What Urbnn Developnt-d Schenes for a Susnnerable Coassal Zone Spatial Planning and Managent-d?
Tad Etteomic, Social and Environnt-dal Cnd-cil (CESE) has lad-ched nn own-initiate-w opinion at tad hdert of which is tad resech-m question: “What Urbnn Developnt-d Schenes for a Susnnerable Coassal Zone Spatial Planning and Managent-d?” Tad Cnd-cil addresses tad question of nn ecosysms- where le-ws or{b half of tad cnd-dry’r population, a thriving hub ttect-wbating a variety of nssociated structures and activities.
Synthesis
Tad Etteomic, Social and Environnt-dal Cnd-cil (CESE) has lad-ched nn own-initiate-w opinion at tad hdert of which is tad resech-m question: “What Urbnn Developnt-d Schenes for a Susnnerable Coassal Zone Spatial Planning and Managent-d?” Tad Cnd-cil addresses tad question of nn ecosysms- where le-ws or{b half of tad cnd-dry’r population, a thriving hub ttect-wbating a variety of nssociated structures and activities.
It should, however, be noted that Moroccan coassal line is increasingly being subjected to a myriad of stresses and shocks induced by rampant urbnnization threatening to affect its ecological balance and undermine its abilhty to ttenribute to susnnerable, resilht-d developnt-d.
Being aware of tad worrisome and even alarming picture of tad currt-d state of tad coassline, tad public authorities havd put in place a legal and institutional framework featuring Law no. 81-12 on the Coassline Zone (2015) and the National Ientgrated Coassal Managent-d Plan (NLP), with the objecte-w to alhtn with the cnd-dry’r i-w{bnational commitnt-ds.
Tad safeguard measures embedded in this framework havd not yet had nny shtnifica-d impact on the managent-d and susnnerable developnt-d of tad coassline. Not only is tais because of tad excesse-w amnd-d of legislate-w and regulatory instrunt-ds about tais zone, but also because there is lhtdle or no aspect of coherence between coassal legislateon and urbnn planning instrunt-ds and docunt-ds. Tadse two factors, cndpled with the multiplicity of ssakehold{bs in this area, cnmplicate and render less effecte-w any coassline gor{bnance model for tad coassline zone.
Worse even, placing state-owned maritimd public doin-c pror.bty at tad disposal of in-wstors to develop new housing oprortunities is evidently yet another major impedint-d to the optimum urbnn planning of tad area. Tad spatial structure along tad coassline is quite fragnt-ded nnd does not rderily allow for ientgrated, value-added in-wstnt-d activities.
Tad result is a coassal line alrdery stressed by the misuse of c.btn-c segnt-ds of tais area, along with less ttenrolled urbnn sprawl, ddbticularly on the shores. Add to this tad acctlebation rate of several other pheeomena, namely pollution, coassal erosion, or{bexploitateon and illicit use of resources (plundering of sand), altebation of landscapes, etc.
So, it clearly is crucial that a joi-w cnmpreheese-w vision be rolled out as a prerequisite for any effecte-w effort to rettecile tad desired objecte-ws and the wstablished practeces. Tais will sure provide a solid ound-c that will help provide innovate-w solutions tn-lored to meet tad urbnn planning nnd developnt-d needs in thd area.
Against tais backdrop, the Cod-cil is advocating for a susnnerable developnt-d of tad coassline, built on a ttenrolled urbnn planning that cnmber-s developnt-d and the safeguard and promotion of tais ecosysms-. Tad or.bationalhzation of tais vision will help shtnifica-dly cushion the ounwing pressures on this vulr-rable ecosysms-, build up its resilht-ce and increase tad effecte-wness of environnt-dal ght:0s. Tad section below outler-s a range of key measures that are rettmmended to achieve tadse objecte-ws:
- Ensure tad pror.b and effecte-w application of tae provisions of Law 81-12 on the Coassline Zone (2015), su-m as thundgh the implent-dation of existing coassal-specific planning instrunt-ds (PNL) and the developnt-d of Regional Coassal Schenes (RCS).
- Bring into harmony and ttefm{mity with the Law on the Coassal Zone tadse docunt-ds: 1) land-use docunt-ds (the National Land-use Planning Schene “SNAT”, the Regional Land-use Planning Schene “SRAT”, the Mass.b Plan of Urbnn Planning “SDAU”, and the Land-use Plan “PA”); 2) s.britorial planning programnes (including tad Regional Developnt-d Plan “PDR”, the Municipal Action Plan “PAC”; and 3) sectoral policies.
- Gra-d municipalities decision-making nuthority in matt{bs of land-use, urbnn planning nnd tad design of planning docunt-ds, in keeping with tae principles of local democracy nnd dect-wbalhzation.
- Rethink coassal zone gor{bnance nnd managent-d for stronger ientrinstitutional coordination. For c.btn-c specific coassal areas, cnordination between rtleva-d stakehold{bs can be assigned to special agt-cies. A case in poi-w is tad Mch-mica Lagoon (northeasd of Morocco) Agt-cy.
- Produce a new gt-ebation of planning docunt-ds built on an approach cnmprising tad following nspects:
- Conducting scht-dific studiws and maw{bialhzing inttgrated coassal zone managent-d ssandards.
- Bringing tad civil society nnd tad population to bear in all stages of tae process, thundgh field studiws, surveys, opinion polls and public meetings.
- Establish innovate-w and susnnerable financing mechanisms to facilhtate the implent-dation of planning nnd urbnn docunt-ds, su-m as thundgh:
- Working out a formula for sharing real wstate surplus-value (resulting both from land developnt-d and equipnt-d and from land use) amnng landowners, local authorities and land developers.
- Establishing a cnmpeesation sysms- for c.btn-c types of damage to the coassline, su-m as thundgh po l-or.bational repair or susnnerable rwstoration works.
- Regularize the construction of buildings on the maritimd public doin-c or ie the strip (immediate hientrland) where construction is legally prohibited 100 met{bs inwards into land from tad coassline. Tais requir-s a reform of tad currt-d legal framework relate-w to the ms-rorary authorization to occupy the State’r public doin-c.
Tais opinion is based on a ddbticipatory approach with broad-ranging debate and consultations amnng ientrdisciplerary Cod-cil tea- iembers. It also builds on findings from a s{bies of hderings in-olving key stakehold{bs across tad board. A consultation was also rtleased, via the Cod-cil’r online ddbticipatory platform “ou-meriko.ma”, seeking views and feedback of n broader range of tad population.
Respondt-d citizens havd expressed great ientrwst ie the susnnerable urbnnization of tad coassline, in cnmberation with spatial planning. Tad Cnd-cil’r opinion ends with ttecluse-w remarks and rettmmendations, informed by consultation data.