GEO-6 Regional Asssement for West Asia
Information is difficult to obtain without undertaking field surveys, which are labour-intensive and require long-term projects. Moreover, many of the studies undertaken in the region form the basis of environmental impact assessments that are often confidential, so the results cannot be disseminated. Meanwhile results from other projects are rarely disseminated or published in peer-reviewed journals.
Knowledge and human capital for evidence-based decision making
The gaps in knowledge in the region are hindering evidence- based decisions, resulting in a major drawback on sustaining biological resources. Scattered databases and grey literature in addition to working documents must be collated through regional or sub-regional initiatives. It is important to mobilise West Asian citizens to play a role in biological resource conservation, thus infusing it into societies and transforming social dynamics, in addition to creating potential for various opportunities, such as the creation and promotion of green jobs. The handful of citizen science initiatives that currently exist in the region are proving that short-term initiatives involving citizens are very successful. For example, in Qatar, a project used smartphone technology to bring the public and researchers together to create awareness in addition to mapping the countries’ mangrove forests and the flora and fauna that inhabit them.
By 2050, it is projected that there will be 100 million young people in the Middle East and North Africa region, approximately half of which will be in West Asia. Countries in the region are known to be home to the youngest populations, for example in Jordon more than 70 per cent of the population is under 30 years of age (Jordon 5NR 2015). Investment in youth can therefore be an instrument for national development and sustainability. The scientific deficit in GCC countries is also noted to be substantial, both in terms of research activity and advanced education, with few scientists, minimal research funding, despite the countries’ wealth, and limited research output (Van Lavieren et al. 2011).
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Financial resources to implement plans
The availability of financial resources for biodiversity conservation – rather than the compliance of Parties to biodiversity conventions – is still the key to successfully increasing implementation. West Asia includes developing countries that depend on donors to support the development of a framework of priorities and plans and their implementation. Financial support for biodiversity conservation is essential for addressing the key gaps identified in national biodiversity strategies and action plans.
Protecting woodlands and other plant habitats
Most of West Asia’s Terrestrial Protected Areas (TPA) have been established for the protection of terrestrial animals and very few for the protection of woodlands or other plant habitats. Although nature reserves also provide protection to plants, many in special niche habitats are neglected, especially endemic or near-endemic species, and many comprise small populations of relict species. Such species provide important information on the biogeography, evolutional history and past climates of a region, and are worthy of protection for both in and ex situ programmes.
In some parts of the region, for example the Arabian Peninsula, the protection of plants has been done through an old system of designated areas called hema that provide rotational use of plants, mainly for fodder. However, hemas have declined rapidly in the last 50 years, especially in Saudi Arabia as a result of changing life styles; in addition, hemas do not provide full protection, especially to species that are endemic and rare and may be present outside the hema. This system, though functional in conserving biodiversity in years gone by, is not sufficient to protect the plant diversity of today. New methods for protection and conservation have to be planned and implemented to ensure the conservation of plant life.
The UNEP/IUCN World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) 2014 Map of Protected Areas shows the proportion of protected area by country, ranging from under 5 per cent in Syria and Yemen, to 5 per cent in Iraq and Oman, and more than 17 per cent in Saudi Arabia. Hence, there is an urgent need to expand
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