Environmental diagnostic model to support the environmental municipality planning: Case study of Inhambane municipality in Mozambique

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a methodology with which it is possible to perform analysis of the environmental situation of a given municipality.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology is referred to as municipal environmental diagnosis (MED). MED uses methodologies of various authors such as Mota, Santos amongst others, public and private institutions such as the Ministry of the Environment of Brazil and the United Nations Development Program. The proposed model has, as objectives, the creation and application of techniques for environmental auditing and their analysis for planning in a designated area; in this case the Municipality of Inhambane in Mozambique was used as an area of study.

Findings

This methodology is applicable and gives support to environmental planning and management and, subsequently, could serve as a diagnostic base for environmental components in other Mozambican municipalities and around the world.

Practical implications

These techniques will fundamentally support environmental and tourism strategies focused within a theoretical understanding of practical actions related to planning and environmental management, with the aim of increasing the sustainability of the municipality.

Social implications

The methodology will help to improve the living conditions of local people and visitors so that after its application they can develop their activities in concordance with the environmental plan and within set parameters.

Originality/value

This work is relevant for Mozambican municipalities specifically and to all world municipalities in general that do not have tools for environmental management. This work introduces a methodology for environmental diagnosis which allows municipalities to change their environmental situation.

Citation

Amiro Motany de Albuquerque Azevedo, H. and de Souza Bias, E. (2011), "Environmental diagnostic model to support the environmental municipality planning: Case study of Inhambane municipality in Mozambique", Management of Environmental Quality, Vol. 22 No. 3, pp. 358-373. https://doi.org/10.1108/14777831111122923