**2. Problem description**

Guiding principles related to ENM aim to ensure the protection of human health from environmental noise. ENM should first be based on the polluter pays principle, the precautionary principle, the prevention principle, and the principle of


#### **Box 1.** *The guiding principles of ENM.*

*Guidelines for Environmental Noise Management in Developing Countries DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.109952*

participation of all stakeholders, including the population [2, 19]. The principle of participation requires the commitment of all stakeholders to ENM, their access to information regarding environmental noise, the raising of stakeholder awareness, equity with respect to the protection of the public against noise exposure, and the orientation of all stakeholders towards a common objective (coherence) in a concerted effort. Secondly, any ENM approach should be integrated with the more general efforts of environmental protection against all kinds of pollution to fully exploit the benefits of integrated solutions. Thirdly, an ENM approach should develop sound solutions that are compatible with national, regional, and local needs and, consequently, can be implemented in a decentralized way with due consideration of local capacities at least costs and highest efficiency. Fourthly, as developing countries always suffer from lack of appropriate funds, ENM is to follow a stepwise approach by setting achievable targets and milestones. Finally, ENM should be sustainable in the sense used by the WSSD report [20] and comprehensive with respect to public health protection.

However, in developing countries economic, institutional, and political constraints may hamper the full implementation of these principles.

The guiding principles are defined and summarized in **Box 1** [19].
