GCCA+ in the news: Appealing for active participation to coastal zone management in the Gambia

Governor Lamin Saidykhan of North Bank Region of the Gambia has reiterated that climate change is and continues to be a major economic, social and environmental problem and therefore called for aggressive and integrated approach in building local capacities on climate resilience in a bid to reduce the negative impact and phenomenon on the livelihood of the local population.

The Governor was engaging in a action to sensitise coastal communities and prompt their active participation in the sustainable management of shared natural resources against climate change-induced risks and impacts.

"Coastal zones over the world have historically been among the most heavily exploited areas because of their rich natural resources. Correspondingly, there is also a sharp conflict between the need for utilization of coastal resources and the need to conserve the resource to ensure sustainable supply of those resources for future generations", he said.

In order to address these concerns, an Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) has been devised. ICZM is a governance system that puts in place the legal and institutional framework necessary to ensure that development and management plans for coastal zones are integrated with environmental, social and economic goals and are developed with the full engagement and participation of those affected. The purpose of ICZM is to maximize the benefits provided by the coastal zone and to minimise conflicts and harmful effects of activities upon each other, on resources and on the environment. It further seeks to guide government decision making on the equitable allocation and sustainable use of natural resources.

This programme is funded by the Global Climate Change Alliance project (GCCA+) of the European Union (EU) and implemented by the National Environment Agency (NEA).

Read the articles: