GEO-6 Regional Asssement for West Asia
2.4 Biodiversity Key messages: Biodiversity
• There is considerable wealth of both aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity components in West Asia, well adapted to the arid environment. These biological resources support people through products and services. The potential of this natural wealth is not fully explored and should be embraced from an eco-disaster risk-reduction perspective as well as a valuation perspective.
•
Current conflicts and instability have resulted in environmental impacts that put biological resources at risk resulting in a number of critical challenges to biodiversity, causing further biodiversity degradation. Presently, the region’s biodiversity is under threat, and is principally vulnerable to anthropogenic pressure in the form of urban expansion, pollution, overconsumption of biological resources beyond the biocapacity of ecosystems, and modification of habitats. The dual effect of continued anthropogenic activities and climate change will further undermine biodiversity.
• Reducing the direct pressures on biodiversity and promoting sustainable use require that conservation policies be integrated into national and regional planning, implementation and regulatory frameworks. In this regard, capacity building in biodiversity planning, information management, and enforcing laws and regulations are key tools for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in the region.
• Conservation of biodiversity requires a collaborative and regional approach. Joint research, information sharing and collaboration between the countries of the region are crucial for developing solutions for better conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and transboundary resources.
• West Asian countries have become signatories to biodiversity-related international agreements, with 11 countries having developed and in the process of updating their policy instruments. Nevertheless, the pace remains slow, owing to the overwhelming nature of the task for government officials and the lack of effective implementation mechanisms.
2.4.1 Biodiversity in West Asia
The West Asia region has a considerable wealth of biodiversity encompassing unique terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. West Asia is home to Mediterranean forest in the north and sandy desert in the south – the Empty Quarter, Al-Rub Al-Khali. Between these two extremes various ecosystems are determined principally by harsh climatic conditions and a range of landforms (Figure 2.4.1). West Asia also has two distinctive World Heritage Sites, Wadi Rum protected area in Jordan and the Socotra Archipelago in Yemen (UNESCO 2015; Abulhawa et al. 2014) (More...13).
66 Terrestrial ecosystems
Terrestrial ecosystems have largely been classified as ‘least threatened’. The principal exceptions are the three habitat types in West Jordan, all of which are classified as threatened. Most notably, the Forest and Non-Forest Mediterranean Ecosystems are both endangered and in need of further protection.
The Euphrates and Tigris are the two major freshwater ecosystems that feed the Mesopotamian marshlands – the largest wetlands in West Asia – eventually joining up to form
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156