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Integrated
Coastal Management and Planning in the Project Background The Caspian Sea, the largest land-locked body of water on earth, is surrounded by the Russian Federation in the west and north, Kazakhstan in the north and east, Turkmenistan in the east, Iran in the south and Azerbaijan in the west. It is of interest and importance to a wider number of other countries along the Old Silk Route as a transport and communication highway through the Volga-Don Canal. It is of value to the global community through its unique ecological resources and biological diversity, particularly the sturgeons, its extensive petroleum deposits and its great potential as a tourism destination. The most salient of existing and future threats to Caspian water quality, its biodiversity and its value as a global resource, include extensive industrial activity and its related discharges of solid, liquid and atmospheric wastes, an expanding petroleum sector onshore and offshore, urban and infrastructure developments with physical alteration of the coastline, unsustainable exploitation of its fisheries, and agricultural activity with its accompanying use of pesticides, fertilizers and other agro-chemicals. In addition, fluctuating water levels (a natural phenomenon in the Caspian) and storm surges, pose a threat to infrastructure, environmental amenities and human well-being. The Caspian Environment Programme (CEP) is a regional umbrella programme established by the Caspian Littoral States and aided by the international agencies. CEP includes a number of priority areas of activities and among them is Integrated Transboundary Coastal Area Management Planning (ITCAMP). Implementation of CEP will be achieved through the National Intersectoral Coordinating Functions led by National Focal Points (NFPs) and the institutions and agencies contributing to the Caspian Regional Thematic Centres (CRTCs), which have been established for each priority area and are distributed amongst the five Caspian littoral states. The CRTC for ITCAMP has been established in the Islamic Republic of Iran to coordinate and assist the development and application of the philosophy and approach of ITCAMP. By facilitating the exchange of information and sharing of experience in coastal planning and management, the Centre will ensure a harmonious approach to coastal area management around the Caspian periphery and the avoidance or resolution of transboundary problems. In its promotion of the ITCAMP approach, the Centre is developing an integrated, participatory and comprehensive planning process at the local level which recognizes the special characteristics of the Caspian environment. The ITCAMP planning approach for the management of the Caspian environment and its resources, will balance human needs, protection of land and water and ecological conservation. It will optimize the multiple use of resources through the integration of social, economic and ecological information. It will promote intersectoral cooperation and coordination to address complex development issues and formulate integrated strategies for the expansion and diversification of economic activities. Such a Planning Process must be based on a thorough understanding of the natural resources systems which are unique to these coastal areas and their sustainability, as well as an appreciation of the socio-economic situation in each locality. The ITCAMP Centre is therefore coordinating the preparation of a series of National Coastal Profiles which will describe and characterize the coastal environment at the national level, identifying in particular those issues and conflicts that need to be addressed during the coastal planning process. The National Coastal Profiles will lead to the Caspian Regional Coastal Profile. Having assessed the situation through the Profiles, the Centre will organize training courses in Coastal Planning and Management and develop draft Guidelines for Coastal Planning in the Caspian environment. The draft Guidelines will be tested in the field through Pilot Projects which will be set up by the ITCAMP CRTC in localities around the Caspian depending on available funding support. The Pilot Projects will result in functional coastal management plans for the selected localities and will also serve to indicate any necessary refinements before the draft Guidelines can be incorporated into the Handbook for Integrated Coastal Area Management Planning in the Caspian Region. Project Objective: This paper describes the proposed Pilot Project for Azerbaijan in the Neftchala region. The Pilot Project is aimed to design and implement integrated coastal zone management plan which will address coastal development, land erosion and degradation, water level fluctuation, biodiversity, marine transport, water quality and industrial development; and to demonstrate an application of the ITCAMP. More specifically the objectives of the Pilot Project are:
Local authorities involved Executive Power of Neftchala region, municipalities, State Committee on Ecology, Ministry of Economics Pilot Site and its current situation Pilot site, proposed for Integrated Coastal Management and Planning pilot project, covers a coastal zone of Neftchala, partly Salyan (north) and Lenkaran (south) administrative districts and it is 45-50 km. wide with the length of up to 90 km (see Map 1). On the south the site covers northern part of Kizilagach reserve, and on north – southern part of Shirvan reserve. Delta of Kura river is located in the central part of pilot site and it is deeply extended (up to 20 km.) into the Caspian Sea with the width of 10-11 km. The marks of the land relief are varied from – 26,8 m. (data of 01.06.2000) on the coastal edge to – 23-24 m on the north and west of the site. In general, the pilot site is included into Mughan-Salyan economical-geographical region and occupies its eastern-south-eastern part with the square of more than 1000 km2 . Socio-economic Conditions The population within pilot site totals 60 thousand people, 47,8% of it is of labour age and 43,7% is involved in labour activity. Neftchala city (25 thousand people), 9 city type settlements and 35 villages are located on the territory of the pilot site. Main natural wealth of the Mughan-Salyan region consist of significant solar energy, reserves of hydrocarbons, water resources of Kura river, resources of iodine-bromine ground waters, fish resources and large land fund. This dry subtropical climate territory has significant agricultural production potential. Industry is represented by “Anshad-Petrol”, a joint venture company for oil production, Neftchala iodine-bromine plant, owned by“Azerchemistry” state concern, Fish production plant and two Fish hatcheries, owned by ‘Azerbalyg’ state concern, cotton treatment and milk plants, meat production plant. Currently oil and gas exploration works are started on the offshore contract areas “Inam” and “Nakhchivan”. Agriculture is mainly based on irrigation. The lead role is taken by grain-growing, cotton-growing and cattle-raising. Also grown are melon and various vegetables, including potato and grapes.
Map 1. The proposed area for the Pilot Project Biological Resources Pilot site is poorly delineated with semi desert landscape and mainly grey soil - meadow soils. The coastal sands, salt-marsh and salt-marsh soils are represented in the northern part of the site, and meadow-wetland soils are represented in the south. Weak wash-out of soils with prevailing irrigation erosion is a common phenomena for this territory. Halophytic, wormwood-halophytic and partially lime grass vegetation with fragments of desert, estuary-meadow, grass-wetland and ephemeral groups prevail. Mammals are represented by 12 species from 7 orders. Most widely distributed are rodents and hares, in the reserves – goitred gazelle and boars. The coastal waters are a hunting ground for the Caspian seal. Amphibians are represented by 8 species, and reptiles (turtles, horned toads, snakes) – 32. More than 350 species and subspecies of birds have been recorded, including permanent – 75, migrating-nesting – 61, wintering – 126, migratory – 64, overflying – 26. The Kura river delta has many lagoons, sandy shallows, reed thickets and, respectively, it is of crucial ornithological importance. Of insects there are 2000 species and subspecies recorded of Orthoptera, Jugatae, Caleostera, Hemiptera, Neuroptera, Lepidoptera, hymenopterous, Aculeata, dipterous and formicidae. On its natural climatic conditions coastal waters are one of the most favorable regions for natural reproduction, fattening and wintering of fishes, and 81 species and subspecies of fishes have been recorded in the basin. Most diversed are Cottidae, Cyprinidae, Clupeidae and Acipenser.The pilot site covers south of Shirvan reserve and the northern part of Gyzylaghach reserve. Shirvan nature reserve, with the total area of 25,760 ha, is inhabited by Jeyran Deer (listed in the Red Book). There are 248 species of birds and 54 species of fishes in the Gyzylaghach reserve, with the total area of 88,400 ha Key Environmental Problems
The Pilot Project in Neftchala will test comprehensive and integrated coastal planning process and will be based on a thorough understanding of the specific conditions of the Neftchala region. It will use a broad participatory approach to benefit from local knowledge. All inputs of local authorities, Neftchala administration, Ministries, private sector, NGO community, scientists, and other stakeholders will be sought through various mechanisms and will form the foundation of the Pilot Integrated Coastal Management Plan for a selected coastal area in Netchala. The Pilot Project for Neftchala Region will comprise a description of the resources and the values that need to be managed, the objectives that may have been adopted nationally and regionally and how these reflect the national planning policies, national goals and aspirations, the priorities that should be taken into account in allocating resources, etc. The plan will require extensive consultation before it is adopted. After thorough evaluation of the Pilot Project, the Integrated Coastal Planning Process, as described in the CEP draft Guidelines for Coastal Management Planning, is expected to be refined further and will lead to the Handbook for Integrated Coastal Area Management Planning for the Caspian Coast. After appropriate adjustments to reflect individual country circumstances, the model will developed through this and other Pilot Projects will be ready to be applied elsewhere around the Caspian coast. This will take place under the Caspian Strategic Action Plan (SAP) Project Implementation The project will be implemented by the Neftchala Executive Power, CEP and municipal authorities. It will be led by the Coastal Coordination Group (CCG) which will act as a Steering Committee The following Government organizations will be involved into the Pilot Project: State Committee on Ecology, Hydromet, Academy of Sciences, Ministry of Economics. The CCG will provide strategy, overall guidance and monitoring. The Project will be managed by the Project Implementation Unit (PIU), which will act as a Coastal Planning Unit for Neftchala. The PIU will be headed by a Project Manager, who will coordinate activities of all project components, receive regular reports from Team Leaders, send his/her regular reports to the CCG and CEP on a bi-monthly basis, manage financial and administrative duties. The Project Manager will be assisted in his duties by a staff of 2 persons: Secretary/Office Administrator and Driver/Office Assistant. A Pilot Project orhanigram is shown on the next page (Chart 1). Stakeholder Identification Stakeholders of this Pilot Project will be:
Stakeholders directly involved as co-funders:
Possible Cost sharing is shown at the table on the page 13.
Objectives of management and planning process The following objectives are to be achieved by the Pilot Project:
Objective 1. Establishment of a strategic environmental management planning process The Pilot Project will be led by a Coastal Coordination Group, which must be established for at the earliest stage of the project. Along with this a Project Implementation Unit will be established at a fully operational level. Another task to be implemented is to develop interim planning procedures for the planning process. These tasks are to be done by the Project Manager, as a Team Leader for this component, in conjunction with two Coastal Planning Experts and a Legislation Advisor, under supervision of the CCG and CEP. Legislation Advisor will have to prepare a report on existing legislative provisions on coastal planning, land and water use and related areas. Trainings on the principles of Coastal Planning and Management will be organized in Neftchala for the administration, NGOs, government organizations, mass media and other interested stakeholders. After a first draft Coastal Management Plan is produced, an extensive consultation process will be undertaken, after which the Coastal Management Plan will be reviewed, finalized and adopted. Objective 2. GIS and Data Base development for planning and management This task will be implemented by a team of 3 persons: GIS Specialist, Data Base Specialist and a Data Base Trainee. GIS Specialist will serve as a Team Leader. Data Base and GIS Specialists will be based in Baku and will implement their work on a contract basis. After they complete their job, GIS and data base files will be transferred to Neftchala, and local experts will be trained on usage of GIS and data base. Additionally, an expert from Neftchala will be contracted as a Data Base Trainee, and will provide available data on Neftchala district. He/she will be trained on continuing basis in GIS and will be later in charge of Neftchala GIS Centre. Neftchala GIS Centre will be a part of Netchala Environment Information Centre (see Objective 3) and will be available for general public use. GIS/Data base will be developed on the basis of existing data, and maps which must be obtained from appropriate government organizations from Neftchala and Baku, and also on the basis of data, received from reports which will have to be prepared by the 5 teams on the following subjects:
These reports will be melded into one SoE, and will be used for the planning process and data base. Objective 3. Public awareness and participation This component will be strongly supported by the PCU. A local NGO will be selected amongst others to serve as a Team for implementation of this component, an NGO Leader will act as a Team Leader. The whole process will be supervised by the PCU and Public Participation Advisor. The selected NGO will prepare within two months a report on Public Participation needs assessment and on constraints and barriers to be overcome. The NGO will also conduct a number of trainings for Mass Media and NGOs in Neftchala, art contest on environmental topics between children from different schools. Another important activity will be a training for school teachers on how to teach environmental lessons for children. Ten teachers from ten different school will be supported in conduction of lessons on environment on a monthly basis. All activities of the Team will be highlighted on Mass Media during all period of work. It is planned also to make a film on Neftchala environment highlighting the key environmental issues of the regions and suggesting solutions to overcome, the PIU activities. This film will be demonstrated on the local TV channels. A focus will be made on establishment of Neftchala Environment Information Centre, which will be located presumably at the same building as the PIU. The Centre will make available for general public various reports, books, magazines; will contain a CD and video library. A chart showing implementation framework for the Pilot Project is on the next page. Pilot Project Outcomes The following Outcomes are expected:
Pilot Project Activities The following activities are to be implemented to achieve outcomes:
Time Schedule The Pilot Project is expected to be implemented in 10 months, according to the schedule on the page 10. The Project is to start in March 2001, and to be completed not later that in December 2001. A more detailed time schedule will be drawn up by the Project Manager.
Project Budget
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Up-coming Activities
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