2.2.2 National Environmental Program 1995-2000
D.O.F. 03/04/1996
Decreto por el que se aprueba el programa sectorial de mediano plazo denominado
Programa de Medio Ambiente 1995-2000.
The National Environmental Program 1995-2000 was developed within the context of
the directives indicated in the National Development Plan 1995-2000 and in
accordance with the legal framework for SEMARNAP. Following the concept of
sustainability that offers a new and richer dimension to the political
atmosphere, and which demands a reinterpretation of problems and available
opportunities, the coastal and marine environment was considered among the six
fundamental points
that were used to establish the diagnosis for this Program.The objective of the
Program is "To stop the tendency towards environmental, natural resources and
ecosystems degradation, and establish the basis for environmental restoration
and recuperation, that permits economic and social development based on the
principles of sustainability" (INE,1995).
The program achieves viability and becomes operational through the use of the
environmental policy instruments.
Some of the most relevant environmental policy instruments applicable to coastal
zone management concern, among others,; protected areas, direct regulation of
wildlife, ecological zoning, environmental impact assessments, official Mexican
norms and research and education.
Among the 15 stated strategies for implementing the Program, three aspects are
of special interest for the protection of coral reefs:
Conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and protected areas.
Environmental zoning for regional development
Environmental protection of coastal zones
The first two issues are dealt with separately in other chapters of this
document, so this section will address only the policies for the Protection of
Coastal Zones.
The strategy utilized by the National Environmental Program for the protection
of coastal zones, mentions the following projects/priority activities:
Environmental Diagnosis and Development of a Database for the Coastal Zones of
Mexico:
The objective of this project is to integrate the necessary information for
environmental action on the coastal zones. Reliance on a water quality database
will permit a convenient and effective diagnosis of the Mexican coastal
ecosystems. This information will contribute vital elements for decision making
and policy development for the protection of coastal zones.
Evaluation and Control of Land-Based Marine Pollution:
In the Global Program of Action for Protection of the Marine Environment from
Land-Based Activities adopted during the UNEP Intergovernmental Meeting
(Washington, D.C., November 1995), countries pledged to protect and preserve the
marine environment by means of implementing actions to reduce any detrimental
impact due to land-based activities, especially those related to wastewater,
persistent organic pollutants, radioactive substances, heavy metals,
hydrocarbons, nutrients, sediments, trash and any physical modifications to the
habitats.
Following this program of action, an inventory will be taken of land-based
point-sources of pollution such as: water treatment plants, industrial plants,
municipal discharges, electric plants, tourist developments, aquaculture,
habitat alterations (i.e. dredging, marshlands, destruction of mangroves) and
introduction of exotic species. This inventory should also include non
point-sources of pollutants such as urban runoff, agricultural run-off,
forestry, mines and construction runoff, as well as atmospheric pollutants
(vehicle, industrial, incinerators and agricultural).
The National Institute of Ecology (INE) is developing the project entitled "An
Inventory of Land-Based Pollutants to the Sea Applying a Geographical
Information System (GIS)", which includes the six Gulf States and Caribbean Sea
of Mexico, and will allow for the identification and evaluation of point and non
point-sources of pollution that threaten marine and coastal environments. The
information shall be integrated into the Information System for Coastal Zones.
In addition, INE is participating in a regional (Mexico-US) pilot program
entitled "Conserving the Marine Resources of the Southern California Bight" for
the implementation for the Global Program of Action for Protection of the Marine
Environment from Land-Based Activities within the framework of the Commission
for Environmental Cooperation (CEC).
Monitoring System for Mexican Seas:
Within Mexico, there is no existing periodic or permanent monitoring system that
evaluates the status of Mexican seas and varying environmental parameters over
time. It is deemed necessary to initiate the development of a long-term
monitoring system with a dependable information base that will supply preventive
and corrective methods for the protection of marine and coastal ecosystems.
The aforementioned project (An Evaluation of Pollutants in Mexican Waters within
the Gulf Coast and Caribbean Sea) executed in collaboration with the Secretariat
of the navy, whose results are in the stages of integration and analysis, will
help to establish the baseline for a monitoring system. Periodical monitoring of
the marine environment is necessary in order to maintain an information base
that supplies preventive and corrective methods for the protection of marine and
coastal
ecosystems.
Inspection, Verification and Enforcement:
In compliance with the Ecology Law and related ecological regulations,
environmental zoning, management plans, environmental impact statements and
regulations pertaining to the Federal marine-terrestrial zone must be promoted
through inspections, verifications and enforcement actions, as part of the
coastal and marine ecosystem conservation strategy.
Strengthening International Cooperation in Relation to the Protection of the
Marine Environment:
The requirement for increased participation in global and regional programs
having to do with the protection of the marine environment and promoting the
establishment of efficient mechanisms for the exchange of information and
technical support is necessary. Program participation occurs principally in the
following organizations:
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) and the Subcommission of the
IOC for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (IOCARIBE)
International Maritime Organization (IMO)
United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)
Economic Cooperation and Development Organization (OCDE)
Commission for Environmental Cooperation in North America (CEC)
(adapted from INE/Lezcano, 1997)
return to
Module Eight
