It states on their website that South Africa is confronted with numerous socio economic problems, including poverty, inadequate housing, sanitation & water supply to name but a few. The problems have resulted in a rapid decline in environmental management and increased exposure to health hazards such as polluted water, air and toxic waste.
We at CEN Integrated Environmental Management Unit believe that the people of South Africa can only overcome these obstacles through the desire for sustainable development. Development that delivers basic environmental, social and economic services to all without threatening the viability of natural, built and social systems already in existence. Source https://environmentcen.co.za/
CEN Integrated Environmental Management Unit has been tasked with the project of developing a Coastal Management Programme (CMP) for the Sarah Baartman District Municipality (SBDM). This area includes the coastal local municipalities of Kou-Kamma, Kouga, Sundays River Valley (SRVM), and Ndlambe. The along shore coastal zone within these municipalities is ~300km in length, and generally extends from the edge of the economic exclusion zone to between 100 m and 1 km inland of the high water mark of the sea. Twenty-four estuaries are mapped on the national estuaries layer for the study area, however estuaries are not included in the CMP and specific estuary management plans must be developed for each estuary. Synergies and interactions between estuaries and the marine environment will be discussed in the Coastal Management Plan. (Source: CEN website).
See image below:
Yellow & Green – The area of the Sarah Baartman District Municipality
Green – The coastal area of Ndlambe Municipality extends from the Fish River south to the Sundays River.
In order to assist the process of developing a Coastal Management Plan, focusing on the Ndlambe area, staff from CEN Integrated Environment Management Unit held a workshop on 25 May 2018 in the Kenton Town Hall. There were 30 participants from a diverse range of government and non-government organisations, including four members of the Estuary Care Committee.
We discussed what makes our area special, what are the values that define living in this coastal area, our vision for our coast, the risks and threats, as well as the strengths and opportunities. What was uplifting and heartening was that this well informed and diverse group of people shared a common vision for our unique piece of the South African coast.
Further information can be found on the CEN website.
