integrated coastal zone management project west ... - Iczmpwb.org

155137. The state of West Bengal is endowed with unique coastal eco-system areas includinga stretch to the east occupied by Sundarban Biosphere Reserve. The mangrove vegetation inSBR supporting a unique habitat of estuarine flora and fauna including the Royal BengalTiger and some other endangered species provides challenges for sustainable conservation.To the west, the beach-dune-mudflat system presents different kind of managementchallenges including prevention of coastal erosion and development of sustainable tourismwith effective control of pollution of the coastal region. In both the stretches livelihoodissues of a large number of coastal population who depend on the coastal resources (fishery,aquaculture, agriculture, etc) are to be satisfactorily solved/answered. Infra-structuralfacilities (construction/expansion of ports, extraction of ground water, construction ofessential roads and other communication facilities) need to be developed without puttingstress on the coastal environment or worst degrading the eco-system. The vision of ICZM inWest Bengal is therefore to ensure minimum but acceptable planned intervention fordevelopment needs in the coastal zone so as to preserve the pristine nature of the prevailingenvironment making allowances for sustainable exploitation of living and non-livingresources for the livelihood of the coastal population.138. On a broad perspective/scale, the strategy for ICZM will be to understand, analyseand address implications of development plans and their threshold limits to causeenvironmental degradation, conflicting uses and interrelationships between coastal physicaland biological processes and anthropogenic activities. The emphasis will be to promotelinkages and harmonization among sectoral coastal and ocean activities requiringcooperative management and inter-sectoral coordination through full involvement of all thestakeholders in a comprehensive and integrated program. In essence the strategy will be to Minimize costly delays in project implementation Minimize damage to the coastal environment and its resources Minimize losses to the various users (from resource depletion, loss of land, accesslimitation, etc) Promote most efficient use of infrastructure, resources, favourable environmentalsituations, favourable coastal processes Avoid conflicting use of coastal and marine resources and environment139. The strategic need for ICZM will be to collect and generate relevant data andextraction of information from the synthesis of the data on resources of the coastal zone, itsvulnerability to natural disasters, extent of fragility of the eco-system, role of coastalprocesses to sustain the coastal environment, extent of pollution of the coastal environment,current land use of the coastal zone and livelihood of the coastal population. To achieve thesame, a detailed monitoring and evaluation program has been included under Section V.