Improving Environmental Impact Assessment for Better Integrated Coastal Zone Management

About this book

How to make use of coastal and marine resources in a sustainable manner is an increasing concern among coastal stakeholders all over the world. Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) is a well-known concept nowadays, but its implementation is often hampered. This is also the case in Indonesia. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is regarded as an important instrument to improve ICZM. How effective are EIAs in coastal regions in Indonesia? And what is their potency to imporove ICZM? To answer these questions this thesis analyses the present EIA guide-lines in Indonesia and their practice in an economic strategic region: the Banten Bay coastal zone (West Java). The focus in the analysis is on the use of environmental information and stakeholder participation. The coastal EIA processes analysed showed limitations as in most of the stages the marine biological component was hardly considered. The coastal Environmental Impact Statements reviewed showed weaknesses, particularly in the fields of impact analyses, impact management and monitoring. Stakeholder participation in the coastal EIA process can be improved. They are particularly relevant for district governments who have a much larger role in EIA's and ICZM after the recent decentralisation of Indonesian policies. Moreover, recommendations are proposed to the State Ministries of Environment, of Communications and of Marine and Fishery. The research methodology and lessons learnt, will also be relevant for coastal research and management beyond Indonesia.

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