Last updated 14 April 1997

Integrated Coastal Zone Management

In recent years, the Mineral Resources Section has worked towards the development and management of non-living resources in the coastal zones of the Asia-Pacific region.

On-going efforts towards integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) in Asian countries started in the 1980s. The lessons learned since, provide some guidance for the upgrading of ICZM in developing countries of the region. An MRS study entitled "Towards Integrated Coastal Zone Management in Asia" was published in 1995.

An Expert Group Meeting (EGM) on Regional Cooperation in Management of the Coastal Zone and Non-living Marine Resources is scheduled to be held in Bangkok 23-26 September 1997. The objectives of the EGM are to

1. promote the establishment of a coordinating mechanism for regional cooperation in coastal zone management and non-living marine resource assessment, and
2. develop a strategy to strengthen the network of national institutions concerned with non-living marine resources, environment and oceanographic studies.

Experts from 18 countries and some UN agencies and intergovernmental organizations are expected to attend.

To promote the assessment and development of non-living marine resources in the region, MRS made a study of the potential for development of offshore sand and gravel as construction materials in East Asia. It noted that at present, nearly 99% of the world's construction sand and gravel is produced from land sources, but that increased land values, depleted land resources and environmental constraints may push producers towards using marine resources in the near future. Already in the late 1980s approximately 40% of Japan's domestic demand for sand was satisfied from marine sources.

A Workshop on Review of the Mineral Resource Potential of North-East Asia was conducted recently in Changchun, China. As part of the follow-up, MRS is proposing an Expert Group Meeting on the Application of GIS Techniques for the Comprehensive Assessment of Mineral Resources in North-East Asia, with the aim to strengthen the institutional capacities of the sub-region in all aspects of mineral resource assessment, including geological, economic and EIA data. Anyone interested is welcome to provide suggestions in this regard to dao.unescap@un.org.