Introduction

Sound coastal area planning and management are key factors influencing the success and sustainability of rehabilitation and reconstruction in areas affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. In many places, unsustainable land management practices had degraded lands and vegetation prior to the tsunami and, to “build back better”, improved land and resource management systems are required. The lessons drawn from rehabilitation efforts in countries whose coastal lands were severely affected by the tsunami may also be applied by other countries seeking to improve their coastal area planning and management.

The balance between the environmental, economic and social values derived from different land uses has often been suboptimal, owing to underlying processes that consider short-term economic gains, but fail to account for long-term costs and benefits. Prevailing regulatory environments may also adversely affect investment in economically and environmentally sound activities, while promoting conversion of land at the expense of poorer people and natural habitats. Furthermore, social structures may result in an inequitable distribution of benefits that can lead to management difficulties, privation and political tension.

However, win-win solutions are often possible, such as identification of the positive influences adjacent land uses may offer one another that can lead to realization of benefits for all parties and sectors involved. Greater spatial integration of land uses and seasonal integration of activities associated with different livelihood strategies can similarly offer benefits in economic, environmental and social terms. Single objective, single output land management, however, frequently provides superior economic returns, although sometimes at greater social and environmental cost.

Determining the optimum land-use allocation is something that can only be achieved through analysis, consultation and a policy process that involves all relevant stakeholders. Such processes also facilitate the rationalization of policy and eradication of conflict and overlap. Key factors influencing outcomes at the local level that are of interest across the Asian countries affected by the 2004 tsunami include:

• policy and legislative frameworks that support coastal area management;
• means of addressing conflict over land and resource tenure and use; and
• institutional structures and mechanisms that enhance cross-sectoral coordination, community participation and intersectoral planning.

Analysis, review and comparison of these factors across countries provides stakeholders in different sectors and coastal land-use planners with the opportunity to increase their awareness of issues that are often overlooked as a result of the sectoral nature of management interventions. Thus, FAO organized this workshop to bring together field practitioners, policy analysts, coastal planners and technical experts from relevant sectors to exchange information on issues of key importance to post-tsunami rehabilitation with an emphasis on multisectoral interventions involving agriculture, fisheries and forestry. The workshop was supported by the Government of Finland, through FAO’s “Forestry Programme for Early Rehabilitation in Asian Tsunami-Affected Countries” and also by projects run by the agriculture and fisheries departments of FAO and funded by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the Swedish International Development Authority (SIDA) respectively.

The objectives of the workshop were as follows:

• To increase understanding of coastal area policies and coastal area planning, management and institutional issues in Asian tsunami-affected countries, with particular reference to the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors.
• To share experiences in coastal area planning and decision-making, the factors that influence policy and plan implementation and approaches and mechanisms for intersectoral integration and coordination.
• To identify actions to improve coastal area land-use planning and management for rehabilitation and reconstruction in tsunami-affected countries.

The workshop centred on the presentation of country papers for each of the eight Asian tsunami-affected countries, and three overview papers.

The country papers covered the following topics:

• Main patterns and trends in coastal land cover and land and fisheries use, the main driving forces and resulting issues and conflicts;
• Post-tsunami land tenure, fisheries access and use issues and conflicts;
• Policies and regulations and plans governing coastal land/resource management and use: conflicts and gaps; and
• Governance, decision-making processes and institutional structures for coastal land management and associated fisheries resource use.

The overview papers were concerned with the following areas:

• Land tenure and use change in relation to poverty and the environment in Asian tsunami-affected countries;
• Integrated coastal zone planning in Asian tsunami-affected countries; and
• Integrated land management to improve long-term benefits in coastal areas of Asian tsunami-affected countries.

Discussion groups were also held to identify common issues among countries, share experiences, and identify actions that could be taken at various levels to support improved coastal area management. Recommendations from the working groups are included in this document, as are the results of the individual working groups.

Over 90 participants attended the workshop, including individuals from local and national governments in the eight Asian tsunami-affected countries, other Asian countries, and representatives of regional and international organizations and NGOs. These proceedings document the efforts of the participants and the final outcomes of the meeting and constitute a valuable resource for those engaged in the tsunami rehabilitation efforts and other similar activities.