Integrated coastal zone management in Colombia: 25 years of implementing an environmental planning policy

Abstract

Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) emerged as a strategy ecosystem approach for management seas and coasts, responding to international agreements such as the Convention on Biological Diversity with the Jakarta Mandate and the Convention on Climate Change. Colombia, located in the northern part of South America with coasts on the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, has institutionally adopted the ICZM for 25 years, establishing definitions, procedures, and instruments. The purpose of this work is to analyse the implementation of the ICZM in Colombia, as well as to identify future actions, considering the lessons learned. A participatory diagnosis was carried out using the Delfi method and an analysis of ICZM progress indicators. It was found that the implementation of the policy has been carried out through applied scientific research in order to build the methodology known (COLMIZC), which has become a reference for Latin America and is widely discussed in comparison to regional advances. The ICZM process has made it possible to consolidate a public policy, giving it relevance within the environmental agenda and the country's development plans. However, the creation of other political instruments that have not been well articulated with environmental policy has led to uncoordinated actions. Colombia has advanced conceptually and methodologically in the configuration of a political and regulatory framework. It is important to strengthen capacities in institutions and communities to provide local interventions with national and global impact. It is a priority to coordinate with the territorial authorities and influence sectoral planning.