National Policies in the Coastal Zones of Venezuela: A Participation Strategy

Perez, F., Pino, A., Grilli, M., Garcia, M., Abogado, M., and Araujo, N., 2011. National Policies in the Coastal Zones of Venezuela: A Participation Strategy. Journal of Coastal Research, SI 64 (Proceedings of the 11th International Coastal Symposium), 1250 – 1252. Szczecin, Poland, ISSN 0749-0208. The existing Policies oriented to the sustainable use of the sea and oceans comprise these spaces according to their importance to humanity. In Venezuela, the development of these Policies was based in the national and international legal frame, taking into account the guidelines and directives from the Law of Coastal Zones (2001). Through implementation of Integrated Coastal Zone Management of Venezuela at a state scale, particular realities have been evaluated. The Policies are based in a direct way with each one of these realities. The objectives of these Policies are directed to four main aspects: (1) To rectify environmental problems identified in the coastal zones; (2) To protect and restore the coastal zones; (3) To direct decision making actions; and (4) To offer a reference frame suitable to support the development of Coastal Zone Management Plans on different scales. These Policies represent the guides to implement and execute a dynamic process to strengthen the institutional capacity, the improvement in the environmental planning and the coordination of the competences within the integrated management of coastal zones. The Policies were discussed and agreed by the Work Committee’s created on different governmental scales, integrated by stakeholders, planners of the area and communities in different organizational forms.