Leeward and Windward, Barbados

Coastal Zone Management Unit, the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Natural Resources of Barbados.

Organizations involved in Phase 1:
Delcan International, in association with Sandwell, PKF and Guy M. Griffith Engineers, Willms and Shier in association with Sedley Associates, David Lashley and Partners Inc., A.R. Carnegie and W.C. Anderson.

Organizations involved in Phase 2:
Sir William Halcrow and Partners, in association with Consulting Engineers Partnership. Quality control agencies: Bellairs Research Institute of McGill University. Programme funded by the Government of Barbados with the assistance of the Inter-American Development Bank.

The Coastal Zone Management Programme was divided into two phases, the first in Leeward and the second in Windward, Barbados. Phase 1, Coastal Conservation Feasibility and Pre-Investment Programme, focused on extensive oceanographic, biophysical and socio-economic investigations on heavily developed west and south coasts, as a basis for understanding complex interactions in the coastal and marine environment. Strengthening of institutional and legal mechanisms for coastal management in Barbados. Phase 2, Study of the North, East and Southeast Coasts, coordinated diagnostic studies of the north, east and southeast coasts, which included the delineation of coast into geomorphologic units, a historical analysis of beach and shoreline changes, and the acquisition of baseline data on oceanographic conditions, sediment transport, hydrogeology, marine and terrestrial water quality, coastal habitats and ecosystems. Other components of the phase involved the design of permanent field monitoring systems, an inventory and evaluation of shoreline and marine structures, and the further training in Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and other areas including laboratory procedures and equipment maintenance.

• Coastal and marine resources (Chapter IV of the Barbados Programme of Action)
• National institutions and administrative capacity (Chapter X of the BPoA)
• Science and technology (Chapter XIII of the BPoA)

• Comprehensive, high-quality data sets for oceanographic, engineering and ecological parameters relating to various marine and coastal systems were established.
• A variety of oceanographic, coastal and ecological monitoring programmes permanently established.
• Design and implementation of appropriate solutions, both “hard” and “soft” options, to deal with beach and coastal erosion problems.
• Establishment of fully functional GIS capability (ArcCAD/ArcView).
• Drafting of a Coastal Zone Management Bill and a Marine Pollution Control Bill.
• Preparation of an integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan for the entire island.
• Training in key specialist areas, such as coastal engineering, GIS, hydrographic surveying, in order to complement existing personnel skills.
• Establishment of a permanent fully staffed entity for coastal resources management on the island.

• Programmes should be conceived as phased, incremental and long-term.
• Programmes should be internally driven, meaning they should solely depend on the country’s needs, circumstances and available resources.
• Programmes must set realistically achievable goals and objectives from the outset.
• Programmes must be based on a participatory approach, involving all interested stakeholders.
• Institutional strengthening and capacity building must be regarded as key components.
• Strong political support is necessary for the success of the Barbados Programme of Action.

Director
Coastal Zone Management Unit
Bay Street, Saint Michael, Barbados
Tel.: (246) 228-5955/0/1/2
Fax: (246) 228-5956
E-mail: Inurse@coastal.gov.bb

Permanent Secretary
Ministry of Environment, Energy and Natural Resources
Frank Walcott Building
Culloden Road, Saint Michael, Barbados
Tel.: (246) 431-7663/7692
Fax: (246) 437-8859
E-mail: envdivn@caribsurf.com