Sustainable
Development for
Small Island Developing States
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5. CAPACITY BUILDING FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
5.1 Policies and Strategies
In pursuit of the national goal of sustainable development, GBVI policy is to ensure resource availability, implementation capacity and post implementation analysis capacity. In this regard sustainable development is seen as on ongoing national project; accordingly, measures which amount to all the steps in project cycle management (PCM) are to be put in place to ensure a sustained process. To this end, sustainable structural and organisational changes are expected in public sector agencies that are considered critical to this process particularly economic, spatial and environmental planning, project implementation, natural resources management and law. Other agencies of importance are those responsible for information, public relations, health and education.
The Government's policy is that every resident of the BVI must take responsibility for, and bear some of the cost of, sustainable development. Thus the Government agencies have been expanded and strengthened and this cost is generally borne by the tax payer, although considerable technical assistance has been received from International Aid Agencies.
This policy is also reflected in the Government's efforts to increase public awareness of environmental and developmental issues, a well informed public can become an involved public.
However, it should be noted that there is resistance in the private and public sector to increasing the cost of development. Often, incorporation of the environmental dimension, such as a different type of building or the production of an EIA, increases the cost of the project. It is hoped that continual environmental awareness efforts will convince the BVI that their very survival is dependent upon the sustainability principle and that the additional cost of achieving sustainability is not an option.
In 1990 a Conservation Coordination Workshop was held to celebrate Earth Day, Government agencies and NGOs attended and made presentations. The aim of the workshop was to try and coordinate activities.
Following this a workshop was held on World Environment Day that same year to try and develop a Conservation Policy Document. Follow up meetings resulted in a policy document which was submitted to the Ministry of Natural Resources & Labour for onward submission to Executive Council in 1991.
Once the approval of Executive Council is obtained work will proceed on policy implementation throughout the range of government and private institutions. The objectives, goals and targets of the policy document are summarised in Appendix 1.
In the course of preparing the Conservation Policy Document a Conservation Coordination Group was set up. This group does not meet on a regular basis but rather to discuss specific matters such as the Conservation Policy or this National Report for UNCED.
V.2 Creation and Strengthening of Institutions
The creation and strengthening of institutions essential for sustainable development has occurred in conjunction with the general development of the public sector. This situation has obtained because our main industry, tourism, which is based upon the existence of our fragile natural environment, approach its development from a conservation perspective. Our tourism policies and strategies as well as our tourists insisted on proper management and use of our natural resource base simply because it was and will continue to be the extent of or attraction and better yet comparative advantage.
Beginning in the 1970's there has been a continuous
process of strengthening institutions central to the development process, i.e. economic planning, physical planning and environmental managements particular with the assistance of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Department of Technical Cooperation and Development (DTCD) and the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (UNCHS). Infact it was the UNDP which piloted the establishment of the Development Planning Unit and provided professional personnel for a four (4) year-period.
There have been several initiatives in the BVI over the past decade in terms of setting up new institutions and strengthening existing ones.
A. Ministry Responsible for the Environment
The Ministry of Natural Resources & Labour is responsible for all natural resources including the environment. This Ministry was established in its present form in 1984. The Ministry is responsible for conservation, fisheries, agriculture, lands (including land registry, Crown lands, land leases), agriculture, surveys, national parks and labour. Obviously this is a very wide portfolio and while some aspects of the environment are dealt with elsewhere e.g. public health, the fact that there is one Ministry designated as being responsible for the environment is an important one.
B. Establishment of a Department Responsible for the Environment - Conservation & Fisheries Department
Within the Ministry of Natural Resources & Labour the post of Conservation Officer was established in 1984. In 1989 it was decided to establish a Conservation Office as a technical unit within the Ministry. In 1990 this was expanded to a full department of Conservation & Fisheries. (Fisheries had previously been managed by the Department of Agriculture). The department deals with the management of the environment including fisheries and has five main functions : - application review and environmental planning; - environmental monitoring; - environmental education & awareness; - fisheries management; - development of adequate legislation, surveillance & enforcement. The department has a staff of twelve persons, a third of whom are professionals. The department's budget in 1991 was $297,000 of which 55% was taken up by salaries.
C. Establishment of a Professional Office for the National Parks Trust
Although the National Parks Trust had been established as early as 1961, it was not until 1984 that an office staffed by professionals was established to manage the Trust. This was set up with the assistance of the Jackson Hole Preserve. The Trust Office now has an office staff of five persons, two marine wardens, five gardeners and three park wardens. In 1991 the National Parks Trust received a Government subvention of $200,000 and raised a similar amount through grants, subventions and fund raising.
D. Establishment of a Forestry Division within the Department of Agriculture
Plans have been made to establish a Forestry Division within the Department of Agriculture in 1992. This would in the first instance consist of a forestry officer and a forestry assistant who would be responsible for soil conservation, reforestation of Crown lands and watersheds, the preparation of field trials to determine the best species for reforestation and the preparation of forestry seedlings.
E. Establishment of a Solid Waste Division within the Public Health Department
In the late 1980's it was realized within the Ministry of Health, Education and Welfare that there was a need to place more emphasis on the management of solid waste from the various viewpoints of public health, environmental aspects and aesthetic concerns. In 1988 a Solid Waste Division was created. This has a staff of 46 persons, in addition collection of waste is also contracted out to private firms. A state of the art incinerator was commissioned in 1993 hence n o more need for landfill on Tortola.
F. Establishment of an Office of Disaster Preparedness
In the late 1980's an Office of Disaster Preparedness was established. One of the principal goals of this office is to ensure that natural hazards are properly identified and assessed, the public is educated about their nature and measures are taken to deal with their mitigation. The Office presently consists of three persons. An Emergency Operations Centre was built in 1987. The department is to participate in the IDNDR process and global conference.
G. Establishment of Environmental Non-Government Organisations (NGOs)
Within the decade of the '80s several environmental NGO's have been established. These have included the Beautification Committee whose main role is to plant trees and shrubs and enhance the surrounding of various towns and roads; the Keep BVI Beautiful Committee (KBVIBC) who have tried to involve the community in cleaning the litter from the major highways; the Jost Van Dyke Preservation Society who are trying to ensure that development on Jost Van Dyke is in keeping with and enhances the natural and cultural environment.
These new NGO's together with previously established ones such as the Friends of the National Parks Trust, the Botanic Society, the Historical Society, the Dive Operators Association all assist in raising the public's consciousness about the environment as well as trying to undertake small projects. However, NGO's in the BVI are not yet strong enough to
fulfill the role of "environmental watchdogs" and many of them require further organisational strengthening.
Organizations such as the Rotary and Lions Clubs often undertake environmental projects. Recently youth arms of these organizations have started which play an important role in involving young people in community based projects.
A national association of NGO's has been established and is being represented by four (4) NGO's at the SIDS conference.
V.3 Processes and Coordination between Agencies
Improved coordination and communication between environmental agencies, other Government agencies and the NGOs is seen by the BVI Government as a major goal. In the past many agencies have all too often worked in isolation. There have been several initiatives to try and improve coordination.
In 1990 assistance was obtained from the OECS and the European Centre for Development Management Policy to try and improve linkages between agriculture, tourism and the environment within the framework of a regional project. This has had some limited success in that a strategy has been prepared, but has yet to be approved by Executive Council and implemented.
Another example of improved coordination was in 1989 when an inter-agency committee was set up to review all applications for the use of the seabed. Such reviews had previously been done on a referral basis. The Committee, known as the Technical Review Committee - Marine Applications (TRC), includes representatives from the Ministry of Natural Resources & Labour, Conservation & Fisheries Department, Town & Country Planning Department, Surveys Department and the Ministry of Communications & Works. This Committee now meets once a month to review all applications for the use of the seabed.
Another inter-agency committee is the Planning and Project Review Advisory Committee (PPRAC) which meets to discuss matters pertaining to economic planning, investment policies, plans, programmes and projects. PPRAC also monitors public sector project implementation. Members of the Committee are the Chief Minister, Financial Secretary, Permanent Secretary Chief Ministers Office, Permanent Secretary Communications & Works, Chief Engineer Public Works, Head of Development Planning. One of the major deficiencies of this Committee is that there has been no environmental input into major public sector projects. However, recently the Chief Physical Planning Officer has been included on the Committee and it is hoped that this will provide some of the necessary physical planning and environmental input.
In 1990 the BVI became a member of RAMSAR, an international convention for the protection of birds and wetland habitats. At present work is being done on the declaration of a RAMSAR site in the BVI, the site being considered is the western part of Anegada. This would link well with the proposed national park for that area, see Section 3.3.2.
V.4 Strengthening of the Legal Framework
During the 1980's there have been several initiatives to prepare and pass new legislation relating to the better management of the environment. In the 1990's the legislative focus is on regulations and laws which mandate coordination and integration of the planning and project cycle management process.
A. Review of all Environmental Legislation
A review of all legislation relating to natural resources was conducted with the assistance of the OECS and World Wide Fund (US) for Nature in 1986/7. Following this review two major areas were highlighted for immediate work : the preparation of new coastal legislation and protected areas legislation.
B. Preparation of a Coast Conservation & Management Bill
This bill was prepared over a period of five years, 1987 to 1991, and assistance in drafting the bill was obtained from the OECS. The bill seeks to control all development in the coastal zone which extends from 100 yards (91 m) inland from the high water mark to the limit of the Territorial Sea. In addition the bill makes provision for the declaration of special use areas, special resource areas, public access to all beaches. The bill makes provision for the control of all sand mining and is binding upon the Crown. The permitting process is described within the bill and includes the submission of Environmental Impact Assessments for all major developments.
The bill took several years to draft because it was a new type of legislation for the BVI. In addition there was an extensive public involvement programme. Public meetings were held in fourteen major communities and additional meetings were held with special interest groups. Input from the public meetings was incorporated into the final draft.
The bill was presented to the Legislative Council in 1991, but was sent back for further work particularly on the coastal development control aspects. This work is underway and it is hoped to bring the bill back later in 1992. This legislation is seen as a major goal in the achievement of effective coastal zone management in the BVI.
Draft regulations are being prepared for this bill with the assistance of the OECS.
C. Preparation of New Planning Legislation
A draft Bill for Land Planning and Development was prepared in 1989 with assistance from the United Nations Centre for Human Developments (UNCHS). The bill was accepted by Executive Council in 1990 and is at present going through a series of public hearings.
The bill aims to provide the necessary legislation for the planning and regulation of land development; in addition it creates the necessary administrative framework to effectively manage development.
Key aspects of the bill include :
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comprehensive procedures for the preparation and approval of development plans, including public participation;
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Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) are required for specific types of development;
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powers to declare special planning areas;
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a legal framework for historical and architectural preservation of buildings and tree preservation;
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the Crown is bound by the legislation;
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clear steps for enforcing breaches of the legislation and strict penalties.
D. Establishment of a Board to Control Water Resources
Draft legislation is at present before Executive Council to establish a Board to control ground water resources. The role of the Board will be to control and monitor the use of ground water and to control the drilling of wells. The Water Resources Board will consist of two ex- officio members, the Chief Engineer of the Water & Sewage Department and the Chief Agricultural Officer, and five appointed members.
E. The Marine Parks and Protected Areas Regulations
Regulations under the Marine Parks and Protected Areas Ordinance of 1979 were passed in 1991. These provide for the control of activities in a marine park such as anchoring, mooring, filming, fishing and provide for the issuing of permits and collection of fees for the use of dive site moorings and filming. A fee schedule is included.
F. Ports and Marine Services Regulations 1988
These regulations were passed under the Ports and Marine Services Act 1985 and contain important provisions relating to marine pollution. The regulations state that no pollutant should be discharged on territorial waters, the penalty is $1,000.
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