Marine Spatial Planning in Colombia: Advances and Challenges Facing the Implementation of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development

Abstract

The oceans present high levels of degradation and affectation by human activities and global warming, hence the use of the Decade of Ocean Sciences for Sustainable Development of the United Nations 2021-2030 (Decade), where Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) is included, are seen as initiatives that contribute to improve the current situation of the world’s marine ecosystems. In Colombia the MSP is understood as the Marine-Coastal Planning (OMC by its acronym in Spanish) and even though it has presented progress in recent years, due to the lack of approval of law projects, there are legal gaps in Marine-Coastal Planning that hinders its development. However, the policy instruments that Colombia has on oceans and coastal spaces such as the National Policy of the Ocean and Coastal Spaces (PNOEC by its acronym in Spanish) and the CONPES “Colombia Sustainable Bioceanic Power 2030” (CONPES 3990 by its acronym in Spanish) turn out to be strategic tools that help to complement those gaps found. Through this article, a diagnosis of the panorama of MSP in Colombia is made regarding the implementation of plans and projects that the Decade can develop and strengthen in the country. For which a bibliographic review of the main policies and instruments of Marine-Coastal Planning in Colombia was carried out.