South Africa’s Integrated Coastal Management Act

South Africa’s Integrated Coastal Management Act

South Africa’s Integrated Coastal Management Act received an honourable mention in the Future Policy Award on Oceans and Coasts on 2012.

South Africa has been addressing the challenge of promoting human well-being whilst maintaining ecological integrity along its diverse coastline through a number of government-led initiatives. The Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) Act of 2008 marks a significant departure from the previously fragmented top-down approach. The ICM Act is the result of a highly participatory and consultative process. Central to the Act has been reinstating the historic common property rights and access to the coast for all, which were denied during Apartheid. It also defines coastal zones and sets guidelines for institutional arrangements and management plans at local, provincial and national levels.

Coastal habitats have also been targeted in the innovative Extended Public Works Programme, which has been widely praised for its achievements in aligning social and ecological goals. The “Working for the Coast” division of this programme operates in all four coastal provinces and promotes the rehabilitation of beaches, estuaries and wetlands by recruiting unemployed people to remove invasive species and maintain facilities. Working for the Coast and its sister programmes Working for Water, Working for Fire, and Working for Wetlands have been critical in alleviating poverty and creating jobs. There are quotas to ensure women, youth and people with disabilities are given priority enrolment. In addition to employment, training in skills such as literacy, numeracy and management are provided.

In 2019, South Africa launched the Second Generation Coastal Management Programme (2019-2024), which builds on the original Act’s framework. This programme emphasizes public participation and shared management responsibilities across national, provincial, and local levels of government. It includes the development of Coastal Management Programmes (CMPs) which are designed to assess current conditions, set objectives, and outline implementation strategies for coastal management.

Further Information can be found here.

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