Integrated Coastal Zone Management in India: one step further

Integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) aims at the sustainable management of coastal and marine resources by balancing environmental, economic, social, cultural and recreational objectives, all within the limits set by natural dynamics. It is a prerequisite for long term economic growth and to ensure the proper balance between economic development and environmental protection.

On a two-day workshop taking place in the Indian state of Odisha from Friday, March 16, all Indian coastal states joined together to prepare a nation-wide long term Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Plan.

Gorm Jeppesen and Hans Jacob Vested from DHI were invited for the workshop to provide knowledge and knowhow gained in numerous previous international ICZM planning projects throughout the world. Furthermore, DHI’s national expertise gained from the ongoing ICZM Planning project for the Government of Tamil Nadu was presented by Chabungbam Rajagopal Singh from DHI’s Chennai office. Regional Director Ajay Pradhan was invited to be one of the panel members during the Plenary Session and provided valuable input on ICZM Planning in India.

The national-level workshop was organized State Project Management Unit (SPMU) of the World Bank assisted Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project (ICZMP) in Odisha in collaboration with the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM). Underlining the importance of ICZM, the workshop was inaugurated by Sri Debi Prasad Mishra, Hon’ble Forest & Environment Minister, Govt. of Odisha. Senior Level Officials from the Central Ministry of Environment and Forests, World Bank, Premier Research Institutes and almost all coastal states attended the workshop.