COASTAL RESOU RCES DEGRADAT ION

and restricted public access to resources and economic opportunties.

2.1 IMPROVIN G DECISION -MAKIN G

A national ICM strategy aims at improving the decision-making process for sustainable coastal development by providing clarification and guidance on resource use and allocation at both the national and local levels. This translates to increased power and access to resources by the communities The ICM Strategy provides a framework and process for linking different sectors and harmonizing their decisions on environmentally sound management of coastal resources. It supports decentralization and existing initiatives working to conserve, protect and develop coastal resources. The N ational ICM Strategy seeks to support human and institutional capacity development at various levels and to facilitate and enhance partnerships among resource users and government. It also acknowledges the interrelationship among coastal uses and the effect each one imposes on the other. The Strategy provides a basis and a mechanism for decision-making across sectors concerning the conservation and sustainable use of coastal and marine resources. Ultimately, the Strategy will lead to sustainable coastal resource management that can support new development challenges and contribute to improved well being of communities that depend on coastal resources.

2.2 PROMOT IN G AN D ST REN GT H EN IN G SECTORAL MAN AGEMEN T

Sectoral participation and involvement will remain central to effective coastal environment management. This Strategy aims at catalyzing cross-sector planning and action to fill institutional gaps and resolve coastal issues.The Strategy places emphasis on mainstreaming coastal environment concern by enhancing stakeholder par ticipation, compliance to laws and regulations, support for research, training, education and awareness at all levels. Thus, ICM supports and strengthen sectors; it does not replace them.

2.0 RATIO N ALE FO R A N ATIO N AL IN TEGRATED CO ASTAL MAN AGEMEN T STRATEGY

N ational Integrated Coastal Environment M anagement Strategy 6