The impacts of development on coastal and marine environment

Abstract

Abstract by author:

The research project has two main objectives, firstly, to investigate the impacts to the coastal and marine environment that results from the process of coastal development project and activities in two towns respectively. Secondly, to investigate environmental policy and legislation that regulates the issue of environmental impact. The Project hypotheses are such that, coastal development has negative impacts on the coastal and marine environment and coastal environmental legislation and policies in Namibia do not exist neither implemented. The data for the research project study were collected using techniques such as literature review, interviews and personal observations, with the objective to collect descriptive information and quantitative indicators relating to the issues identified

The research study found that, in general coastal development negative impacts are relatively more adverse in Walvis Bay compare to Swakopmund due to many industrials and factories development. Coastal development negative impacts in Swakopmund are relatively less due to the fact that there are fewer major establishments (e. g. factories, industry, etc.). However, there are pronounced impacts that result from the new established Abalone mariculture farm that operates in the area adjacent to the mile 4, primarily affects the marine waters and the bird that inhabit in that area. In the 30-km area between the two towns more developments are on a rise, the new residential and holiday resort development activities have an adverse effect on the fragile and sensitive desert habitat and rare organism that occur in the area, such as the Damara tern and Lichen. The development of new industry and factories and thus the expansion of the Walvis Bay harbour through dredging process tend to have pronounced impacts on the marine organism and waters encompassing the bay and the subsequent effect that reach the sensitive habitat of the lagoon area

At present, the Ministry of Environment and Tourism at Swakopmund still has no environmental legislation to regulate the environmental issues that result from coastal developmental activities (Braby, 2004; per. com). The existing environmental policies, acts and ordinances that are currently used by the MET and the Municipalities to regulate the environmental issues, have not been effective in minimizing and reducing these impacts, due to the fact that there are no legal backup to enforce these legislation. National Environmental Assessment policy recognize that the environmental Assessment (EA's) seek to ensure that the environmental consequences of development projects and policies are considered, understood and incorporated into the planning process