KNOWLEDGE SHEET 11A | CIVIL SOCIETY  E CO NO M I C, SO CI A L A ND CU LTU R A L D E VELOPMEN T KNOWLEDGE SHEET 11A | CIVIL SOCIETY How can we balance economic, social and cultural development while enhancing the environment Engaging Civil Society on balancing development while enhancing the environment The economy, human activities and cultural heritages should all be in balance with the environment. As each one • 31% of the population of West Africa resides of these aspects grows, the impact on the environment has in the coastal region and accounts for 56% of to be taken into consideration. However, current human the overall economy of the region. activities and natural changes (for e.g. Climate Change) • Sea level rise is eroding up to 20 or 30m of the will worsen the existing natural and economic pressures coast every year. on the West African coastal zone. These affect the cultural development of the region. Local communities can make • Coastal livelihoods and local cultures are a difference and bring the economic, social and cultural being lost in West Africa due to changes in development back into balance. the environment. • The economy will suffer and jobs will be lost if the environment is not looked after and human Challenges activities do not change. Livelihoods, cultural heritage, and the social aspects of the West African coastal communities are under threat. • Actions at local level can make a huge impact The rising temperatures of the oceans have triggered the for the whole environment. relocation of fish, while erosion and increased salty water, have reduced farmable land and polluted the freshwater • Human induced habitat loss, overexploitation supplies. The seas are also rising causing flooding, the loss of natural resources, rapid urbanization, sea of housing and destroying businesses (IPCC 2008). Certain and coastal pollution, and poor environmental human activities are also causing problems; the rivers are governance all contribute to the loss and vul- being polluted and their access to the ocean is being nerability of coastal areas along West Africa’s blocked, this causes a loss of animal and plant life, which shoreline. affects the amount of fish and marine life that is available for food. With livelihoods and heritage taken away, coastal 1 KNOWLEDGE SHEET 11A | CIVIL SOCIETY  E CO NO M I C, SO CI A L A ND CU LTU R A L D E VELOPMEN T communities lose the young people that leave to find jobs Agbavi (Ghana), the situation has become so bad that elsewhere, while unemployment drives drug and alcohol many youths have joined criminal gangs to smuggle fuel consumption for those that stay behind. For example in and beach-sand. The latter worsens coastal erosion. Educational processes to strengthen capacities related to environmental management, risk management and adaptation measures to climate change in Bajo Lempa (El Salvador) Photo: WaterClima LAC. WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT IT? Take action and join or create community groups to Although environmental changes are taking place defend the environment and to report on any illegal that puts the community at risk, action can be taken or inacceptable human behaviors towards the environ- through community participation. A forward-looking ment. Gain further knowledge of your local situation, example is taken from the “Associación Mangle” which speak to your local associations to see how you can is a good illustration of a community taking action. It assist in improving the situation at your local level. is a local association from the Bajo Lempa river basin Participate in local meetings and workshops to explain in El Salvador, which works for the improvement of your situation and the conditions at local level and the living conditions of the local communities. It was form part of the solution. You can also consider using formed in May 1999 as a social movement to protect technological solutions to help the environment such the environment in reaction to the devastating effects as alternative types of fuel that does not affect the of increased storm intensity, sea level rise, biodiversity local coastal environment (for example solar kitchens). loss and fish catch reduction from artisanal fishing. 2 KNOWLEDGE SHEET 11A | CIVIL SOCIETY  E CO NO M I C, SO CI A L A ND CU LTU R A L D E VELOPMEN T The association also responded to upstream indus- The success of this community association has allowed trial activities that pollute the river system as well for many plant and animal species to be rejuvenated as the lagoon area where the community lives. The and for the coastal community to be more resilient “Associación Mangle” has developed educational to climate change. The association now forms an processes for the strengthening of capacities related integral part of the management processes of the to environmental management, risk management and local and national government. adaptation measures to climate change (WaterClima Taking action, participating in or creating initiatives LAC, 2016). They have implemented activities, such to manage better the environment while protecting as an early warning system, which among other the social fabric and cultural heritage helps local accomplishments, focuses on the conservation and communities to balance the economic, social and sustainable use of natural resources. They have set up cultural development of the area. a programme for the restoration of mangrove forests that showcases innovation. REFERENCES • International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). • WaterClima LAC. 2016. Gestión de Zonas Costeras 2008. Climate Change and Water. Bates, B.C., Z.W. y Cuencas en el contexto de Cambio Climático en Kundzewicz, S. Wu and J.P. Palutikof, Eds. IPCC Latino América y el Caribe. http://www.waterlac. Secretariat, Geneva, pp. 210. https://drive.google. eu/es_CL/ com/file/d/0B1gFp6Ioo3akcFFFeGRRVFNYM0E/ view?pli=1 The West Africa Coastal Areas Management Program (WACA) is a convening platform that aims to assist West African countries to sustainably manage their coastal areas and enhance socio-economic resilience to the effects of climate change. The program also seeks to facilitate access to technical expertise and financial resources for participating countries. www.worldbank.org/waca 3