Ecosystem Approach based Methodology to Support Land use Planning

The Ecosystem Approach Framework for Planning and Management of Coastal Wetlands ‘EA-PMCW’ was developed by Ghoneim, mainly based on developing the principles of the Ecosystem Approach ‘EA’ into a methodological framework. It aims to support land-use planning process and achieve sustainable development in coastalwetlands, as one of the most sensitive and productive natural ecosystems onearth. It should be mentioned here that the EA-PMCW was mainly learned from and built within four wider frameworks:RAMSAR convention for wetlands;The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment;The principles and guidelines of the ICZM and The International Convention for Biodiversity. However, it is oriented to support the environmental land use planning process.

The EA-PMCW transferred the principles of the Ecosystem Approach ‘EA’ into a methodological framework, which integrates the distinguished features of the Watershed Approach and othersuitable environmental planning approaches. It is also informed by the review of international planning and management experiences of EA applications and related frameworks and practical experiences, from the other EA customized frameworks. In order to test the applicability of this framework; the research used semi-structured interviews with the interested local experts. Moreover exploring the expected potentials and challenges could face the applicability of the EA-PMCW, a focus group workshop with the environmental managers and stakeholders helped to form some suitable recommendations for successful applications in Egypt.