Coastal Commandments

The guiding principles behind the IDB's new coastal and marine management strategy are the following:

- Ownership of resources at the local and national levels ensures a sense of shared responsibility.

- Community participation builds constituencies for resource management.

- Projects must have a strategic focus, addressing problems that stakeholders regard as important.

- Where different groups compete for the same resources, integrated projects are essential.

- When sustainability is in doubt, err on the side of caution.