Costal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) 2006.

The Costal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) is the plan of action adopted by the Coast Conservation Department (CCD) for management of the Coastal Zone during a five year period. It is designed to ensure sustainable use of the coastal environment and its resources in the long-term, while satisfying current national development goals. It outlines the management objectives of the CCD for the period under consideration, the policies to be adopted, and the strategies and actions required for effective management of the Coastal Zone in the face of competing resource uses. So far, coastal resource management planning has been based on the recognition that: CCD is only one of many institutions that have jurisdiction over management of coastal resources, proposed management measures have to be socially and politically acceptable, and planning has to be based on a realistic assessment of the CCD's capacity to directly manage the development activities affecting coastal resources and its ability to influence coastal management activities of other organizations.
The Mission of the CCD is the sustainable development of coastal resources and the management of coastal processes to optimize social, economic and environmental status of Sri Lanka. The results to be achieved are: Quality of coastal lands and waters improved; Conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity ensured; Optimal economic potential of coastal lands realized; Development of the Coastal Zone regulated; New economic opportunities created; Quality of life of coastal communities improved; Facilities for recreation use provided; Scientific/scenic/historical/archaeological and cultural sites conserved.
The CCD has a distinct role for sustainable development of coastal resources and the management of coastal processes. In recent years, the CCD has increasingly recognized the need to strengthen its capacity for policy planning and regulation as well as facilitating integrated management of coastal resources. The management efforts undertaken so far reflect these needs.
The six objectives of this Plan are as follows: Objective 1: Acceptable coastal water quality is maintained by minimizing the discharge of untreated or/and partially treated effluents from development activities. Objective 2: The location and type of development activities in and outside the Coastal Zone are made consonant with conserving the natural shoreline and coastal features. Objective 3: Pollutant loads entering coastal waters are estimated and minimized through regular monitoring and research. Objective 4: Coastal pollution is minimized through education and the dissemination and sharing of information using strategic communication. Objective 5: Salt marshes are conserved to sustain ecological functions and socio-economic values. Objective 6: Barrier beaches, spits and sand dunes are conserved to sustain ecological functions and socio-economic and aesthetic values.