Chapter 2: State of the Environment and Policy Response
the protected area systems of the region to include different types of biologically productive vegetation – the wetlands, woodlands, coastal sites and deserts that constitute the habitats of the majority of the region’s flora and fauna. Nature reserves such as the Dana Nature Reserve in Jordan illustrate the value of protecting different habitats for plants, terrestrial animals and birds. The Dana Nature Reserve also provides opportunities for ecotourism, which benefits local communities.
New technologies supporting genetic research
Several studies have now been undertaken in the region using new technology and genetics to provide a better understanding of the movement patterns, behaviour and population structure of threatened species in both marine and terrestrial environments. For example, satellite tracking of female hawksbill turtles in the ROPME Sea Area indicates that this species is likely to remain within this body of water for breeding and foraging. A genetic study of the same species has also now confirmed that it does not mix with its Indian Ocean counterparts, and needs to be managed as one stock within the ROPME Sea Area. Similarly, a recent study focusing on the population genetics of four commercially important shark species suggests that these species are shared stocks between the Red Sea, Arabian Sea and ROPME Sea Area and need to be considered as one management unit. This has many implications in terms of conservation and is an opportunity for countries in the region to collaborate and develop comprehensive strategies for the protection of threatened or vulnerable species.
Ecosystem restoration and habitat remediation
Reforestation and afforestation activities used to be well developed in the Mashriq countries. However, with the emergence of conflict and social unrest and their consequences on neighbouring countries, these projects have slowed down or been curtailed. Habitat remediation is well developed for the coastal, marine and terrestrial environments of West Asia. For example, in the UAE, large expanses have been converted into new productive intertidal mangrove ecosystems. In Kuwait, new intertidal islands with mangroves, saltmarsh and terrestrial halophytes have been established within residential developments, and in Saudi
Arabia millions of mangroves have been planted along the Gulf coast to restore this productive and threatened habitat. Habitat remediation is not limited to government action: in both Kuwait and Saudi Arabia private enterprise is driving restoration. Large coastal and offshore oil- and gas-field developments have embraced habitat remediation as part of their overall operations, and environmental stewardship is now a business objective for many. There is growing recognition that coastal landscaping utilizing saline water irrigation and local halophytic plant species ranging from microalgae to larger vascular plants, such as saltmarsh and mangroves, is key to sustainable coastal development, and can help build natural blue carbon sinks to sequester and store carbon over the long term.
Techniques to deliver saline water for irrigation of halophytes within terrestrial coastal environments are a major advance, saving precious freshwater resources for irrigation, and protecting terrestrial soils from salinization. This technology also has huge potential for the production of forage crops for livestock in either coastal desert areas or inland areas where groundwater is saline.
Environmental education and public awareness
Incorporating environmental education and awareness into various sectors of society is an opportunity to involve the public, governmental organizations, schools, the media and various institutions in the conservation of biodiversity. This can be done by raising public awareness on broad environmental issues, for example through the media, or by using targeted campaigns or educational efforts focused on a specific issue or sector. This in turn leads to increased social responsibility, not only in terms of behaviour and participation in environmental matters, but also in the context of enforcing regulations. For example, the Ministry of Environment and Water in the UAE recently launched its 2015–2021 Environmental Education and Awareness Strategy to reorient current education and awareness programmes to include environmental dimensions and to ensure that basic environmental education is available in schools across the country. The aim is to ensure that younger generations grow up with a better understanding of environmental issues and want to participate in biodiversity conservation.
77
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