Emergy Analysis Perspectives, Public Policy Options, and Development Guidelines for the Coastal Zone of Nayarit, Mexico
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EMERGY ANALYSIS PERSPECTIVES, PUBLIC POLICY OPTIONS, AND DEVELOPMENT GUIDELINES FOR THE COASTAL ZONE OF NAYARIT, MEXICO Report to The Cousteau Society and the Government ofNayarit, Mexico VOLUME 1: Coastal Zone Management Plan and Development Guidelines By Mark T. Brown Pamela Green, Agustin Gonzalez, and Javier Venegas September, 1992 Center for Wetlands and Water Resources University ofFlorida Phelps Lab, Museum Road Gainesville, Florida Tel (904) 392-2424 Fax (904) 392-3624 EMERGY ANALYSIS PERSPECTIVES, PUBLIC POLICY OPTIONS, AND DEVELOPMENT GUIDELINES FOR THE COASTAL ZONE OF NAYARIT, MEXICO Report to The Cousteau Society and the Government of Nayarit, Mexico Volume 1: Coastal Zone Management Plan and Development Guidelines By Mark T. Brown, Pamela Green, Agustin Gonzalez, and Javier Venegas Research Studies Conducted Under Contract No. 90071109 September, 1992 Center for Wetlands and Water Resources University of Florida Phelps lab, Museum Road Gainesville, Florida Tel. (904) 392-2424 Fax (904) 392-3624 EMERGY ANALYSIS PERSPECTIVES, PUBLIC POLICY OPTIONS, AND DEVELOPMENT GUIDELINES FOR THE COASTAL ZONE OF NAYARIT, MEXICO. Volume 1: Coastal Zone Management Plan and Development Guidelines TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ........................................................... .. ii SECTION 1: The Coastal Zone of Nayarit ........................................ 1-1 SECTION 2: Environmental Constraints and Opportunities for Development 1-21 SECTION 3: Social/Cultural Constraints and Opportunities for Development 1-50 SECTION 4: Goals and Objectives for Protecting the Resources ofNayarit 1-57 SECTION 5: The Regulatory Framework 1-59 SECTION 6: Generation of the Plan 1-63 Introduction 2-1 Proposed Nayarit Coastal Zone Management Plan 2-2 Nayarit Coastal Zone Management Plan Concept 2-2 Goals and Objectives 2-3 Deftnitions ...................................................... 2-5 Land Development Intensity Districts and Overlay Districts 2-10 Nayarit Coastal Zone Management Plan Maps 2-14 Procedural Requirements 2-15 Introduction ........................................................... 3-1 Deftnitions ............................................................ 3-9 Procedural Requirements for Developers 3-12 Land Development Regulations 3-23 Site Development Regulations ............................................... 3-28 Introduction ........................................................... 4-1 The Present Situation .............. 4-1 Development of the System 4-2 Management Requirements .................................................. 4-6 Management Program .................................................... 4-12 LITERATURE CITED 5-1 MANAGEMENT PLAN MAPS 1-26 6-1 EMERGY ANALYSIS PERSPECTIVES, PUBLIC POLICY OPTIONS, AND DEVELOPMENT GUIDELINES FOR THE COASTAL ZONE OF NAYARIT, MEXICO Volwne 1: Coastal Zone Management P1lln and Development GuiJleUnes by Mark T. Brown, Pamela Green, Agustin Gonzalez, and Javier Venegas INTRODUCTION This document is the first of a two volume report to The Cousteau Society and the Government of the State of Nayarit, Mexico. It is an outgrowth of a 2 year study to develop recommendations for a master plan for the coastal zone of Nayarit. As part of our effort we conducted several Emergy analysis studies of fisheries, tourism, water use. and heath care within the coastal zone (given in Volume 2). These studies provided necessary background information for public policy decisions regarding the best use of resources and for determining carrying capacity of the coastal zone for future development. As part of our efforts, two Mexican students were trained in methods of ernergy analysis and environmental planning. Our intention from the outset was to develop recommendations for a Master Plan comprised of a complete set of planning documents that included a map of overall development potential, a regulatory framework and the necessary legislation for implementation. This volume, in essence then, is the Master Plan for the coastal zone. It contains a Land Use Management Plan, A Developers Handbook, and a Reserves and Protected Areas Plan, along with documentation. These comprise the set of planning documents that, if implemented, will achieve the State's goal of protecting the environmental and social/cultural resources of the coastal zone. This volume is comprised of 4 parts : Part 1: Resource Management Options - Part 1 provides the necessary background information that lays the framework for the management plan in 6 sections: Section 1: The Coastal Zone of Nayari,t - a description of the coastal zone and its environmental resources. ii Section 2: Environmental Constraints and Opportunities for Development - a discussion of the development potential of the environmental resources within the coastal zone that includes criteria and suggested regulations for their protection. Section 3: Social/Cultural Constraints and Opportunities for Development -A discussion of social and cultural issues that affect development potential that includes criteria and suggested regulations for minimizing development impacts. Section 4: Goals and Objectives for Protecting the Environmental and Social/Cultural Resources - a compilation of goals and objectives that are an outgrowth of the environmental and social/cultural constraints and opportunities for development. Section 5: The Regulatory Framework - suggestions for a development review board and a review process that will insure the execution of the management plan. Section 6: Generation of the Plan - a summary section of the methods and background materials used in determining constraints and opportunities for development and the Overall Development Potential Map of the coastal zone. Part 2: Proposed Land Use Management Plan - The Management Plan includes a regulatory framework and legislative component, written as an ordinance, so that it may be adopted as the key element for the protection of the coastal resources of the State. Part 3: Handbook of Development Guidelines - Called the "Developers Handbook". Part 3 is the set of development guidelines for developers that provides information and instructions for developing within the coastal zone. Part 4: Reserves and Protected Areas Plan - The ReselVes and Protected Areas plan contains suggestions for preservation and management of areas of special significance. iii PART 1: RESOURCE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS SECTION 1: THE COASTAL ZONE OF NAYARIT The physical and biological endowment of Nayarit is bountiful and rich in its potential for supporting multiple human activities. But it has its limits. Increasingly. humanity is learning that it must accept the ecological constraints set by these limits and recognize that fragile resources, once destroyed, cannot be easily replaced (Barlowe, 1979). Nayarit's coastal zone contains many critical ecological areas, which are extremely vulnerable to destruction. For example, coastal wetlands provide a critical link between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and provide a vital service for the marine ecosystem. It is estimated that over 70 percent of all commercially valuable marine fishes rely on estuarine areas during at least part of their lives. Half of the biological productivity of the world's oceans occurs along the coast, and estuaries are the most productive fishing areas known on earth (Rau, 1980). Nayarit Coastal Zone Biogeography The State of Nayarit is located in the northwestern portion of central Mexico (Figure 1). It borders on the north with the states of Durango and Sinaloa, on the south with Jalisco, on the east with Jalisco, Durango and Zacatecas, and on the west with the Pacific Ocean, with a coastline length of 289 kIn. In this report, the Nayarit Coastal Zone (NCZ) is divided into three general regions, according to characteristic geological features. The 3 zones are: (1) the North Pacific Coastal Plain Zone (NPCPZ), (2) the Central Neovolcanic Axis Coastal Zone (CNVACZ), and (3) South Sierra Madre Coastal Zone (SSMCZ). These zones are dermed as follows: (1) The North Pacific Coastal Plain Zone (NPCPZ) lies within the northwestern province of the state with a length of approximately 100 kIn. It is characterized by its low relief, and is comprised of great flood plains, lagoons and wetlands, and is aligned parallel to the coastline. This portion of the coastal plain consists of a fringe of large littoral ridges, which include numerous marshes interspersed between sand bars. Most of the area's soils are alluvial, lacustrine and palustrine deposits, which come from the Cenozoic era and the Quaternary period. It is possible that peat deposits could be discovered in the coastal plain, as well as salt and other minerals which are formed under conditions similar to those that prevail in this province. Until recently there has not been much knowledge of the geologic resources in this region (SPP, 1981). 1-1 1-2 Due to the presence of sea water within the marshlands and parallel bar ridges, soils have high concentrations of salts, which make them incapable of sustaining agriculture, except when they are thoroughly washed. The predominant soil class is Solonchak (gleyco, ortico and takirico), as well as some Regosol eutrlco. The climate in this region is hot, and varies from dry to subhumid. The predominant vegetation associations are mangrove forest and low deciduous tropical forest. Halophytic vegetation predominates, but there are also medium deciduous tropical forests; induced grassland; palms; and salt marsh vegetation (see the following section for descriptions