IV. MEASURES FOR INTEGRATING ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS
[ IV-A | IV-B | IV-C
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A. Stated environmental policies
The policy guidelines established at the last National Economic Summit have been compiled in a document entitled “Opportunities for Growth”. While most of the document deals with economic and social policies and strategies, chapter 11 contains the current statement on national policies and strategies that relate to the environment and sustainable development, and which include:
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Ensuring that environmental management is an integral part of the planning and development process;
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Strengthening of institutional capacity for environmental management;
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The use of EIA studies for new project proposals.
The focus of those strategies is more concerned with the protection of the environment against activities that threaten long-term productive potential than with environmental protection for its own sake. With respect to land degradation the policy statement includes the application of monitoring and management measures through all those agencies dealing with land and agricultural development. On the other hand, the policy and strategies statement on waste disposal and pollution problems focuses on strengthening legislation and taxation measures. Companies are to be responsible for the secure treatment of their own waste products. Charges are to be levied on polluters to reflect the cost to the community.
Unfortunately the national environmental policies have no basis for practical application. They appear to have been adopted on an ad hoc basis instead of a careful. cross-sectoral appraisal, which has resulted in limited implementation. The government needs to develop and adopt a comprehensive national policy for environmental protection and resource management which provides the goals, direction and guidance for government action. Environmental policies need to be developed both at the ministerial and departmental levels.
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