Ecological and environmental
planning
Emmanuel K. Boon
School of Administration
University of Ghana
Legon-Accra
Ghana
Visiting Professor
Department of Human Ecology
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Brussels
Belgium
Laarbeeklaan 103
B-1090 – Brussels, BELGIUM
Tel.:
+32-2-477.42.81
Fax:
+32-2-477.49.64
E-mail: eboon@vub.ac.be
http://meko.vub.ac.be/~gronsse/
Content
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Definition and importance of planning
Why environmental planning
Characteristics of environmental planning
Obstacles to environmental planning
Steps in planning
Environmental decision making
Approaches to planning
The role of national governments in planning
Strategic environmental planning
Education and training
Participation
Coordination/ cooperation
Evaluation/ monitoring
Control
Port environmental planning
Human Ecology Department
Definition and importance
A set of interventions and other actions
undertaken during the elaboration of a
plan
A methodology for taking the future into
account
Provide people with an environment that
supports their way of life
Human Ecology Department
Why environmental planning?
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Sustainable development
Reducing or eliminating pollution
Restoring environmental management
Human Ecology Department
Characteristics of environmental
planning
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Linked to socio-economic development
Implemented in an integrated manner at
the level of
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4.
Local community
Regional
National
International level
Human Ecology Department
Obstacles to environmental
planning
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Environmental pollution does not respect
national boundaries
Many developing countries are disadvantaged
1. By limited planning and administrative structures
2. ‘top down’ development planning
3. Political and oraganisational obstacles
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Fragmentation of policy and instructions
Tension between central, regional and local
governments
International rivalry (ex socio economic
disparity between rich and poor nations)
Human Ecology Department
Steps in planning
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Definition of the problem
Establishment of planning objectives
Identification of the assumptions on which
planning is to be based
Search for and evaluation of alternative
courses of action
Selection of a particular action to be followed
Human Ecology Department
Environmental planning
Planners need to translate the concerns of the
community into strategies and policies
Growing concern for the quality of the
environment and for the preservation and
conservation of the nature
The planning process should give equal
emphasis to both socio economic
development and environmental quality
Integration of environmental health aspects
Human Ecology Department
Environmental decision making
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Behavioural and cultural dimensions
Nation specific - region specific
Communication and understanding by all
the relevant actors and stakeholders
Human Ecology Department
Approaches to planning
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Substantive planning
1. Subject matter of planning
2. Object of planning
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Procedural planning
1. Promoting economic growth
2. Inter related steps
Identification of needs
Specification of goals and objectives
Development of alternative means to attain each goal
Estimation of the costs of each alternative
3. Selection of the most promising alternative(s)
Human Ecology Department
Integration of substantive and
procedural planning
Role of the state as an agent of change
Analysis based on class, gender, political
ideology
Human Ecology Department
4 approaches to formal planning
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Top-down
Bottom-up
Mixture of Top-down and Bottom-up
Team approach
Human Ecology Department
2 environmental planning approaches
Institutional approach
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Used in the social planning process
Remedial measures: legislation, regulation, taxes and
charges
Commercial approach
2.
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Used in the business sector
Remedial measures: non-regulatory initiatives for
improving existing treatment process, developing new
environmental friendly processes and products, waste
minimization programmes, improving the logistics of
transportation, storage and sale of products
Human Ecology Department
Role of national governments in
environmental planning
National governments must:
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Establish priorities for environmental protection
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Calculate and create the trade offs to be made
between environmental protection and other
national goals
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Plan resource use and protection over several
generations
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The planning process should give equal emphasis
to both national socio-economic development and
environmental quality
Human Ecology Department
3 features for environmental
planning
Multi disciplinary nature of planning
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Economic, social, ecological, land use and
technical considerations
Public involvement
Systematic approach of the process
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Setting of objectives through the
implementation of remedial programmes
Assessment of results
Permanent feed-back
Human Ecology Department
The following must be considered
during the planning process
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Environmental effect-oriented issues
focus on the minimization of ecological threats
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Technologically-oriented issues
Focus on access of all counties to BAT
3.
Economically-oriented issues
focus on potential financial consequences
Human Ecology Department
ACTION during planning
A: anticipate the participation/involvement of all
stakeholders as well as environmental, technical end
economic consequences
C: Conclude the most plausible economic and environmental
development
T: Tabulate the possible advantages and disadvantages of all
possible decisions
I: Initiate evaluation of the advantages and disadvantages of
alternative decisions
O: Omit all less useful alternatives and highlight the
proffered ones
N: Negotiate with all relevant parties for acceptance of the
preferred action
Human Ecology Department
Strategic environmental planning
= Estimating the degree of risk of policies and
actions
Essential features:
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Future impact of current decisions and actions
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Cause-effect relationships of decisions over time
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Alternative courses of action and their influece
on the current decision
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Future opportunities and threats + other relevant
data
Human Ecology Department
Strategic environmental planning
process
Setting objectives
Definition of strategies and policies
Development of a detailed plan
Continuing process of deciding in advance
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What is to be done
When
How
Who is going to do it
Human Ecology Department
Strategic management
Human Ecology Department
Environmental education and training
Human Ecology Department
Participation in environmental
planning
Involve public participation at all levels
Individual
Community
Global
Panning = teamwork
Human Ecology Department
Cooperation/ coordination
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Planning process involves several agencies
Complex interrelationships between agencies
Cultural diversity
Policies, plans and programmes need
coordination
Cooperation has to be guaranteed through
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Video and tele-conferencing
Information networks
Human Ecology Department
Evaluation, monitoring and control
Evaluation
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Phase 1: Definition and estimation of various impacts
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Phase 2: Integrate impacts in an overall view->
judgment
Monitoring
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Performance monitoring: control use of inputs and
production of outputs
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Process monitoring: evaluate efficiency and
effectiveness of the plan
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Impact evaluation: estimate quantitative effects on
socio-economic conditions of the target population
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Cost benefit analysis: compare alternative projects
Human Ecology Department
Port planning
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Economic plan
Tourism plan
Industry plan
Service plan
Environmental plan
All plans impact on one another, conflict with
one another
A planning framework within the public which
public bodies, the private sector and individuals
can all operate
Human Ecology Department
Port planning at micro level
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Setting port objectives
Establishing policies, procedures,
programmes for their realization
Determining what needs to be done, by
whom and when
Human Ecology Department
Port planning at micro level
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Agreement on purpose
Assignment and acceptance of individual
responsibilities
Coordination of activities
Increased communication on group goals
Lateral communication
Human Ecology Department
Environmental planning in ports
experience from Ghana
Aim of environmental planning: combating marine pollution
and pollution of the coastal environment
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Tanker operations
TOR provides material for mopping oil
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Oil reception facilities
Reception facilities for oily waste are needed
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Collisions
Agreement with neighboring countries for the protection of the
coast (Abidjan Convention)
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Vessel operations
Environmental plans are needed for sinking vessels
Human Ecology Department
Environmental planning in ports
experience from Ghana (2)
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Oil spill emergency response plan
National oil spill response plan
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Regulations on pollution
Vessel pollution prevention law
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Port state control
Inspection of ships cargo record books and
documentation
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Land based pollution
Type of chemicals and their toxity has to be known
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Port administration
Plans to minimize paper waste
Human Ecology Department
Environmental planning in ports
experience from Ghana (3)
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Plant maintenance and repair workshop ->
grease and engine oil
Civil engineering workshop -> dust and gas
Electrical and marine workshop -> gas, dust
and solid waste
Fish market and surrounding area -> waste
from ships and other food items
Industry -> industrial waste
Human Ecology Department
Recommendations
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Public awareness
Education for staff and customers
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National maritime legislation
Merchant shipping act
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Port environmental policy and management
Development of an environmental management plan
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Environmental impact assessment (EIA)
EPA request companies to conduct EIA
Reception facilities
A treatment plant must be considered
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Human Ecology Department
Conclusion
There is a crucial need for:
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integrating environment into development
planning
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environmental education and training
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participation of key actors and public in
planning
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harmonization policies and plans at all levels
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evaluation, monitoring and control
Human Ecology Department