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NACOMA: Development of a coast management white paper will kick off in Namibia |
 It was an integral part of the Namibian government’s strategy to develop a project that targets the management of its coast. Over the past years, the Namibian government realised that coastal zone management needed more attention. Thus, the Namibian Coast Conservation and Management (NACOMA) project was established with the aim of assisting the Namibian government to conserve, use sustainably and manage the coastal biodiversity.
While targeting the coastal biodiversity, NACOMA has put in place a plan to produce a White Paper based on Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) principles. This is one step to mainstreaming biodiversity conservation and management into policy, legal, institutional and planning structures affecting the development of a highly participatory policy framework. The driving force behind the development of this paper is the fact that biodiversity conservation and management have been under-represented in the Namibian policies and legal and institutional structures that are enforcing the development of the coastal zone. The Namibian Coastal Management White Paper (NACOWP) is seen as a critical element for sustainable ecosystem management of the Namibian Coast.
 In the process of developing the NACOWP, NACOMA is working hand-in-hand with the lead executing government ministries—the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) and the Ministry of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development (MRLGHRD)—as well as other ministries and coastal regional councils and coastal local authorities involved in Coastal Zone Management.
NACOMA intends to facilitate the informed and participatory development of the policy options that will guide future development opportunities along Namibia’s four coastal regions: Kunene, Erongo, Hardap and Karas. So far, four key consultations that address the key elements of the White Paper development process have taken place. These were: 1) the development of the Draft White Paper; 2) a review of existing institutional mandates, policies and laws; 3) the development of coastal zone Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEAs) for the Erongo and Kunene Regions and 4) the design of an overall Communication and Awareness Strategy (CAS).
Furthermore, the importance of broader public and stakeholder participation in the process of the NACOWP’s development has been recognized. Awareness creation of various environmental challenges facing the Namibian coast is also very important, as it will contribute to increased knowledge of the public and coastal residents in terms of how to use and protect the coast and its resources.
To get the public involved in the NACOWP process, NACOMA will conduct an awareness campaign or ‘road show’ in all four coastal regions, followed by the continuous implementation of a variety of communication programmes. All the towns and communities having a stake in the management of the coast will be informed of the NACOWP process, to a level that will enable them to participate in the policy process. In this regard, consultations will be conducted and there will be public meetings taking place across the four coastal regions in the coming months.
The ‘road show’ will launch the NACOWP process. Interviews will be conducted, and resource materials such as brochures and flyers will be distributed prior to the show. Local newspapers, national radio and talk shows will also be used to raise awareness of the NACOWP development process.
NACOMA will be praised for the steadfast effort being placed in the process to develop the White Paper. What will result during the NACOWP process will be useful not only for the management of the coast and thus for Namibians, but also for the Namibian government at large. The important outcomes during the process will include the compilation of available and policy information that will be useful for decision-making by the regional and local authorities.
Read more about the coastal regions of Namibia on DLIST’s Hotspots and visit NACOMA’s kiosk on DLIST. For more information about the NACOMA Project contact Rod Braby at rbraby@nacoma.org.na.
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