas (G$) woth of fish (28,000 metic tonnes) wee expoted in 1998 compising about 6 of the nation s GDP. In 1999, fish expot contibuted to 6.4 of the nation s GDP. Fisheies povide a livelihood fo ove 10,000 pesons in Guyana. These include fishemen and thei families, boat buildes, tap and net makes, packes, distibutos, etailes and pocessos. The value of fish and fish poducts fo local needs has also been ecognised by the Govenment. The fishing industy has five subcomponents: industial, atisanal, inland and aquacultue, and onamental. 9 Khan and Rahaman,

20 Mabauma Map 6 N Distibution of Housing Schemes Scale 1:1,500, Kilometes Location of housing schemes ae appoximations 1 Aea below sea level was deived fom a USGS 1 km esolution DEM 2 Chaity Anna Regina Ondeneeming Legend 7 3 Batica Paika Geogetown 4 Mahaica 5 Mahaicony New Amstedam Rose Hall Housing Schemes Aeas affected by 1m ise in sea level Places Main Rives Bode Administative Bounday Linden 6 Coiveton

21 Map 7 Dem eaa R. Geogetown [ Ñ & & & Ñ ; [ Ñ Ñ Ñ ; Ñ Ñ ÊÚ & ; ; Envionmental Potection Agency Map of Guyana Showing Coastal Resouces Sc ale : 1 :2,00 0, Kilomete s Moawhanna Mabauma [ W N E S Kaituma Ñ Five Sta Matthews' Ridge Kokeite Santa Rosa Mission Kwabanna Chaity Anna Regina Atlantic Ocean Bebi ce R. New Amstedam Rose Hall Ñ Ñ [ Ñ Ñ Ñ Economic Activities [ Assembly and elated manufactue [ Building mateials & Chemical pocessing ÊÚ Cosmetics Fish Pocessing Ñ Ñ Food and dink pocessing plant Funitue, Sawmill, Wood poducts ; Metal finishing $T Mining Logging Opeations Plastic Pocessing Textile plant Pape poducts Pinting and packaging Rice Suga Places Roads Main Rives Bode Steams Aeas affected by 1m ise in sea level Batica Veed-en-Hoop [ Geogetown Ñ[ ;&& ; Ñ ; & ÊÚ Ñ Paadise [ Mahaica Mahaicony & Cheddi Jagan Int. Aipot Ñ $T Ñ Fot Wellington New ; Amstedam Rose Hall Ñ [ Ñ ÑÑ Ñ [ [ Ñ Ñ $T [ Ñ Linden Maa [ Coiveton Ñ Rockstone Cabwood Ceek Kumaka Ituni Kibilibii $T Takama Ñ [ Ñ Note: The data pesented on this map is only meant fo illustative puposes. Aea below sea level was obtained fom a USGS 1 km esolution DEM Base map povided by GINRIS Ñ

22 4.3.1 Aquacultue This is a gowing industy in Guyana. Thee ae basically two types of aquacultue pacticed hee and these include the backish wate and fesh wate cultues. Popely managed aquacultue can co-exist in an envionmentally fiendly manne with othe coastal uses. 4.4 Mangoves The mangove foests in Guyana ae found on lage sections of the Atlantic Coast fom the Coentyne Rive to the Waini Rive. Mangove foests ae also found at the inteface between the teestial and maine eco-systems, in estuaine wetlands and in tidal eaches of iveain aeas. Thee majo species of mangoves including Rhizophoa mangle, Avicennia geminans and Lagunculaia acemosa exist thee. On the coast mangove foests play an impotant ole in coastal potection and sea defence. They potect the coast though stabilisation of the shoeline by contolling eosion fom waves. Mangoves ae the fist line of defence against wave actions and stoms. They help to potect the sea wall o embankment and educe damage of sea defence systems. Mangove eco-systems ae an impotant coastal esouce, having a vaiety of functions and uses. The mangove swamps ae natual beeding gounds fo backish wate shimp (Paneaus spp.) and finfish species (of the families Sciaenidae and Aidea). They also aid in acceleating the pocess of deposition of soil paticles, which ae suspended in tidal wate, theeby aising the level of coastal land in the inte-tidal zone. They ae used in beekeeping fo the poduction of honey (appoximately 75 of the honey poduced in Guyana comes fom thee). The mangove foests ae also used as a souce of fiewood and tannin in Guyana. 4.5 Touism Touism attactions on the coast of Guyana include Geogetown the capital city and many beaches, which include Sixty-thee Beach, located in Coentyne; Hope and Unity Beach, on the East Coast of Demeaa; and Paika and Bushy Pak beach, on the East Bank of Essequibo. These beaches ae used fo both eligious and eceational activities. Geogetown is situated on the ight bank of the Demeaa Rive. Most of the city s histoical buildings ae wooden stuctues eflecting the unique 18 th and 19 th centuy achitectue and ae majo touist attactions. Futhe, the majo administative facilities, hotels and shopping centes ae located in Geogetown. In Guyana thee ae thee majo shoe types including mud, shell and sandy beaches. Shell Beach is one the county s majo touist attactions. This aea uns fom Waini point to the mouth of the Pomeoon Rive on Guyana s Nothen Shoe. This is the only beach in the wold whee fou species of sea tutles nest: Leatheback (Demochelys coiacea), Geen (Chelonia mydas), Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea), which ae Endangeed, and Hawksbill (Eetmochelys imbicata), which is Citically Endangeed (IUCN). Othe nesting beaches in the wold have only one o two species. 17

23 Shell Beach is also an impotant habitat fo a lage numbe of othe animal species; some of which ae also theatened. These include the Blue-and-Gold (Aa aaauna) and Red-Bellied (Aa manilata) Macaws, which fequent the Shell Beach foests, and the mud flats and mangoves lining the shoes ae home to an impessive numbe of flocks of the stiking Scalet Ibis (Eudocimus ube). Othe species of bids include the Roseate Spoonbills (Platalea spp.) and Caibbean Flamingos (Phoenicopteidae spp.). Many of Guyana s mammal species, including Manatees (Tichechus spp.), Jaguas (Panthea onca), Tapis (Tapius spp.), Dee (Mazama spp.), and seveal species of monkeys (eg. Cebus spp., Saimii spp.), ae all found in the Shell Beach aea. 4.6 Industy Most of the industies found in Guyana ae located on the coast. This is due to the many benefits that accue to them because of thei poximity to the tanspot system and aw mateials. The majo industies on the coast include agicultue, mining (sand mining) manufactuing and technological industies. 4.7 Tanspotation Tanspotation on the coast is both oveland and by ives. Today coastal oads and othes found along ivebanks of the majo ives constitute the pincipal oad netwok. Radiating fom Geogetown to Cabwood Ceek in East Bebice and Chaity on the Essequibo Coast settlements ae stung along both sides of the oad, which facilitate intenal tade among communities and faste communications. The infastuctue that suppots wate tanspot in Guyana is located along the banks of navigable ives, namely, the Essequibo, Demeaa and Bebice ives. Besides the whaves and stellings that povide inland and coastal linkages, thee ae facilities that suppot the county s oveseas shipping equiements. The main pot of Geogetown located at the mouth of the Demeaa Rive compises seveal whaves most of which ae pivately owned. 4.8 Wate Supply Wate supply fo domestic, industial and commecial puposes ae extacted fom about 170 wells dilled mainly fom two aquifes known as the A and B sands. The wate is distibuted though a netwok of pipes estimated at about 3000 miles, laid in villages along the coastal plain. Additionally, to facilitate the county s agicultue output, iigation wates ae also fom wate consevancies. Thee ae fou man-made consevancies along the coastal plain: Boeaseie, East Demeaa, Tapakuma and Mahaica/Mahaicony/Abay (see Map 4). 18

24 5.0 INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY AND INTEGRATED COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT: ISSUES, PROGRAMS AND PROPOSED ACTIONS 5.1 Delineation Of The Coastal Zone Majo Issue Thee is no single definition of the coastal zone of Guyana fo the Integated Coastal Zone Management pocess; boundaies ae delineated on the basis of the paticula poblems that integated coastal zone management attempts to solve. The boundaies must be adaptive to the goals and objectives and must conside the dynamism of the coast. Poposed Actions It is necessay to clealy define the coastal zone fo puposes of Integated Coastal Zone Management. Actions Output Key Institutions Time Estimated Cost ($G) Develop citeia fo Citeia fo Consultant, Lands and 6 months 1,000,000 delineation of CZ delineation of Suveys, Hydomet, CZ ICZMC Evaluation of Delineation of Consultant, Lands and 6 months 1,000,000 citeia fo CZ Suveys, Hydomet, delineation of CZ ICZMC 5.2 Existing Legislation Majo Issue The legislative egime suounding coastal zone management in Guyana epesents a fagmented egulatoy famewok in that the coastal zone is managed in a fagmentay fashion in esponse to specific issues. The vaious pieces of legislation that goven the diffeent issues ae fo example sea defence, soil eosion and destuction of mangoves - Sea Defence Act Chapte, Foests Act, Guyana Foesty Commission Act; land use contol - Town and County Planning Act, Municipal and Distict Councils Act, Public Health, State Lands Housing Acts; dainage and iigation - Dainage and Iigation Act, East Demeaa Wate Consevancy Act; sand mining, soil eosion - Mining Act, Geology and Mines, Petoleum (Exploation and Poduction) Act; waste disposal - Public Health Odinance, Guyana Seweage and Wate Commission Acts. It has been ealized that one hindance to the Committee s effective functioning is woking with vaious pieces of legislation that ae outdated, and has multiple esponsibility and juisdiction. Poposed Actions In an effot to foste bette-integated coastal zone management in Guyana it is necessay to eview and update the existing pieces of legislation to emove these bottleneck. 19

25 Actions Output Key Institutions Time Estimated Cost ($G) Suvey of existing legislation Indication of legislation elevant to integated coastal zone management. ICZM Committee, Legal Office 1 yea 1,000,000 Review legislation Identification of gaps and ovelaps in legislation. ICZM Committee Legal Office 1 yea 1,000, Public Awaeness Majo Issue The fagility and vulneability of the coastal zone and the impotance of coastal zone management is yet to be ecognized. As such, coastal zone management has been identified as a majo envionmental issue to be addessed within the National Envionmental Education and Public Awaeness Stategy, In addition to the activities in this pogamme, the following actions ae also planned. Poposed Actions The pogamme fo envionmental education on coastal zone management in Guyana would endeavou to aise awaeness and suppot fo a long tem Integated Coastal Zone Management pogamme. By aising awaeness on the natue and extent of the issues, it is expected that the geneal public will povide geate suppot fo pogammes aimed at impoving the envionmental quality of the coastal zone. Actions Output Key Institutions Time Estimated Cost ($G) Update of EPA s web page. Inceased awaeness on Integated Coastal Zone Management EPA Ongoing 500,000 Conduct five community consultation wokshops Newspape Aticles Bochue e.g. Sea defence ehab. estoation of tutle habitats, mangove estoation. Inceased community awaeness on ICZM Inceased awaeness on integated coastal zone management Inceased awaeness on integated coastal zone management and coastal esouces (status of). EPA, ICZM Committee EPA, ICZM Committee 1 Yea 1,000,000 Ongoing 800,000 ICZM Committee 3-6 months 800,000 20

26 5.4 Hydological And Climatological Data Collection Systems Majo Issue The coastal and nea inland netwok of hydological and climatological data collection systems ae inadequate and limited being maintained by visits and in some instances telephone convesations to emote aeas. Most of these stations ae manual and it is hoped that automation can be possible. Recuent expenditue does not allow fo majo equipment eplacement and upgade. Futhe, manpowe shotage, manual data pocessing and lack of eal time data in some key geogaphic locations ae some of the factos hindeing timely ago-meteoological and hydological foecasts needed as an input into wate management stategies. Poposed Actions The netwok could be expanded if costs ae met. Additional stations with automation will allow fo the collection, pocessing and dissemination of good infomation in eal time. Actions Output Key Institutions Time Estimated Cost ($G) Installation of automatic and telemete equipment at weathe stations Puchase of equipment fo upgade of weathe stations Puchase and installation of a tide gauge Impoved collection, pocessing and dissemination of data in eal time Impoved collection, pocessing and dissemination of data in eal time Sea level data Hydomet Sevice 6 months upon eceipt of funds 9,078,000 Hydomet Sevice 6 months 12,638,000 T&HD, Hydomet Sevice Division 6 months 1,800, Goundwate Resouces Of Coastal Aquife Majo Issue Thee still exists some uncetainty with egad to quality and volume of existing eseves of gound wate. Poposed Actions Investigation of the goundwate esouces of coastal aquife is necessay fo examining altenative goundwate management stategies in ode to ensue the safe and long-tem poduction of coastal wells tapped fom the Guyana Atesian Coastal Aquife. In addition, it is citical to examine the isk of possible salinization, of coastal wells due to seawate intusion. Actions Output Key Institutions Time Estimated Cost Computeization of data fo suface and goundwate hydology Computeized data GUYWA, GS&WC 6 months 5,000,000 Development & Data on wate bl i GUYWA, 18 months 5,000,000 21

27 Implementation of a pogamme fo collection of data fo a wate balance study of goundwate aquifes. balance in goundwate aquifes. GS&WC, Hydomet Sevice 5.6 Shoe Zone Monitoing In defining the tem shoe zone, two ends of a spectum can be envisaged: a geogaphically naow definition that encompasses a couple hunded metes eithe way of mean sea level, o in Guyana s case, the man-made dike system; o a much wide definition that is vitually indistinguishable fom the taditional tem coastal. In this document it is used pedominantly to efe to a much naowe stip of land and foeshoe along the defence woks. It is an aea of concentated activity in seveal sectos, some of which ae diectly competitive, othes complementay. Ecologically it is a complex zone whee land and maine systems meet. Majo Issue Monitoing of the shoe zone has geneally declined duing the past few yeas. The stoage and analysis of data collected has been vey poo, with the esult being that it has not been contibuting to a geate undestanding of the on going pocesses and oveall impovement in the management of sea defence. 10 Poposed Actions The shoe zone monitoing pogamme should be developed in ode to cay out a systematic analysis and the esult used fo the impovement of maintenance systems. In the initial stages of the shoe zone monitoing pogamme, a digital map of the coast is essential. It should include data elating to population, climate, tide, housing, mangove distibution, sea defence, land use etc. This should be accessible to stakeholdes and will allow fo data analysis, which would facilitate bette pedictions and decisions elating to monitoing of the shoe zone. Actions Output Key Institutions Time Estimated Cost ($G) Ceation of a digital map of the coast. Impoved pedictions/ Decisi ons to facilitate monitoing of the shoe zone EPA, Sea Defence Division, Land and Suveys Dept., GNRA 1 Yea 2.25 million 5.7 Sea Defence Stuctues Majo Issue The coastal plain whee the main potion of the population lives, lies geneally between 0.5m and 1m below mean high tides, endeing it vey vulneable to coastal flooding. The sea is kept 10 Shoe zone Monitoing Pogamme,

28 out by 69km of concete sea walls and 170km of eath dams 11. Ove the last decades, thee have been seveal beaches in the sea defence system, leading to loss of land, flooding and inceased soil salinity of coastal aeas. 12 With govenment finances unde sevee pessue, much of the ehabilitation wok ove the last decade has been of a tempoay natue, lacking the necessay technical qualities to make the measues last fo any pojected peiod of time. As a esult, many sections of the sea defence along Guyana s coast ae in ugent need of ehabilitation 13. Poposed Actions Rehabilitation of the had stuctues including eathen levees, in combination with a monitoing and an emegency system will minimize the imminent isk of flooding and eosion. Actions Output Key Institutions Time Estimated Cost ($G) Suppot ehabilitation of the had stuctues Minimal isk of collapse of had sea defence stuctues Sea Defence Division Ongoing 500, Mangove Management Majo Issue Mangoves in Guyana have been seiously depleted. Mismanagement of these esouces can have effects, which have no national boundaies. Wetlands such as mangove ecosystems should be potected and managed wisely not only because of thei unique, ae o endangeed floa and fauna but because they ae valuable economic esouces. Thee is also an intenational dimension to mangoves in that it is now known that wetlands have global significance, paticulaly in elation to global cycling of geenhouse gases and sea level ise. Poposed Action The county s vulneability in elation to sea level ise and the ising cost of maintenance of the sea defence make development of a stategy fo mangove a pioity Cambes Shoe zone Monitoing Pogamme, Shoe zone Monitoing Pogamme, Feie A Stategy fo Mangove management,

29 Actions Output Key Institutions Time Estimated Cost ($G) Suppot the Development of a National Mangove Management Plan. Mangove Management Plan. GFC, ICZM Committee 1 Yea 500,000 Reseach Pojects Inceased data U.G G.F.C E.P.A P.E.U Ongoing 1,000, Institutional Set-Up Majo Issue It is necessay to peiodically eview the Institutional Set-Up fo any pogamme petaining to Integated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) to detemine the level of success/failue. Hence, the cuent pogamme fo ICZM would need to undego such a eview. Poposed Action It will be necessay fo the institutional set-up fo Integated Coastal Zone Management to be peiodically evaluated to detemine its success. Actions Output Key Institutions Time Estimated Cost ($G) Review inst l set-up fo ICZM Stengthened inst l set-up fo ICZM ICZM Committee Mid ,000, Aeial Photogaphy Suvey Of The Coast Majo Issue Guyana s coastline is vey long and vaied and in many cases elatively inaccessible. In ode to manage the coastal esouces, especially those immediately seawad and landwad of the shoeline, up to date colou aeial photogaph at a scale of 1:10,000 would povide an invaluable tool. An up to date aeial suvey of the coastal zone would pove invaluable fo oveall management and land use planning of the coastal zone. Poposed Actions Actions Output Key Institutions Time Estimated Cost ($G) Detemine the uses of the photogaphy Uses of aeial photos identified ICZM Committee 3-6 months 100,000 Conduct the flying and Poduction of aeial Lands and Suveys, 3-6 months 1,000,000 24

30 pepae photos. photos ICZM Committee Taining in API and povision of necessay equipment. Integate esults into GIS database Ability to intepet aeial photos Impoved capacity to monito esouces UG, ICZM Committee, Lands & Suveys Dept EPA, Lands & Suveys, ICZM Committee 1 Yea 1,000,000 6 months 1,000, Monito And Check Benchmaks Majo Issue The cycles of coastal eosion and accetion ae linked to the movement of mud banks and at pesent, thee is no way to monito thei movement. Monitoing and checking benchmaks along the coast is theefoe a useful tool to estimate coastal eosion and accetion. To quantitatively monito the movement of these mud banks is necessay so as to pedict spatial distibution of eosion and accetion and to manage sea defence maintenance accodingly. Poposed Actions Actions Output Key Institutions Time Estimated Cost ($G) Reseach data ecods Measue beach coss sections on an annual basis Conduct egula aeial suveys Histoical data Beach coss sections Pedictive tool fo detemining cycles of eosion and accetion ICZM Committee, Lands and Suveys ICZM Committee, Lands and Suveys ICZM Committee, Lands and Suveys 6 months 300,000 6 months 2 million 6 months 2 million 5.12 Status of Coastal And Maine Resouce Majo Issue The National Biodivesity Action Plan 1999 (NBAP), classifies maine/coastal ecosystems as an ecosystem type that includes maine, littoal, estuaine, mangove and palustine. Majo poblems associated with maine/coastal ecosystems include: ove havesting of mangle (mangove vegetation), excessive tageting of cetain maine species of fish and degadation of wate quality due to contamination fom solid and othe wastes. 15 The NBAP povides a famewok within which plans fo coastal/maine ecosystem management may be implemented. The oveall goal of the NBAP is to pomote and achieve the consevation 15 Guyana, National Biodivesity Action Plan,

31 of Guyana s biodivesity, to use its components in a sustainable way, and to encouage the fai and equitable shaing of benefits aising out of the use of Guyana s biodivesity 16. It is widely felt that to safeguad the coastal and maine ecosystems, it is citical fo them to be popely inventoied and monitoed. Poposed Actions Actions Output Key Institutions Time Estimated Cost ($G) Conduct maine esouce inventoy Resouce inventoies on coastal esouce Consevation Intenational, Fisheies Depatment, U.G. Ongoing 5,000,000 Document havesting techniques Inventoies of havesting techniques fo specific esouces. Guyana Foesty Commission, Fisheies Depatment Consevation Intenational U.G. Ongoing 500,000 Encouage community paticipation on coastal esouce management Inceased Coastal Resouces Management (CRM) and Impoved ICZM Consevation Intenational Fisheies Depatment U.G G.F.C Ongoing 1,000,000 Pomote education and awaeness on coastal esouce management Inceased awaeness of Coastal Resouces Management and CRM issues All Agencies EPA ICZM Committee Ongoing 500, The EIA Pocess As A Planning Tool In ICZM Majo Issue At pesent, all development pojects ae equied to have an envionmental pemit, if it is felt that the poject will impact negatively on the envionment. As such, it is impotant fo this pocess to be incopoated into integated coastal zone management to ensue that development activities ae popely planned, managed and monitoed. 16 Guyana, National Biodivesity Action Plan 26

32 Poposed Actions Action Output Key Institution Time Estimated Cost ($G) Review/ Comment on the EIA s o applications fo Envionmental Pemit submitted to EPA Impoved coastal planning and utilisation/ development of the coastal zone ICZM Committee, EPA Ongoing 1,000, Taining Taining is essential in a field like ICZM whee so many types of activities and technologies ae involved. Taining should ange fom shot couses and on the job taining to fomal univesity degees. Local and intenational assistance should be sought to meet the vaiety of taining needs. Impotant to ICZM pogammes ae oientation couses fo decision makes and agency staff in the vaious Ministies. 27

33 6.0 MATRIX OF MAJOR ISSUES AND PROPOSED ACTIONS Issue Actions Output Key Ins t Time Estimated Cost ($G) Delineation of the Coastal Zone Detemine the extent of the CZ based on appopiate boundaies and paametes. Delineated and well defined Coastal Zone ICZM Committee 1 Yea 1, 000,000 Develop citeia fo delineation of CZ Citeia fo delineation of CZ Consultant, Lands and Suveys, Hydomet, ICZMC 6 months 1,000,000 Evaluation of citeia fo delineation of CZ Delineation of CZ Consultant, Lands and Suveys, Hydomet, ICZMC 6 months 1,000,000 Existing Legislation CZM on Public Awaeness on ICZM Hydological and Climatological data collection systems Suvey of Existing legislation Review legislation Update of EPA s web page Conduct community consultation wokshops Newspape aticles Bochue Installation of automatic and telemete equipment at weathe stations Puchase of equipment fo upgade of weathe stations Indication of legislation elevant to ICZM Indication of gaps and ovelaps in legislation Inceased awaeness on ICZM Inceased community awaeness on ICZM Inceased awaeness on ICZM Inceased awaeness on ICZM and status of coastal esouces Impoved collection, pocessing and dissemination of data in eal time. Impoved collection, pocessing and dissemination of data in eal time. Consultant, Lands and Suveys, Hydomet, ICZMC EPA-ICZM Committee, Legal Office EPA-ICZM Committee EPA-ICZM Committee EPA-ICZM Committee (EIT) EPA-ICZM Committee 6 months 1,000,000 1 yea 1,000,000 Ongoing 500,000 1 yea 1,000,000 Ongoing 800, months 800,000 Hydomet Sevice 6 months 9,078,000 Hydomet Sevice 6 months 12,638,000 28

34 Puchase and installation of a tide gauge Sea level data T&HD, Hydomet Sevice 6 months 1,800,000 Goundwate Resouces of Coastal Aquifes D/ment and implementation of a pogamme fo collection of data fo a wate balance study of goundwate aquifes Data on wate balance in goundwate aquifes GUYWA, GS&WC, Hydomet Sevice 18 months 5,000,000 Computeisation of data fo suface and goundwate hydology Computeised data GUYWA GS&WC 6 months 5,000,000 Suppot shoe zone monitoing Sea Defence Stuctue Mangove Management Ceation of a digital map of the coast Suppot ehab. of the had stuctues Suppot the D/ment of a National Mangove Mgt Plan Impoved pedictions/ decisions to facilitate monitoing of the shoe zone Minimal isk of collapse of had sea defence Mangove Mgt. Plan Sea Defence Division, Lands and Suveys, EPA GNRA Sea Division Reseach Pojects Inceased data U.G G.F.C E.P.A P.E.U Defence GFC, Sea Defence Division, (EPA- ICZM Committee) 1 Yea 2,250,000 Ongoing 500,000 1 yea 500,000 Ongoing 1,000,000 Aeial Photo Suvey of the Coast Detemine the uses of the photogaphy Conduct the flying and pepae the photos Taining in API and povision of the necessay equipment Uses of aeial photos identified Poduction distibution aeial photos and of Ability to intepet aeial photos ICZM Committee 3-6 months 100,000 Lands and Suveys Dept, EPA-ICZM Committee UG, EPA-ICZM Committee, Lands and Suveys Dept 3-6 months 1,000,000 1 yea 1,000,000 29