World Environment Magazine, Issue 2

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WORLD FUTURE ENERGY Summit WATER RESOURCES STRATEGY for Abu Dhaby Emirate ALTAS OF OUR CHANGING ENVIRONMENT THE MOHAMED BIN ZAYED SPECIES CONSERVATION FUND TOWARDS SUSTAINLABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR A Sustainable Future

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CONTENTS 8

17

Energy

22

Water

Global Warming

INTERNATIONAL 1

Historic moment of Recognition towards two Great Leaders of the Arab Nation

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His Royal Highness King Abdullah Speech at the G20 summit

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Because we should | by Mark William Lowe

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Low-energy houses in southern Mediterranean countries: success stories and lessons learnt | by Klaus Wenzel

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The First Saudi Think Tank

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Remarks on the isotopic composition of holy - Water of Zamzam, Mecca area | by Samir Anwar Al-Gamal

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Groundwater resources and climatic changes in Africa | by Youba Sokona - Samir Al-Gamal - Abdel-Kader Dodo

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Africa: Atlas of Our Changing Environment | by Ashbindu Singh

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Planting Trees à la Tree-Nation | by W.F. Hulzebosch

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American University of Beirut’s Nature Conservation Center for Sustainable Futures (IBSAR) | by Simba Russeau

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Wildlife conservation society reports: argentina bans commercial fishing in key marine wildlife area

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French Initiative A Sustainable vision launched to protect nature reserves in Lebanon | by Elsa Sattout

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To What Extent Are Contemporary Policies for the Protection of Coral Reefs in Saudi Arabia Effective?

by Prince Faisal al Faisal

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Ecovillage | by Roula Yammine

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Discover nature with fun “unique environmental experience” |

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Auric Colors and Chakras |

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Baghdad Marathon | by Gabriella Porilli

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When will Saudis go green? | by Jennifer Seligman

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Global Strategic Studies Institute

by Roula Yammine

by Gabriella Porilli

Worldenvironment Magazine’s policy is to use papers that are natural, renewable, recyclable and made from wood grown in sustainable forests. In addition, all waste is sent for recycling

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47

Biodiversity

72

Eco-Tourism

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Eco-Living

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Special ABU DHABI

SPECIAL ABU DHABI

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World Future Energy Summit: 19-21 January 2009, Abu Dhabi

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Technology pavillions from international governments

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Abu Dhabi water and electicity authority to set up a solar energy trial in the Emirates

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Water Resources Strategy for Abu Dhabi Emirate

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Air Quality Management

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Towards a Sustainable Environment for a Sustainable Future

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The Mohamed Bin Zayed species conservation fund

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The Arabian Oryx Freed Spirit of the Desert

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Abu Dhabi Marine Protected Areas

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United Arab Emirates environmental TIPS

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Because we should

by MARK WILLIAM LOWE

T

he geographical area represented by the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, also known as Gulf Cooperation Council, is generally considered as being one of the fastest growing economies in the world. The six states that comprise the Council, namely Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, have the fortune to possess considerable economic reserves derived primarily from oil and natural gas. According to the International Monetary Fund the measures in place to protect these reserves will maintain the area’s spectacular growth and, in some experts’ opinions, lead to Qatar shortly overtaking Luxembourg in

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terms of nominal GDP per capita.

So what is sustaining this growth and what particular ambitions do Council members have for the future? The answer to the first question is relatively simple; a building and investment boom sustained by saved petroleum revenues, a surge in financial and investment services, and the constant expansion of the tourist industry, to name but three important growth areas. As regards plans for the future the answer is something of a surprise; a leadership role in the energy revolution and the battle against climate change.

The second World Future Energy Summit will be held in Abu Dhabi on 19 - 21 January 2009 under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. The event represents an opportunity for attendees to discuss a wide range of themes ranging from Energy Policy and Environmental Strategy to Green Buildings and Ocean Power.

With over 15.000 attendees expected the Summit will merge representatives of government, science, civil society, and industry creating an environment that will foster and encourage debate between policy-makers and venture capitalists, technicians and consumers, industry leaders and environmentalists.

For a region that possesses approximately 40% of the world’s proven oil reserves and around 22% of the world’s proven gas reserves, the exhibition’s objectives highlight the Gulf’s firm commitment to renewable energy

and the environment. One particular example of this commitment is Emirates Airline’s recent experiment in reducing fuel consumption and carbon emissions on the company’s inaugural Dubai–San Francisco flight.

Cooperation between government agencies in Dubai, Russia, Iceland, Canada, and the United States allowed Emirates to test the efficiency of an environmentally sound north-south flight path. Over time it is hoped that the use of this route in conjunction with the real-time calculation of prevailing winds and aircraft weight will allow a saving of an estimated 2.000 gallons of fuel and 30.000 pounds of carbon emissions.

Other examples of the region’s commitment to renewable energy and the environment include important experiments such as the Solar Village Project and the Solar Controlled Agricultural Environment Project in Saudi Arabia. Although a major oil producer the Kingdom has openly stated it’s wish to play a positive role in tackling global warming through the development of new and innovative technology. The Emir of Qatar has introduced the Green Qatar Goal, an initiative that, amongst many other things, has led to the invention of a solar mat to be used while camping instead of a generator. On a far larger scale it was announced earlier this year that Qatar was considering building a 3,500 megawatt capacity solar power complex. Slightly more recently plans for the construction of a $12 million solar thermal power station were made public. If successful the plant

EDITORIAL

would be scaled up considerably and would represent a regional case study in the use of renewable energy. Qatar has also introduced penalties for the wastage of water and electricity, and in an effort to reduce air pollution has defined a series of air quality laws, an initiative adopted by a number of Gulf states.

The most recent US Energy Information Administration’s global emissions figures, released in early December 2008, show that carbon emissions in Europe have diminished considerably in recent years. The more cynical would argue that this can be attributed to slowing economies, others, including the author, would argue that the reduction is also in great part due to the commitment of European governments to implementing carbon emission reducing measures and policies.

If carbon emissions have been reduced in Europe unfortunately the same cannot be said for other regions.

Government commitment to, and

leadership in, environmental issues is fundamental. Climate change, pollution, and future energy resources all require government led and sponsored solutions.

Masdar, the host and organiser of the forthcoming World Future Energy Summit, was established by H. H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, with the ambitious goal of developing a global centre of excellence for renewable energy research, development, and innovation.

Last November, during an official visit to Abu Dhabi by the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, a cooperation agreement was signed by Ed Miliband, the UK’s Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, and Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Masdar’s Chief Executive Officer. The agreement, a clear recognition of Masdar’s strategic role and importance, opens the door to a series of forms of collaboration vital to the renewable energy and

sustainable technology sectors. The results of the agreement will be significant, experts are confident that the benefits of future investments and knowledge transfer processes tied to the initiative will help develop the growth of the renewable energy sector at a global level.

The return to Abu Dhabi of the world’s largest conference and exhibition on renewable and future energy solutions, innovations, policy and vision underlines the fact that the future of the energy revolution and the battle against climate change will see the Gulf states playing an ever more central role. There are a number of reasons for this, however, Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber recently summarised them very simply and eloquently when he stated that “You may be asking why Abu Dhabi would proactively seek a key role in alternative energy, the short answer is because we can, and because we should”.

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ENERGY

Low-energy houses in southern Mediterranean countries success stories and lessons learnt

by Klaus Wenzel

Why low-energy houses?

L

ow-energy houses haven’t been an issue in the southern Mediterranean countries for long; when energy prices were low, the first priority was keeping down investment costs and constructing swiftly for a quickly increasing urban population. But since oil world market prices doubled within one year, individuals suffer from high invoices and most countries in the region are struggling with the heavy burden of energy subsidies on the state budget. Countries like Tunisia, Lebanon and Syria spent billions of Dollars on energy subsidies.

According to several recent studies, the building sector is

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the biggest single consumer of energy world wide, using 35-40% of energy resources. At the same time, this sector has the highest potential for energy savings and the use of renewable energies.

What is even more important: buildings have also the highest saving potential with no-cost and low-cost measures, e.g. by just changing the building design and applying well-known technologies such as insulation, solar-waterheaters, etc. (see chart below, source: Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change – IPCC, AR4 Synthesis Report, Fig. 4.2).

The MED-ENEC project of the EU

(public, professionals, government),

• pilot projects by providing financial and technical

The MED-ENEC project “Energy Efficiency in the Construction Sector in the Mediterranean”, financed by the European Union, supports since early 2006 partners in Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, the Palestinian Territories, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey in boosting energy efficiency measures and the use of renewable energies in buildings by improving framework conditions and initiating: • networking of policy makers, exchange of information and experience among MEDA-countries and with partners from the European Union, • better regulations and incentive schemes, • public-private partnerships, business and technology cooperation and technical conferences and exhibitions, • awareness for the advantages of low-energy houses Type of building

assistance,

• the internet platform www.med-enec.com

Success stories from 10 MEDA-countries The MED-ENEC pilot projects represent a rich variety of building types and include new buildings as well as refurbishments. All relevant technologies have been used in order to reduce conventional, e.g. carbon-based energy consumption. The MED-ENEC pilot projects are realized by national partners with the support of international short-term experts. Most buildings are already finalized and inaugurated (Lebanon, Turkey, and Palestine), in the finishing (Jordan, Egypt and Israel) or in the last construction phase (Algeria, Morocco, Syria and Tunisia), see Graph 2 below:

Country and city

Used technologies

Small residential buildings Rural house (pic.1)

ALG - Souidania, Alger

Bioclimatic design, earth stabilized bricks, night ventilation and fans, solar space heating & hot water

Urban villa (pic.2)

JOR - Aqaba

Design, orientation, shading, solar cooling, thermal insulation

Urban villa/guest house (pic.3)

MRC - Rabat

Bioclimatic design: orientation, thermal insulation, overhang shadowing, thermal mass, night ventilation, solar collector/heat pump system

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ENERGY Large residential buildings Appartment building (pic.4)

PAL - Ramallah

Thermal insulation, solar domestic hot water, ground coupled heat pump

Low-income appartment building (pic.5)

SYR - Kudsira Suburbs

Thermal insulation, traditional shading, solar chimney, evaporative cooling, solar floor heating & hot water

Private training & research centre (pic.6)

TUR - Gebze

Thermal insulation, natural light, shading, ground heat pumps for cooling & heating

NGO training & community centre (pic.7)

ISR - Sakhnin

Traditional elements: passive cooling towers (Malkafs), natural light openings (Tisanes), shading systems (Mashrabia) New technologies: CFL bulbs, photovoltaics (PV) and wind turbine

Public administration office (refurbishment) (pic.8)

EGY - Sharm El Sheikh

Solar cooling, reflective insulation coating for roof, shading, sealing the windows, occupancy sensors

Private hospital (refurbishment) (pic.9)

LEB - Zgharta

Roof insulation, efficient lighting, maintenance of air conditioning, demand-side management system

Tourism complex (chalets) (pic.10)

TUN - Beni M'Tir

Wooden construction, bioclimatic design, insulation, shading, thermal mass, night ventilation, geothermal heat, solar air collectors, PV

Not-residential buildings

Pic.1

Pic.8

Pic.7

Pic.7

Pic.2

Pic.9

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Pic.3

Pic.5

Pic.4

Pic.6

Lessons learnt After nearly three years of project lifetime some important lessons can be drawn from the realization of pilot lowenergy buildings in the 10 MEDA-countries.

Pic.10

(2) A number of mature and some innovative technologies are available. A systematic approach of identifying appropriate technologies is shown in the graph below:

(1) High energy savings of up to 100% - compared to conventional buildings - are technically possible as shown below. These energy savings correspond to a maximum of 410 tons of avoided CO2 annually for each of the different pilot projects.

N.B.: For EGY and LEB no incremental costs are shown, as these PP are renovation projects

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(3) However, if broad dissemination of low-energy houses in the region is the first priority (instead of showing the “state of the art”), economic considerations, e.g. the relation of energy savings to additional cost and the pay-back period, limit the use of available technologies to the most cost-efficient “smart technology mix”, that

ENERGY

“Replicable solution”: using a cost-efficient technology mix, reducing learning cost and applying non-subsidized energy prices may be different according to the type of building, the climate zone, energy prices and the availability of know-how and technologies. Experiences from our pilot projects lead to the following specific, e.g. project- and country related assessment: (4) When a smart technology mix is applied, pay-back periods indicate profitable investments (such as in Lebanon, Syria and Jordan). However, in several cases the micro-economic financial performance indicators are not so promising (>10 years). This is mainly due to – according to the country - market barriers such as high initial learning costs and high energy subsidies, in addition to a technology mix that seeks to demonstrate

costs of 10-15% and reasonable pay back periods (except for Tunisia, which is a special case of a “green” tourist resort).

(6) As a conclusion, the MED-ENEC experience shows clearly that public support is necessary for overcoming market barriers and massively boosting energy efficiency in buildings. Countries with very low energy prices need to provide incentives for these measures, as pay-back on investment in these countries is unacceptable when calculated on a micro-economic level. Most markets for EE/RE-technologies are not yet mature; therefore governments may want to support market transformation for a limited time, e.g. through awareness and education programs, standard setting, procurement policies and large low-energy housing programs.

(7) Government intervention as described above is a profitable investment for all countries from a macroeconomic point of view. The economic and social gains of reducing waste of energy outscore quickly the cost of promotion of energy efficiency by:

• increasing export earnings for energy exporting countries,

• reducing energy subsidies for energy importing also innovative and promising but still poorly costefficient technologies: (5) When using a smart and cost-efficient technology mix, when reducing learning costs through large public building programmes, and when applying non-subsidized energy prices (by using opportunity cost of export prices for energy-exporting countries or full production cost without subsidies for energy importing countries) all pilot projects become very attractive with energy savings of 20-60%, incremental

• • •

countries, protecting vulnerable parts of the population (by targeting EE-subsidies), developing technological competence and knowhow and by creating new jobs in cutting-edge business sectors.

Contact and more information: Klaus Wenzel MED-ENEC Team Leader Klaus.Wenzel@gtz.de www.med-enec.com

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ENERGY

THE FIRST SAUDI THINK TANK SSSI is the first & only Saudi independent think tank whose mission is to develop and promote new policy ideas

T

he Saudi Strategic Studies Institute (SSSI) pioneered the renewable energy & CDM applications both in Arabian Gulf and around the world. It helped to develop many of the techniques, which have set the standard or transforming state operations into private business especially in the renewable energy and the environmental policies.

SSSI was in the front line of replacing central planning and state controls buy incentives, globalised opportunities and an entrepreneurial culture. A series of SSSI research reports implemented by HRH Prince Faisal Bin Turki AL-Faisal & his team of experts led to revolutionized the Saudi energy perspectives to ward a global understanding to all the new environmental trends, to stimulate economic growth and create a business-friendly climate.

SSSI has consistently and logically set out the argument that local oil & gas consumption leads to a more dynamic economy & subsequent increase of the life-span of GCC oil & gas reserves. Tight government regulation of business and enterprise is arguably a legacy of the desire to control and confine, which characterized GCC planning. SSSI Scholars Program will put forward the case that less regulation means not simply lowers costs, but also that it opens opportunities for the development of innovative ideas.

SSSI has taken the lead in calling for the replacement of the current local perception of CDM applications & schemes by fully funded private CDM projects, essentially the private sector or global or government funds. The introduction of parental choice in education was a direct result of an SSSI proposal to His Majesty the Custodian of the two Holly Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz AL-Saud to raise â‚Ź150 million as a fund to assist renewable energy projects & research centers for developing countries. Such a strategic global approach will arguably be a the most advanced R&D institute in the Middle East. It is committed to working towards universities to be given the right for their full independence and subsequent separation from the government.

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Prince Faisal Al Faisal with Lord Dennis Rogan at the House of Lords, London

Mission statement SSSI is the first & only Saudi independent think tank whose mission is to develop and promote new policy ideas, which will foster a free society based on strong communities, personal freedom, limited government, national selfconfidence and an enterprise culture. SSSI is committed to an evidence-based approach to policy development.

We work in partnership with academics and other experts and subsequently commission major studies involving thorough empirical research & scenarios of alternative policy outcomes. We believe that the policy experience of other countries offers important lessons for governments within in the GCC.

ENERGY GCC local rules and regulations. As an independent organization, the SSSI will publish work by contributors from all the main political players. Those involved in its activities are well placed to ensure that its ideas are fed into the policy-making process. The SSSI also provides advice to GCC governments in several ARAB countries, as well as to EU institutions. The SSSI organizes seminars. The SSSI will soon publish pamphlets, essays, working papers and the bi-monthly SSSI Bulletin. Its website offers access to its publications and up-to-date news on SSSI meetings, events and research.

History

Prince Faisal Al Faisal, Mr. Farhan al-Farhan and Eng. Ali Al Kyar at the House of Lords, London

In 2003 HRH & a group of young SAUDI SCHOLARS decided to establish SSSI, because they felt that on a global basis the existing think tanks had failed to focus on the reformation of the GCC from a constructive point of view.

The first four pamphlets will be published in September 2009. SSSI has always been pro-European but not uncritical. It began as an informal network; with the task of improving the quality of the GCC debate on EU-GCC relations, thereby leading to rethink of the appropriate location to commence global action. In January 2008 SSSI established an office in Westminster, London, developing the first strategic plan to become an active player at the future energy summit in Abu Dhabi, followed by a move to Brussels.

Additional SSSI information Chairman: HRH Prince Faisal Bin Turki AL-Faisal Vice Chairman: HRH. Princess Sarah AL-Faisal Director: Mr. Farhan al-Farhan Deputy Director: Eng. Ali AL-Kyar Counsel/Asia Director: Mr. James Edwin Parker Birmingham Chief economist: Prof. Haya AL-Farhan Research Director (crime and justice): Mr.Ali AL-Jarman Research Director (education): HE.Dr.Maryam AL-Farhan Research Director (governance): HRH Prince Saud Bin Talal AL-Saud Research Director (security): Eng. Saad Ghandoor Office Manager: Mr. Mohammed Sultan PR. Director: Mr. Tim Mehmet Media Relations: Mr. Giles Sturges

What it does?

The SSSI is a think tank devoted to improving the quality of the debate on the future of the GCC. The SSSI aims to promote new ideas and policies for reforming the

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Jeddah- AL Nahdah 7630 Prince Sultan RD:UNIT.1 Jeddah 23614 PO.BOX: 5378uk Saudi Arabia Phone: +966508381107 - Fax: +96614610574 Email: info@ff-publicrelations www.ff-publicrelations.com SAUDI STRATEGIC STUDIES INSTITUTE HYPERLINK http://www.saudissi.net

WATER

REMARKS ON THE ISOTOPIC COMPOSITION OF THE HOLY - WATER OF ZAMZAM, MECCA AREA one of the miracles of

ZAMZAM WATER is its

ability to satisfy both thirst and water

by SAMIR ANWAR Al-GAMAL

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T

he Zamzam well is located in Mecca, which is the heart of the Hajj pilgrimage. Standing only a few meters east of the Ka’bah, the well is 35 meters deep and topped by an elegant dome. Zamzam water represents one of the most ancient aquifers in our planet. The present study is the first trial in recognizing the isotopic signature of the Zamzam’s holy water. The Zamzam well at the very beginning was acting as flowing spring. However, by the course of time and due to excessive pumping which has impacted on over drafting the aquifer, the holy water has become 35 m deep from the ground surface. Many scientists, have found certain peculiarities that make Zamzam’s water healthier, like a higher level of calcium. Apart from its ability to serve as satisfying food and drink, Zamzam water’s health benefits are also commended The major solute chemistry is expressed in terms of cations and anions. The trace element chemistry was expressed as Mn, Ni, Zn Rb, Sr, Mo and Ba. The radiological characteristics of the Zamzam water was expressed as U, Th, K-40 and Cs-137. The isotopic composition* was expressed as O-18 and H-2.

Location and historic background Zamzam is the name of the well that provides the water to billions of people, have thirstily drunk from throughout history, especially during the Hajj pilgrimage Zamzam “holy water” well is located in Mecca area, one of the most respected cities for Moslems. Mecca city is located in Western of Saudi Arabia about 70 km to the south of the city of Jeddah on the coast of the Red Sea. Mecca is bound by latitudes 21º 26’ 48” N and longitudes 39º 53’ 46” E with an elevation of about 1399 ft above mean sea level (Fig. 1). All traditions agree that Allah created the well to provide Hajira, the wife of Prophet Ibrahim (Alayhis Salam), and her baby Prophet Ismail (peace be upon him) with water in the hot, dry valley they were in.

In her desperate search for water, Hajira ran seven times back and forth in the scorching heat between the two hills of Safa and Marwa to provide for her baby who was dying

Fig.1 Location map of the study area.

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of thirst. Today, this same act is a necessary rite of Hajj all Muslims, mothers and fathers, must complete.

Prophet Ibrahim settled his family there as part of God’s mission for him. The first thing Hajira had to do then was to look for water in the area. She was searching for it while watching at her son and would run whenever she could not see Ismail. Allah saw her effort and miraculously blessed the spot with a water spring.

The appearance of the Zamzam began the settlement of the Makkan valley, where the descendants of Prophet Ismail populated the area. But as time passed, Prophet Ibrahim and Ismail’s monotheistic message, which once dominated the region, began taking a backseat to pagan, polytheistic beliefs. Nonetheless, the well of Zamzam retained its importance in later generations. The grandfather of the Prophet, Abdul Muttalib, was honored with the responsibility of taking care of the well and the pilgrims to Makkah.

One of the miracles of Zamzam water is its ability to satisfy both thirst and hunger. One of the Companions of the Prophet said that before Islam, the water was called “Shabba’ah” or satisfying. It was filling and helped them nourish their families.

After Islam, this powerful ability to quench thirst and fill stomachs remained. The Prophet said: “The best water on the face of the earth is the water of Zamzam; it is a kind of food and a healing from sickness.”

More recently, in the last few decades, scientists have collected samples of Zamzam water and they have found certain peculiarities that make the water healthier, like a higher level of calcium. Apart from its ability to serve as satisfying food and drink, Zamzam water’s health benefits are also commended. The Prophet said it was a healing from sickness. This is why pilgrims to Makkah to this day collect it in bottles to bring for relatives and friends back home who are ill. The Prophet used to carry Zamzam water in pitchers and water skins back to Madinah. He used to sprinkle it over the sick and make them drink it. Wahab ibn Munabbah, who was from the second generation of Muslims, said ”I swear by Him in whose possession my life is, Allah Ta`ala will relieve the person of all illnesses who drinks Zamzam to his fill and will also grant him good health”.

It is linked to some of the most important personalities in world history: the Prophets Ibrahim and Ismail (peace be upon them) and Muhammad, as well as Ismail’s mother Hajira (may Allah be pleased with her). * isotopic composition; radiological background; solute chemistry; trace element

WATER RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Solute - chemistry The major solute chemistry of Zamzam reveals it’s enrichment with calcium and its water type is of calcium carbonate type (Fig.2) (Table1). The distribution of major salt assemblage are: magnesium bicarbonate, magnesium sulphate, sodium and potassium chloride. The long residence time with aquifer materials of basic lava origin (basalt) can account for the ferro-magnesium minerals out of which the calcium and magnesium originate. The enrichment of Zamzam water with calcium reflecting its ability to satisfy both thirst and hunger, while the slightly enriched values of potassium and sodium reflects it ability to control the human nervous system.

Fig.2 Hypothetical salt combination for Zamzam water

Isotopic characteristics The isotopic composition of Zamzam water is expressed as O-18 and H-2 .The cross plot of 18O versus 2H is shown as Fig. 3. The low content of 18O (-10.04 ‰) and 2H ‰ (-90.36 ‰) are attributed to palaoclimatic recharge. The inspection of this figure reveals that Zamzam is even more depleted in delta values if compared with some of the selected transboundary aquifer containing palaeowaters all over the world. The isotopic composition shows a little bit shift to the right of the meteoric water line (MWL).

Palaeowaters are supposed to be depleted in O-18 with respect to recent water, if precipitated under more humid and cooler periods. The interpretation is that recharge occurred during the last Holocene humid period and that the aquifer is now discharging ancient groundwater resources. This is in agreement with the observed decrease in Zamzam piezometric level (where Zamzam at the time of Prophet Ismail was flowing and it is now 30m from the ground surface).

Fig.3 Cross plot of δ18O versus δ 2H for Zamzam and selected palaeowaters

The y-intercept value of 10 in the GMWL equation is called the deuterium excess (or d-excess, ord parameter) value for this equation (Fig. 3). The term only applies to the calculated y-intercept for sets of meteoric data “fitted” to a slope of 8: The deuterium excess is a function of the relative humidity during evaporation and could vary from 4 to 24 for relative humidity variation range of 60 to 90% and temperature of condensation range of 0 to 20 оC (Yurtsever et al., 1996).

The fact that the deuterium excess for Zamzam water is 10 reflects that the origin of Zamzam rain was different from that of the other palaeowaters. It is difficult to say whether this would be due to global variations in origins and atmospheric circulations of air masses during the period of recharge or “instantaneous” situation corresponding to exceptional events of precipitation (and recharge).

Ayun Musa palaeowater on the eastern side of Gulf of Suez, though showing difference in salinity reflects more or less the same isotopic signature with that of Zamzam (H-2=-85, O-18=-11). Auyun Musa water aging calculated on the basis of C-14 age to ranges between 25,000 to more than 40,000 BP (Rognon, 1976).On the basis of similarity in isotopic signature Zamzam could have the same range of age. The following general palaeoclimatic picture was recently proposed for the late Quaternary of both hemispheres, for latitudes of up to about 25º (Zamzam is at latitude of 21º): *40,000-20,000 BP: heavy rainfall and high lake levels *17 000 -12 000 BP: interopical aridity, dune building and lake desiccation *11,000-5,000BP: highprecipitation and very high lake levels (which is most probably the climatic condition prevailing during the time of issuing Zamzam.

Radiological characteristics The radiological characteristics of Zamzam water is expressed as 238 Useries (226 Ra and 214 Bi), 232 Th

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WATER Sample

Cations Ca

Anions Mg

Na+K

CO

3

Trace elements SO

4

Cl

Mn

Ni

Zn

Rb

Sr

Mo

Ba

Zamzam 2006 Parameter

Concentration

Major ions, ppm

Zamzam

Na

121.90

K

60.00

Ca

114.00

Mg

27.97

Cl

147.50

HCO3

285.00

SO4

187.00

TDS

1011.00

Trace element , ppt Mn

361.00

Ni

882.00

Zn

1164.00

Rb

1311.00

Sr

14472.00

Mo

2708.00

Ba

650

Isotopic composition, ‰ δ18O

-10.04

δ2H

-90.36

Table1. Chemical and isotopic composition of Zamzam water

series (228Ra,228Ac and 208Tl), in addition to 40K and 137Cs (Table 2).All radiological measurements are within the low permitted limit.

Conclusions The overall picture of the major and minor solute chemistry as well as the radiological characteristics expresses water with certain peculiarities and uniqueness.

The isotopic composition expresses that of a palaeowater recharged during cooler climate than the present.

The highly depleted delta values when compared with the

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Sample

U Bq/l 1.6

Th Bq/l 1.2

K-40 Bq/l 3

Cs-137 Bq/l 0.7

Table 2. Radiological characteristics of Zamzam water

isotopic signature of Nubian aquifer in Egypt, Continental Intercalaire aquifer and “complex terminal” in Algeria, Brazil Cretaceous aquifer and Sac aquifer in Saudi Arabia, reflects water with most probably older age.

It is difficult to say whether this would be due to global variations in origins and atmospheric circulations of air masses during the period of recharge or “instantaneous” situation corresponding to exceptional events of precipitation (and recharge).

References 1) Al-Gamal,S.A.2005: Geothermal resources in Egypt, exploration & development,12 SANCIAHS Symposium, Eskom Convention Centre, Midrand.

2) Rognon,P.and Williams, M.A..J.(1977) Late Quaternary climatic changes in Australia and North Africa: Apreliminary interpretation, Palaeoclimatol., Palaeogeol. 21,285.

3) Munnich, K.O., and Vogel, J.C.(1962), Untersuchungen an pluvialen Wassern der Ost-Sahara,Geol. Rundsch. 52,611.

4) Yurtsever, Y. and Buapeng, S.,1996. Compartmental modelling approach for simulation of spacial isotopic variation in the study of groundwater dynamics. A case study of a multi-aquifer system in the Bangkok Basin, Thailand. In: Isotope Techniques in Water Resources.

Development 1991. IAEA, Vienna, pp. 291-308

SAMIR ANWAR Al-GAMAL Professor of Environmental Hydrology Sahel and Sahara Observatory (OSS) Boulevarard du Leader Yasser Arafat BP31-1080 Tunis, Tunisia samoreg@yahoo.co.uk

GROUNDWATER RESOURCES AND CLIMATIC CHANGES IN AFRICA IN AFRICA CLIMATE CHANGE AND VARIABILITY HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO IMPOSE ADDITIONAL PRESSURES ON WATER AVAILABILITY

by Youba Sokona Samir Al-Gamal Abdel-Kader Dodo

C

limate change is likely to impact groundwater resources, either directly, e.g. via changing precipitation patterns, or indirectly, e.g. through the interaction of changing precipitation patterns via changing land-use practices and water demand. These changes may concern both groundwater quantity and quality.

Climate change will affect groundwater recharge rates, i.e. the renewable groundwater resource, and groundwater levels. Any decrease in groundwater recharge will exacerbate the effect of sea-level rise. In inland aquifers, a decrease in groundwater recharge can lead to saltwater intrusion of neighbouring saline aquifers, and increased evapotranspiration in semi-arid and arid regions may lead to the salinisation of shallow aquifers.

In Africa climate change and variability have the potential to impose additional pressures on water availability, water accessibility and water demand ... A 1째C increase in temperature could change runoff by of the order of 10%, assuming that the precipitation levels remain constant. If such an annual decrease in runoff were to occur in other watersheds, the impacts in such areas could be equivalent to the loss of one large dam per year.

Temperature and precipitation in the African Sahel are negatively correlated - seasonal warming accompanied late 20th century drying.

Climate change and Hydrologic cycles Warming is very likely to be larger than the global annual mean warming throughout the continent and in all seasons, with drier subtropical regions warming more than the moister tropics. Annual rainfall is likely to decrease in much of Mediterranean Africa and the northern Sahara,

24

with a greater likelihood of decreasing rainfall as the Mediterranean coast is approached. Rainfall in southern Africa is likely to decrease in much of the winter rainfall region and western margins. There is likely to be an increase in annual mean rainfall in East Africa. It is unclear how rainfall in the Sahel, the Guinean Coast and the southern Sahara will evolve (IPCC. FAR ,2007).

Spatial variability in the hydrological cycle and its development are large, leading to large differences between the regions, as compared to a global average. There is still relatively high uncertainty in prediction of regional climate change.

Across most climate change scenarios, an increase in annual mean precipitation in high latitudes and Southeast Asia, and decreases in central Asia, the area around the Mediterranean, southern Africa and Australia is projected. So Latitude is a good starting point for considering how changes in climate will affect a region. For example, while warming is expected everywhere on Earth, the amount of projected warming generally increases from the tropics to the poles in the Northern Hemisphere. Precipitation is more complex, but also has some latitudedependent features . At latitudes adjacent to the Polar Regions, precipitation is projected to increase, while decreases are projected in many regions adjacent to the tropics. Increases in tropical precipitation are projected during rainy seasons (e.g., monsoons), and over the tropical Pacific in particular (IPCC,4AR,2007). So in very basic terms the high latitudes are projected to become wetter, the subtropical latitudes (e.g. Mediterranean, and Southern Africa) around latitude 30 North and South are projected to become drier (Fig. 1).

However, unexpected climate change that very likely be reflected on the hydrologic cycle can be attributed to: Firstly and according to Liepert (Liepert et al.2004) reduction in surface solar radiation due to clouds and aerosols (which

GLOBAL WARMING Overall situation of water resources in Africa

Figure 1: Temperature anomalies with respect to 1901 to 1950 for six continental-scale regions(of which Africa is included) for 1906 to 2005 (IPCC,4AR,2007)

is composed of sulphates, Nitrates and organic black carbon).

The tropospheric presence of aerosols according to Leipert leads to reduction in evaporation and precipitations despite global warming. Aerosols absorb sunlight and heating of aerosols layer due to absorption can cause dissolving of clouds. Moreover, aerosols particles additionally act as cloud condensation nuclei and increase cloud albedo and cloud lifetime.

Furthermore, Roderick and Farquhar (2002) argued that global solar radiation causes the decline in pan evaporation and concluded that water cycle “dampens”. In Liepert’s model simulation (Liepert et al.2004) it was concluded that hydrological cycle spins down in such a scenario and the residence time of water vapor increases. In conclusion Liepert’s study (Liepert et al.2004), indicates that these interaction (cloud-aerosol interactions in climate) together with realistic increases in anthropogenic aerosols are able to modify the hydrological cycle through surface energy budget modifications and subsequent reduction in evaporation to the extent that it can spin down despite global warming.

Secondly, the role of moisture supply; a warmer atmosphere can sustain more moisture, if moisture is available. But, it may be that over land, and at the margins of convection, there will not be enough moisture to sustain deep convection, hence these margins could become drier, so Reductions in rainfall then result for those margins of convection zones that have strong inflow of air from the subsidence regions and less frequently meet the increased “ante” for convection. In simulations analyzed here, this new mechanism is the leading cause of tropical drought in the global warming case and is dominant in certain El Niño drought regions.(Neelint et al.,2003).

Water access and water resource management are highly variable across the continent (Ashton, 2002; Van Jaarsveld et al., 2005; UNESCO-WWAP, 2006). The 17 countries in West Africa that share 25 transboundary rivers have notably high water interdependency (Niasse, 2005). Eastern and southern African countries are also characterised by water stress brought about by climate variability and wider governance issues. Significant progress has, however, been recorded in some parts of Africa to improve this situation, with urban populations in the southern African region achieving improved water access over recent years (Van Jaarsveld et al., 2005).

When water is available it is often of poor quality, thus contributing to a range of health problems including diarrhoea, intestinal worms and trachoma. Much of the suffering from lack of access to safe drinking water and sanitation is borne by the poor, those who live in degraded environments, and overwhelmingly by women and children. The relevance of the problem of water scarcity is evident in North Africa, considering that estimates for the average annual growth of the population are the world’s highest: 2.9% for the period 1990-2002. The Water Exploitation Index2 is high in several countries in the sub region: >50% for Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco and Sudan, and Water Exploitation Index: total water abstraction per year as percentage of long-term freshwater resources. >90% for Egypt and Libya (Gueye et al., 2005).

Until recently, these countries have adopted a supplyoriented approach to managing their water resources. However, managing the supply of water cannot in itself ensure that the needs of a country can be met in a sustainable way.

Attributing sensitivity and vulnerability in the water sector solely to variations in climate is problematic. The complex interactions between overfishing, industrial pollution and sedimentation, for example, are also degrading local water sources such as Lake Victoria (Odada et al., 2004), which impacts on catches. Integrated analyses of climate change in Egypt, moreover, show that population changes, landuse changes and domestic growth strategies may be more important in water management decisionmaking than single focus on climate change.

Impact of global climate change on water resources in Africa There has been very little research on the impact of climate change on groundwater, including the question of how climate change will affect the relationship between surface waters and aquifers that are hydraulically connected (Alley, ‘01).

Climate projections for Africa suggest that land areas may

25

warm by as much as 1.6°C over the Sahara and semi-arid parts of southern Africa by 2050. Robust findings on regional climate change for mean and extreme precipitation, drought. are shown in figure 2. which show high correlation between precipitation and mean air temperature for African Sahel. The further inspection of this figure reveals that temperature and precipitation in the African Sahel are negatively correlated - seasonal warming accompanied late 20th century drying. The regression equation that best fit the relation can be expressed as follows:

T (deg C) = 0.0137 P (mm/mo) (Giannini,2007) Equatorial countries (Cameroon, Uganda, and Kenya) might be about 1.4°C warmer. Sea-surface temperatures in the open tropical oceans surrounding Africa will rise by less than the global average (i.e., only about 0.6-0.8°C); the coastal regions of the continent therefore will warm more Slowly than the continental interior.

In southern Africa and parts of the Horn of Africa, rainfall is projected to decline by about 10% by 2050. All of these changes could increase the drought frequency. Changes in sea level of about 25 cm might be expected by the year 2050 (IPCC, 2001-2007). Climate change impacted on the decrease of runoff by 10 to 30% include the Mediterranean, southern Africa, and western USA/northern Mexico (Milly et al., 2005).

Figure 2: Cross plot of mean air temperature versus mean monthly precipitation over African Sahel in the period from 1950-1990 (Giannini, 2007)

These effects could mean locally-severe, groundwater-related impacts on water supplies, on property and on ecosystems that depend on groundwater. The impacts of climate change could increase the cost of providing water supplies, already rising as a result of deteriorating groundwater quality. Groundwater, of course, cannot be considered in isolation - impacts of climate change not necessarily related to groundwater, such as changing land use and population density, will have a knock-on affect on groundwater.

26

Impact of climate change on groundwater resources: Observed changes Lowering in groundwater levels A water level in an aquifer are often observed to respond consistently to precipitation, although the nature of the response can be complex and depends on time of year and prior conditions, etc. Groundwater levels correlate more strongly with precipitation than with temperature, but temperature becomes more important for shallow aquifers and in warm periods.

Case study 1: Niger River Basin (NRB ) The Niger River basin, located in western Africa, (Fig. 3) covers 7.5% of the continent and spreads over ten countries (FAO Land and water Bulletin 4, 1997). Algeria and Chad together cover about 9% of the total Niger River basin, Guinea cover about 6% but the sources of the Niger River are located in this country, Côte d’Ivoire (1,5%), Mali (26%), Niger (23%), and Nigeria (33 %). The most important areas of the Niger basin are located in Mali, Niger and Nigeria. Mali and Niger are almost entirely dependent on the Niger River for their water resources. In the case of Niger nearly 90% of its total water resources originates outside its borders (the Niger River and other tributaries from Burkina Faso and Benin) Burkina Faso (4%), Bénin (2%), Cameroun (4%), Chad (1.0%) but there are almost no renewable water resources in these areas. The quantity of water entering Mali from Guinea (40 km3/yr) is greater than the quantity of water entering Nigeria from Niger (36 km3/yr), about 1800 hen further downstream. This is due among other reasons to the enormous reduction in runoff in the inner delta in Mali through seepage and evaporation combined with almost no runoff from the whole of the left bank in Mali and Niger.

Niger River Basin is very vulnerable to future climatic change due to: 1) the manifest impact of the changes that have already occurred and exemplified by displacement in the position of rain belts (Fig.4a), and the great variability in precipitation patterns and intensities as expressed by scattering around mean value (Fig.4b), 2) reduction in the flow of Niger River 3) lowering in water table of nearby shallow aquifers as shown in Fig.5. The further inspection of Fig. 4a reveals the shifts of isoheytal contour lines of 200, 500, 700 and 1000mm for at least 100km southward in the Sahelian part of Niger River Basin.

The shallow aquifers in the nearby locations to Niger River (in Mali) has shown a very strong correlation with both the reduction in precipitation as well as the reduction in

GLOBAL WARMING

Figure 3: Location map of the Niger River Basin

the flow of Niger river as a direct consequence to climatic change in West Africa (Fig 5).

The manifest impact of climatic change can be illustrated and confirmed using another data set of piezometers located in Dantiandou locality (bounded by Longitude 02° 45’ 30” Latitude13° 24’ 40”), where the water level has responded to 1994 reduction in precipitation (Fig.6).The correlation is positive. However, the response is slightly delayed in the aquifer, attenuated with depth, and is more pronounced in unconfined than in semi-confined aquifers

Fig.4a. Shift in rain belts in Niger Basin as a direct consequence to climatic change (R. Dessouassi et G. Mahé, 1997).

(OSS int.report). The same fact remains true for the abnormal rise in the water level of piezometers in Gogo location which corresponds to the heavy rainfall occurred for the years 1996 and 1999 (Fig.7).

Case study 2: Iullemeden Basin The Iullemeden Aquifer System (IAS) is located in the arid and semi-arid zones of West Africa (Fig.8). IAS extends be-

Fig 4 b. Variability of precipitation in Niger River Basin,Niamy location for 52 years of records (R. Dessouassi et G. Mahé, 1997)

Fig.5. lowering in the water table for piezomters tapping shallow aquifer in Niger River Basin as direct consequence to climatic change (R. Dessouassi et G. Mahé , 1997).

27

tween latitudes 10°30 and 19°40 North and longitudes 0°50 et 9°20 East. It’s shared by Mali, Niger and Nigeria and covers a total area of 500,000 km² (31,000 km² in Mali, 434,000 km² in Niger and 60,000 km² in Nigeria). IAS is part of the hydrographic Niger River basin.

Precipitations in the IAS area varies greatly from north to south: less than 150 mm in the Saharan zone, between 150 mm and 300 mm in the nomadic Sahelian zone, between 300mm and 600 mm in the sedentary-Sahelian zone and from 600 mm to 800 mm in the Sahel-Sudanese zone (OSS int.report). IAS is very vulnerable to future climatic change due to: 1) the manifest impact of the changes that have already occurred: a 20% to 30% reduction of rainfall since 1968; 2) 20% to 50% reduction of runoff; 3) silting and sand dunes establishment. Since 1968-1970, isohyetal lines expressing the same values have shifted southwards about 200km apart from the original position (Fig.9) Groundwater resources in Iullemeden Basin are represented by multilayered aquifer system which encompasses two major water bearing formations; the upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian) argillaceous sandstones referred to as “Continental Intercalaire” and the Mio-Pliocene continental sandy facies known as “Complex Terminal”. Both aquifers constitute the major groundwater resources in Iullemeden Basin.

As a direct consequence to climatic change the water levels in both aquifers were lowered as evident from Fig.10.

The further inspection of Fig.10 reveals the lowering in the piezometric head as well as the change in hydraulic gradient from steeper gradient and higher groundwater velocity in 1970 to a more gentler gradient and sluggish nature in 2004. The figure also shows a northward shift in piezometric head contour lines towards basin water divide which reflects a less recharge to the aquifer system.

Fig.6. Lowering in water level of Dantiana Piezometer that correlate favourably well with the reduction in the 1994 precipitation (OSS inter.Rep.)

Figs 7. Rise in water level of Gogo piezometers as a direct consequence to heavy precipitation occurred during the years 1996 and 1999 (OSS,National Authorities int.report)

Indirect effects of the impact on groundwater resources in Africa: observed changes Variability in Rainfall Regime In Africa El-Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) as well as Surface Sea Temperature (SST) in the Indian Ocean are the dominant sources of climate variability over eastern Africa (Goddard and Graham, 1999; Yu and Rienecker, 1999;). Isolated secondary but significant pattern of regional climate variability has been identified and isolated by Schreck and Semazzi (2004). The trend pattern in their analysis is characterised by positive rainfall anomalies over the northeastern sector of eastern Africa (Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya and northern Uganda) and opposite conditions over the southwestern sector (Tanzania, southern parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and south-western Uganda).

28

Figure 8. Geographical and hydrogeological setting of Iullemeden Aquifer System

GLOBAL WARMING

Fig. 9. Displacement of isoheytal lines in the period from 1961-1990(left) and from 1970-1985 (right) in Iullemden Basin, Mali (Source DNM)

1970

This signal significantly strengthened in recent decades.

Warming is associated with an earlier onset of the rainy season over the north-eastern Africa region and a late start over the southern sector. Examples of rainfall spatial and time based variability in Africa are shown hereafter.

Regional Variability in Time (1930-2005) It is possible to distinguish between monsoonal and equatorial climates based on seasonality consideration and hence three African sub-regions can be defined, western (0_ to 20_N, 20_W to 20_E), eastern equatorial (10_S to 10_N, 20_E to 50_E), and southern Africa (25_S to 10_S, 20_E to 40_E) (Giannini et al.,2007). These regions are broadly consistent with those chosen by Hulme et al. (2001), who also presented the state-of-the-art. The history of annual-mean (July to June) rainfall anomalies averaged over these regions is displayed in Fig.11.Comparison of the three panels in Fig.11 highlights the qualitative difference between the West African time series on one side, and its eastern equatorial and southern African counterparts on the other. West African rainfall is characterized by a high degree of persistence, of anomalously wet (e.g. in the 1930s, 1950s and 1960s) and dry (e.g. in the 1970s and 1980s) years. Arguably, the shift in Sahel rainfall is unparalleled globally, in magnitude, spatial extent and duration (Trenberth et al. 2007). In eastern equatorial and southern Africa interannual variability is more conspicuous. So according to Giannini et al., (2007), when observations of precipitation over Africa are analyzed with a view to their global linkages, two continental-scale patterns, related to variability in the oceans, appear to dominate African climate variability: 1) a continental-scale drying pattern related to enhanced warming of the southern compared to the northern tropics and to a warming of the tropical oceans,

2004

Fig.10. A comparison between the hydraulic characteristics of the two major aquifers in Iullemeden Basin: 1) “Complex terminal�(left) 2) and the Continental Intercalaire (right) during the periods in 1970 and in 2004 as a direct consequences to climatic change (OSS Int. Report).

29

2) the impact of ENSO on the tropical atmosphere and oceans around Africa.

Examples of rainfall variability in different African provinces

tering around the mean value (500mm) has frequently occurred during the years 1926,1933,1945,1950,1994 with values that go as low as 350 mm (South African Weather Service, 2000).

Monsoonal rainfall variability in South Africa While other parts of Africa have experienced statistically significant weakening of the monsoon circulation, analyses of long-term southern African rainfall totals in the wet season have reported no trends (Fauchereau et al., 2003).

Decreases in rainfall are evident in analyses of shorter periods, such as the decade from 1986 to 1995 that was the driest of the 20th century. Fauchereau et al. (2006) reported a decrease in average rainfall intensity and an increase in dry spell length (number of consecutive dry days) for 1961 to 2000.

Rainfall trend over South Africa has shown annual average of rainfall (1922-1999) that illustrate the frequent persistence of a series of wet or dry years (Fig.12 ).During 80 years of continuous records a scattering around mean value of 500 mm has reached it maximum values of 750 mm twice during the years 1925 and 1978 whereas a minimum scat-

Figure11. Regional averages of annual mean (July-June) precipitation over 1930-2005; the three regions are western (0_N to 20_N, 20_W to 20_E), eastern equatorial (10_S to 10_N,20_E to 50_E), and southern Africa (25_S to 10_S, 20_E to 40_E).

CRU data is depicted in black bars, GPCP in the solid red line.

The CRU climatology over 1930-1995 is depicted in the green horizontal line, that of GPCP, over 1979-2005, is depicted in the brown horizontal line (Giannini et al., 2007).

30

Figure 12 : Annual averages of rainfall over South Africa (19221999) illustrating the frequent persistence of a series of wet or dry years (Source: South African Weather Service, 2000)

Monsoonal rainfall variability in the African Sahel Climate change should be considered and seen hence as the driving force that produces variability in rainfall regime as shown in the precipitation of Sahel area in the period from 1930 to 2000 (Fig.13).Changes in the total amount of precipitation and in its frequency and intensity directly affect the magnitude and timing of runoff and the intensity of floods and droughts; however, at present, specific regional effects are uncertainÂť. The inspection of Fig.12 reveals that annual mean anomalies in precipitation averaged at 41 stations in the Sahel, 10 N-20 N across Africa, declined over the period from 1930-2000 (Global Historical Climate Network). An average 25 per cent decrease in rainfall has occurred over the Sahel during the past 30 years, a change that can be attributed to sensitivity of the climate of the Sahel to global sea surface temperatures (Giannini et al 2003). Precipitation has fallen by up to 2.4 per cent per decade in tropical rainforests regions of Africa since the mid-1970s. The rate of decline has been fastest in West Africa and north Congo. (John Hay, 2006).

Further inspection of Table 1 reveals a 20% decrease of precipitation in West and Central Africa is observed during the two decades of the 1970s and 1980s translated into an approximately 50% reduction in annual flows (Fig.13).

The decreasing rainfall and devastating droughts in the Sahel region during the last three decades of the 20th century are among the largest climate changes anywhere (M. Robert Y. Dessouassi,2004). Dai et al. (2004b) provided an updated analysis of the normalised Sahel rainfall index based on the years 1920 to 2003 (Fig.14). Following the major 1982-1983 El NiĂąo event, rainfall reached a minimum of 170 mm below the long-term mean of about 506 mm. Since

GLOBAL WARMING 1982, there is some evidence for a recovery despite this; the mean of the last decade is still well below the pre1970 level. These authors also noted that large multi-year oscillations appear to be more frequent and extreme after the late 1980s than previously.

North African rainfall variability with Mediterranean climate

Fig 13. Rainfall variability in the African Sahel

Rainfall variability in Algeria In Algeria 218 climatic stations, distributed at the North Western Parts of (of pluvial type) that cover 33 years of records were used and their data series were analyzed (Fig.16). The mean annual precipitation for record periods of 33 years varies between 532 mm to 950 mm (Meddi et al.,2007).

A reduction in mean annual rainfall has reached more that 40% during the years of records from 1970 to 1980 as evident from Fig. 17 The foregoing phenomenon has continued also from 1980-1990 (Meddi, 2007).

Fig. 14 Time series of Sahel (10ºN –20ºN, 18ºW–20ºE) regional rainfall (April–October) from 1920 to 2003 derived from gridding normalised station anoma¬lies and then averaging using area weighting (adapted from Dai et al., 2004a). The smooth black curve shows decadal variations. In others words, what can be considered as a small change in the total, or in temporal, patterns of precipitation may well have considerably larger tangible effects on the water resources as evident form the case of Bani River in Douna, Mali (Fig. 15)

East African Rainfall variability Rainfall variability in Ethiopia Rainfall in Ethiopia are widely scattered around mean with values that ranges between -60% to more than 40% Country

Reduction in precipitation (%)

River

Gauging station

Reduction of annual flow (%)

Cameroon

16

Comoe

Aniassue

50

Togo

16

Chani

Ndajmina

51

Central African Rep.

17

Logone

Lai

39

Benin

19

Niger.

Malanville

43

Ghana

19

Niger

Niamey

34

Nigeria

19

Bani

Douna

70

Guinea

20

Oueme

Sagon

42

Chad

20

Sassandra

Semien

36

Ivory Coast

21

Senegal

Bakel

50

Burkina Faso

22

Bakoye

Ouali

66

Guinea Bissau

22

Black volta

Dabola

41

Mali

23

Black volta

Boroma

46

Senegal

25

Oubangui

Bangui

30

Table 1. Decrease of precipitation for countries in West and Central Africa and decrease of river flows in the same regions. The averages of the period from 1970-1989 are compared with those of the period from 1950 - 1969 (Source: Servat et al.,1998).

31

Fig. 15 Bani River at Douna (Mali).Compared evolution of precipitation (black circle) and river flow (open diamonds) for the period 1922 to 1997. Units: standardized departure from the inter-annual mean (Source: Mahe et al.., 2000)

Fig. 16 Climatic stations used for analysis of rainfall variability in Algeria (Meddi, 2007)

(Amekor, 2007) (Fig.18).This situation has made rainfall prediction difficult but possible equation and has in turn inflected on the national income expressed as GPD. Around 75% of Ethiopia’s 74 million people are dependent on agriculture, which is almost entirely rain fed and small scale; coffee, and more recently flowers, are the only major commercial crops. A further 10% earn their living entirely from livestock. Both farmers and pastoralists are highly dependent on the climate for their livelihoods; this is reflected in the remarkable way that GDP fluctuations follow rainfall (Fig 18).

West African rainfall variability West Africa experiences marked multi-decadal variability in rainfall (e.g., Le Barbe et al., 2002; Dai et al., 2004b).

Wet conditions in the 1950s and 1960s gave way to much drier conditions in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s (Fig.19) and the corresponding 36.2% reduction in the flow of Niger River at Niamey location as a direct consequence of climatic change and climatic variability shown in figure 20. The rainfall deficit in this region during 1970 to 1990 was relatively uniform across the region, implying that the deficit was not due to a spatial shift in the peak rainfall (Le Barbe et al., 2002).

Rainfall variability in Ghana An inspection of the non-typical rainfall pattern (Fig.21) in Ghana using the data of Tema Rain climatic station that covers the record periods from 1999-2005, (Amekor, 2007) has shown the adverse impact of reduction in rainfall on the hydropower generation from Volta River Basin. It has been realized the need for Volta River Basin Organization and the riparian countries to cooperate in mitigating the impact due to climatic change (Amekor, 2007).

Fig. 17 Mean Annual rainfall variability in Algeria (Meddi et al.,2007)

CONCLUSIONS The response of groundwater systems is often difficult to detect because the magnitude of the response is lower and delayed. However, the effects of climate change on groundwater resources in Africa have included the following facts:

• a long term decline in groundwater storage • increased frequency and severity of groundwater droughts

• increased frequency and severity of groundwaterFig. 18 Rainfall variability impacted on GDP in Ethiopia.

(Source: World Bank 2006).

related floods

• Mobilisation of pollutants due to seasonally high •

32

water tables Saline intrusion in coastal aquifers, due to sea level rise and resource reduction.

GLOBAL WARMING

Fig. 19 Variability of rainfall in Niamey (M. Robert Y. Dessouassi, 2004)

Fig.20 Reduction in the volume of flow in Niger River at Niamey location as a direct consequence to climate change (M. Robert Y. Dessouassi, 2004)

Fig. 19 Variability of rainfall in Niamey (M. Robert Y. Dessouassi,2004)

In West Africa, shallow aquifers in the nearby locations to Niger River (in Mali) has shown a very strong correlation with both the reduction in precipitation as well as the reduction in the flow of Niger river as a direct consequence to climatic change in West Africa.

In Africa El-Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) as well as Surface Sea Temperature (SST) in the Indian Ocean are the dominant sources of climate variability over eastern Africa Rainfall trend over South Africa has shown annual average of rainfall (1922-1999) that illustrate the frequent persistence of a series of wet or dry years.

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Roderick, M.l. and Farquhar,G.(2004): Changes in Australian Pan Evaporation from 1970-2002, Int.J.Climatol.24, Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com) DOI. 10.1002/joc.1061.

Servat E., Aka A.A., Lubes H., Masson M., Paturel J.E., et Kouame B., 1998, Analyse de l’évolution temporelle des écoulements en Côte d’Ivoire. Approche statistique et caractérisation des phénomènes, PHI-V,16, 49-63.

Van Jaarsveld, J.H.A. and van Pul, W.A.J., 2005.

Modelling of atmospheric transport and deposition of pesticides. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 115: 167-182.

Yu, L., and M. Rienecker, 1998 Evidence of an extratropical atmospheric influence during the onset of the 199798 El Niño. Geophys. Res. Lett., 25(18), 3537-3540.

Youba Sokona, Samir Al-Gamal and Abdel-Kader Dodo Sahara and Sahel Observatory, Boulevard du Leader Yasser A|rafat,BP 31-1080 Tunis, Tunisia

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AFRICA

Atlas of Our Changing Environment it is estimated that over

300 million people

in africa face water scarcity conditions

by Ashbindu Singh

Atlas of Our Changing Environment

I

s the first publication to use satellite photos to depict environmental change in each and every African country during the last thirty years. Through a rich array of 316 satellite images, graphs, 151 maps, and 319 photographs, this 390 pages Atlas presents a powerful testament to the adverse changes taking place on the African landscape as a result of intensified natural and human impacts. The remarkable developments in earth observation technology and its application during the last three decades have provided important tools for environmental monitoring.

Earth-observing sensor systems on aircraft and spacecraft provide data streams for analysing environmental issues at varying spatial and temporal scales. The power of earth observations technologies to produce thousands of current and historical satellite images has illuminated the stories of environmental change, and has made this publication possible.

An Introduction to the Continent There are 53 countries and one “non-self governing territory” (Western Sahara) in Africa. Ecologically, Africa is home to eight major biomes-large and distinct biotic communities with characteristic assemblages of flora and fauna. Chapter One of the Atlas vividly illustrates Africa’s geographical attributes, presenting a physical setting in which readers may visualize the changes human actions are etching on the landscape. Maps, images and informative text reveal that Africa is endowed with rich natural resources that provide the basis for its peoples’ livelihoods. Among the varied environmental features readers can see are rain forests,

36

wetlands, mangroves, coral reefs, and coastal deltas. These ecosystems provide a rich and diverse array of potential sources of food and materials. In addition, Africa holds approximately 30 % of the earth’s minerals including 40 % of the gold, 60 % of the cobalt and 90 % of its platinum. In recent years, oil production has been the main contributor towards Africa’s economic growth. There are also grazing and agricultural lands that can support farming economies, as evidenced by the 56.6 % of Africa’s labour force engaged in agriculture.

On the other hand, in many areas the environments from which most people in Africa must eke a living are harsh and the climate challenging. Africa is the world’s hottest continent with deserts and drylands covering some 60 % of the entire land surface. Only 10 % of farm soils are prime agricultural land, and more than one-quarter of the land has moderate to low potential for sustainable agriculture.

Rainfall variability is high, ranging from near 0 mm/year in parts of the Sahara to 9.500 mm/year near Mount Cameroon. Droughts and famine are ever present, and tens of millions of Africans have suffered the consequences every season. Droughts not only directly cause food insecurity, triggering migration in some cases, but also negatively impact economic performance.

Water Africa’s water resources are continuously affected by persistent droughts and changes in land use. At the same time, a growing population is increasing the demand on already limited water supplies, particularly in areas which suffer

GLOBAL WARMING

from water shortages. Currently, it is estimated that over 300 million people in Africa face water scarcity conditions.

About 75 % of the African population relies on groundwater as the major source of drinking water, particularly in northern and southern Africa. However, groundwater represents only about 15 % of the continent’s total renewable water resources.

of land area, but are being destroyed and degraded by logging and conversion to plantations, agriculture, roads, and settlements. As a region, Africa is losing more than four million hectares of forest every year-twice the world’s average deforestation rate.

Land

Africa’s rich biological diversity (one of the region’s most stunning attributes) is in jeopardy due to a confluence of habitat destruction, poaching, and increasing populations. Africa contains over 3.000 protected areas including 198 Marine Protected Areas, 50 Biosphere Reserves, and 80 Wetlands of International Importance. Eight of the world’s 34 international biodiversity hotspots are in Africa. Despite their recognized status, these areas remain under threat by civil unrest and encroachment, as well as the introduction of alien species. Resolution of such predicaments has been undermined by administrative problems including lack of funding and inadequate staffing or training.

Land in Africa is becoming increasingly degraded. Erosion and/or chemical and physical damage has degraded about 65 % of agricultural lands. This has forced farmers in many places to either cultivate marginal and unproductive soils, further degrading the land, or to migrate to cities and slums. Some areas in Africa are said to be losing over 50 metric tonnes of soil per hectare per year.

Thirty one % of the region’s pasture lands and 19 % of its forests and woodlands are also classified as degraded.

Forests account for over 20 % of Africa’s 30 million km2

Biodiversity

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Changing Conditions The Atlas paints a vivid picture of the rapid, and in some cases dramatic, transformations taking place on the lands and waters that sustain Africa’s people. These include land degradation and desertification, water stress, declining biodiversity, deforestation, increasing dust storms, rising pollution and rapid urbanisation. Moreover, climate change is likely to intensify these conditions and alter the environment even further. Although Africa emits only four % of total global carbon dioxide emissions, its inhabitants are projected to suffer disproportionately from the consequences of global climate change. Given its economic constraints, Africa’s capacity to adapt to climate change is relatively low rendering the region exceptionally vulnerable to potential impacts. In many areas, even small changes in precipitation and water availability could have a devastating effect on agricultural output and therefore on food security. As climate change intensifies and its impacts deepen, adaptation will become increasingly difficult. Correspondingly, achieving targets set by the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) will become more challenging.

Transboundary Environmental Issues This Atlas presents examples of transboundary environmental issues related to shared lands and waters, migrating animals and people, and pollutants that drift over borders of neighbouring countries. It highlights both emerging challenges and success stories in addressing these issues.

Africa has a number of large transboundary ecosystems - areas of land or sea that straddle one or more political boundaries. Some of these are officially protected areas which are extremely important for safeguarding Africa’s remarkable animal populations and their habitats, truly one of the wonders of the world. The importance of transboundary protected areas is especially obvious for migratory species, for example the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park which connects South Africa’s Kruger National Park, Mozambique’s Limpopo National Park and Zimbabwe’s Gonarezhou National Park; and the Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park along the cost of South Africa and Namibia. Africa also has 59 international transboundary river basins, which cover about 64% of the region’s land area, contain 93% of its total surface water, and are home to 77% of the population. Multinational approaches are essential to conserving these shared areas, underscoring the need for cooperative management strategies among bordering countries.Another transboundary issue of particular significance is the movement of air pollutants. Africa experiences the most extensive biomass burning in the world. Gaseous molecules emitted as a byproduct of biomass burning can travel across national boundaries

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far from their original source. Fires contribute as much as 35% to ground level ozone formation in Africa, bringing negative health consequences such as respiratory illnesses.

The deserts contribute to dust storms that can drift over large areas.

Finally, political and economic difficulties give rise to refugee migrations, causing further pressure on the environment. Impacts resulting from masses of moving people affected by wars, conflicts, food and water shortages, and economic strife in one country may all extend into neighbouring countries. The Atlas displays a map of major refugee settlements scattered across the region, and images of their effects upon an already-stressed environment.

GLOBAL WARMING

Figure 1: Progress Towards Environmental Sustainability (1990-2007)

Figure 2: Examples of Important Environmental Issues in Africa

Tracking Progress Towards Environmental Sustainability The star attraction of this atlas is the brief profiles of every African country it contains their important environmental issues, and a description of how each is faring in terms of progress towards the targets under the UN’s Millennium Development Goal 7: ensure environmental sustainability.

“Before and after” satellite images from every country highlight specific places where change is particularly evident.

This chapter also provides measures of progress towards the Millennium Development Goals’ (MDG) environmental

targets. The Atlas depicts whether or not each country has increased the percentage of its land area covered by forest, increased the land area covered by designated protected areas, decreased carbon emissions, improved access to clean water and sanitation, and reduced the slum population as a percent of urban population.

Between 1990 and 2004, a large number of countries witnessed real improvements in their efforts towards achieving the MDG targets that measure environmental progress. In many other cases, the improvements have been incremental, but promising (Figure 1). Most countries focused on improving those elements of the environment with direct relevance to human health (e.g., sanitation and water). Over 30 countries improved access to safe water and sanitation, and 23 countries reduced the percentage of people living in slums. A few countries have expanded protected areas.

The most evident failure in progress towards the MDGs is in the loss of forest cover.

A comprehensive review was conducted using public information and peer-reviewed reports to identify the salient environmental issues each country faces, producing a unique

39

GLOBAL WARMING environmental portrait of every African nation (see Table 1, page xiv-xv). The review indicates that deforestation is a main concern in 35 countries, land degradation is a key issue in 32 countries, and threats to biodiversity is a major issue in 34 countries. Overfishing and coastal degradation affect some 23 countries (Figure 2). Desertification, water scarcity, and air and water pollution are also critical issues.

Many of the countries’ separate issues of concern are interrelated, e.g., desertification and land degradation; and deforestation and threats to biodiversity. Although ‘climate change’ is not listed as an important issue, it is a possible driving force behind the problems noted.

Shrinking Lake Chad (1972 and 2007)

40

Africa Then and Now: Images of a Changing Environment The display of satellite images provides scientific evidence of some of the scars that human activity and natural processes have left on the African landscape. These include but are not limited to: gouges made by mining operations; pock marks from bore holes; bald patches where forests once stood; and lakes that have completely disappeared. There are also images that reveal more diffuse, but nonetheless troublesome, change such as the swell of grey-coloured cities over a once-green countryside; threats to biodiversity by

Shrinking Lake Chad (1972 and 2007)

conversion of nature habitats; the tracks of road networks through forests; the erosion of deltas; and shrinking mountain glaciers. Despite the numerous challenges, people across Africa are taking significant steps towards protecting and improving their environment. A number of images show the positive results of some of the many efforts undertaken to not only stem environmental destruction, but to reverse it. Success stories include land revitalisation evident by the growth of tree clusters in certain images of Niger, and in one instance, the expansion of wetlands resulting from a restoration project to control flooding in Mauritania. In addition to well-publicised changes, such as Mount Kilimanjaro’s melting glaciers, the shrinking of Lake Chad, and falling water levels in Lake Victoria, photographic evidence of a large number of new environmental hotspots is presented here for the first time. The following ten sites are examples selected from 104 such sites in this Atlas:

•

•

• The pressures of a dramatically growing population

•

•

•

•

•

are illustrated in changing land use surrounding “W” National Park since the early 1970s. In contrast, the land cover within this protected savannah woodland in southeastern Burkina Faso remains relatively unchanged. The country’s most pristine protected area is an important elephant habitat.

The widening of corridors of deforestation surrounding local roads in the northern area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo since 1975 is depicted with two striking images. New roads for commercial logging and a proposed road improvement project threaten to bring even greater traffic to this biologically diverse rain forest.

The impact of a population explosion on farmland and forest is clearly seen in contrasting images of the Maradi District in Niger. A large area of savannah woodland was converted to agriculture between 1976 and 2007.

In addition, the lack of fallow land among farms in 2007 reveals the intensity of farming in this district. In the past half-century or so, the population of Senegal has soared, with much of the growth occurring in its urban areas. The dramatic expansion in the capital, Dakar, between 1942 and 2007 is shown via aerial photography from the 1940s and a recent high resolution satellite image. Originally occupying a small centre of urban development at the tip of the Cap Vert Peninsula, the Dakar metropolitan rea has grown to a population of nearly 2.5 million people pread over the entire area.

A large portion of southwestern Madagascar’s South Malagasy spiny forest has evidently disappeared between 1973 and 2003. Farming, and to a lesser extent, fuelwood gathering, have taken a large bite out of this biodiversity hotspot which is home to several endemic species.

Protection from grazing in the Sidi Toui National Park

42

•

•

in southeastern Tunisia produced a dramatic rebound in the natural ecosystem. Satellite images from 1987 and 2006 show the revival of grasses and scrub inside the park’s boundaries, which appear like puzzle pieces dropped onto the otherwise degraded landscape. The Scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah), now near extinction, was reintroduced to the park in 1999.

Greenhouses can be seen replacing desert-fighting trees in images that show the striking transformation of the Souss- Massa Valley in Morocco since 1988. The greenhouses use scarce water resources more efficiently than unprotected agriculture. However, the loss of many of the Argan trees in the valley due to agricultural practices and a depleted water table, has removed one of nature’s ways of combating desertification.

A new management plan for the Itezhi-tezhi Dam in Zambia has helped to restore the natural seasonal flooding of the Kafue Flats. A satellite image from early 2007 captures the height of the fi rst fl ood season where water was released from the dam to assist natural flooding.

The remarkable appearance of a chain of lakes in the deserts of Egypt is captured in a series of satellite images beginning in the late 1980s. A massive volume of water was released through Lake Nasser’s spillway to prevent flooding damage along the Nile Valley. The New Valley Project will continue sending Nile water into the desert to support an enormous irrigation scheme.

A large area of natural “fynbos” vegetation on the northern edge of Cape Town in 1978 is shown being replaced with large farms and suburban development, as Cape Town’s growing population pushes outward.

The “fynbos” vegetation accounts for 80 % of the plant varieties in the Cape Floristic Region, an area with over 6.000 plant species found nowhere else in the world.

Looking Forward Those who read this Atlas and reflect upon its images will have gained a deeper understanding of the impacts upon Africa’s land, plants, animals, air and waters. The pace and scale of change are hard to ignore. The Atlas also contains a few signs of hope in our ability to protect against, and even reverse environmental degradation. As shown throughout, there are inspiring photos of places where people have taken action-where there are more trees than 30 years ago, where wetlands have sprung back, and where land degradation has been stymied. These are beacons we need to follow to ensure the survival of our environment and of the world’s peoples.

Observations and assessments of environmental change, as illustrated by this Atlas, not only help gauge how close or far we are from the targets of the United Nations Mil-

GLOBAL WARMING

lennium Development Goals, they also contribute to the knowledge and understanding that are essential for adaptation and remediation.

But significant differences exist between developed and developing countries and these realities cannot be ignored.

“The developed countries want us to keep the forests, since the air we breathe is for all of us, rich countries and poor countries,” said Ogar Assam Effa, 54, a tree plantation director and member of the state conservation board of Nigeria’s southeastern Cross Rivers State. “But we breathe the air, and our bellies are empty. Can air give you protein? Can air give you carbohydrates?” he asked. “It would be easy to convince people to stop clearing the forest if there was an alternative” (Quoted from the chicagotribune.com - Rain Forests Fall at ‘Alarming’ Rate - By Edward Harris, Associated Press Writer February 3, 2008).

As for the people whose footprints we see so strikingly stamped on the pages, to some degree their ability to choose plays a role in the choices ultimately made. As Nelson Mandela, Nobel Laureate and Former President of the Republic of South Africa, tersely put it, “... For me, survival is the ability to cope with difficulties, with circumstances, and to overcome them.”

Alleviation of poverty is a key step towards establishing an

environment in which people are empowered to make sustainable choices. The economy of Africa can be expanded beyond its agricultural base to increased investment in the services and manufacturing sectors.

Development for both local consumption and exports, balanced with environmental preservation, can bring Africa to a position where its wealth of natural resources is more accurately reflected in the economic status of its peoples.

Coupled with education and training, and empowerment of women, a broadened economy in Africa would enhance local employment prospects as well as economic opportunities to trade in world markets.

Many factors, such as governmental policies, cultural and social milieu, play a role in whether we will achieve global environmental sustainability. But as is the case in environmental systems, all the pieces are interconnected. Once people are secure enough to choose, one can, if wise, opt for the land and resource use alternatives that are sustainable and regenerative. In the absence of such opportunities, it is likely that people will continue to make expedient choices for their survival, which, voluntarily or involuntarily, can result in environmental degradation.

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Important Environmental Issues in African Countries Algeria

• Desertification • Water Scarcity • Pollution

Angola

• Threats to Biodiversity • Access to Potable Water • Overfishing and Coastal Degradation

Benin

• Deforestation • Desertification • Threats to Biodiversity

Botswana

• Overgrazing and Desertification • Water Scarcity and Urbanisation • Wildlife of the Okavango Delta

Burkina Faso

• Water Scarcity • Land Degradation and Desertification • Deforestation

Burundi

• Land Availability and Degradation • Deforestation • Lake Tanganyika Ecosystems and Fisheries

Cameroon

• Land Degradation and Deforestation • Over-harvesting of Biological Resources • Degradation of Coastal and Marine Ecosystems

Cape Verde

• Soil Erosion and Land Degradation • Threats to Biodiversity

Central African Republic

• Subsistence and Commercial Poaching • Deforestation and Land Degradation • Diamond Mining and Chad

Chad

• Drought • Desertification and Land Degradation

Chad

• Access to Water and Sanitation

Comoros

• Deforestation and Soil Erosion • Threats to Coastal Ecosystems

Congo

• Wildlife Poaching • Threats to Coastal Ecosystems and Inland Wetlands • Deforestation

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

• Wildlife Poaching • Deforestation • Mining and Ecosystem Degradation

Côte d’Ivoire

• Deforestation • Threats to Biodiversity • Threats to Coastal Ecosystems

Djibouti

• Water Scarcity • Land Availability and Desertification • Marine Resources and Pollution

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GLOBAL WARMING Egypt

• Urbanisation and Pollution • Soil Erosion and Land Degradation • Threats to Biodiversity

Equatorial Guinea

• Oil Production and Coastal Degradation • Deforestation • Bushmeat and Hunting on Bioko Island

Eritrea

• Water Stress • Land Availability and Degradation • Deforestation and Threats to Biodiversity

Ethiopia

• Water Availability and Access to a Safe Source • Livestock, Soil Erosion and Land Degradation • Threats to Biodiversity and Endemism

Gabon

• Threats to Biodiversity • Coastal Degradation and Industrial Pollution • Lack of Sanitation and the Urban Environment

Gambia

• Drought and Agricultural Productivity • Threats to Forest and Wetland Ecosystems • Overfishing and Coastal Erosion

Ghana

• Deforestation • Land Degradation and Coastal Erosion • Overfishing and Reduced Water Volume in Lake Volta

Guinea

• Deforestation and Refugees • Overfishing and Destruction of Mangrove Forests • Land Degradation

Guinea-Bissau

• Deforestation • Cashew Farming and Soil Erosion • Threats to the Bijagos Biosphere Reserve

Kenya

• Water Scarcity and Pollution • Desertification and Deforestation • Degradation of Freshwater Ecosystems

Lesotho

• Degradation of Rangelands • Threats to Biodiversity in the Lesotho Highlands • Water Resource Management and Pollution

Liberia

• Deforestation and Rubber Plantations • Threats to Biodiversity • Water Pollution

Libyan Arab Jamahiriya

• Water Scarcity • Land Conversion and Desertification • Oil Production and Pollution

Madagascar

• Soil Erosion • Endemism and Threats to Biodiversity • Deforestation

45

GLOBAL WARMING Malawi

• Land Scarcity and Soil Erosion • Deforestation for Fuelwood • Water Pollution and Aquatic Biodiversity

Mali

• Desertification and Drought • Water Availability and Pollution • Threats to Biodiversity

Mauritania

• Desertification and Deforestation • Iron Mining • Fisheries and Coastal Ecosystems

Mauritius

• Coastal Water Pollution • Threats to Biodiversity

Morocco

• Drought and Desertification • Water Scarcity • Pollution

Mozambique

• Water Access and Natural Disasters • Land Use • Protecting Wildlife and Forests

Namibia

• Land Degradation and Desertification • Aridity and Water Scarcity • Threats to Biodiversity

Niger

• Desertification and Deforestation • Threats to Wildlife • Environmental Consequences of Mining

Nigeria

• Desertification • Deforestation and Threats to Biodiversity • Oil Pollution

Rwanda

• Population Pressure on Land • Soil Erosion and Sedimentation • Deforestation and Threats to Biodiversity

São Tomé and Príncipe

• Degradation of Forest Ecosystems • Threats to Biodiversity

Senegal

• Urban Pollution • Deforestation • Coastal Wetlands and Fisheries Over-exploitation

Seychelles

• Severe Weather and Coastal Erosion • Loss of Mangrove Forests and Protection of Coral Reefs

Sierra Leone

• Deforestation • Land Degradation • Overfishing

Somalia

• Threats to Biodiversity • Desertification, Overgrazing and Deforestation • Water Scarcity and Drought

South Africa

• Water Availability and Quality • Land Degradation • Threats to Biodiversity

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GLOBAL WARMING Sudan

• Soil Erosion and Land Degradation • Poaching and the Ivory Trade • Forests and Fisheries

Swaziland

• Population Encroachment and Land Degradation • Irrigation and Soil Degradation • Threats to Biodiversity and Invasive Alien Species

United Republic of Tanzania

• Water Pollution and Aquatic Ecosystems • Land Degradation and Deforestation • Threats to Biodiversity and Ecosystems

Togo

• Land Degradation and Deforestation • Threats to Aquatic Ecosystems • Threats to Biodiversity

Tunisia

• Land Degradation and Desertification • Water Scarcity • Air and Water Pollution

Uganda

• Land Degradation and Deforestation • Habitat Degradation and Threats to Biodiversity • Water Availability and Pollution

Western Sahara

• Land Use and Food Production (non-self-governing territory) • Water Resources • Marine Fisheries

Zambia

• Copper Mining and Water and Air Pollution • Deforestation and Wildlife Depletion • Urbanisation

Zimbabwe

• Land Degradation and Deforestation • Water Access and Drought • Wildlife Poaching and the Black Rhinoceros

For further information visit the Website: http://na.unep.net; for purchase go to www.earthprint.com Ashbindu Singh Regional Coordinator UNEP Division of Early Warning & Assessment North America 900 17th Street N.W, Suite 506 Washington, D.C. 20006 Tel: (202) 785 0465/(202) 974 1305 Fax:(202) 785 2096 E-mail:as@rona.unep.org

48

BIODIVERSITY

Planting Trees Ă la Tree-Nation fighting climate change by planting millions of trees

by SW.F. Hulzebosch*

49

T

ree-Nation is an innovative tree-planting project that has the ambitious objective of fighting climate change by planting millions of trees.

Tree-Nation’s initial plantation is located in Niger, Africa, as Barcelona-based director and founder of Tree-Nation, Maxime Renaudin, explains: “We decided to start our first plantation in Niger, as it is one of the poorest countries in the world, heavily affected by desertification and climate change.

By combating desertification, the land’s productivity will be increased and the soil regenerated, which in turn will help local populations in their farming practices. Although it’s not the easiest place to plant trees, it is possibly the place in the world where it’s most needed. As Tree-Nation grows at a fast pace we have the opportunity to open new plantations all over the world and we can focus on other positive objectives such as reforestation, CO2 emissions offset, etc.”

Green entrepreneur Renaudin is just back from Niger, where he witnessed the results of the 2 years old project and gave the ´green light´ for the planting of thousands of new trees: among them Acacia Senegal, Moringas, Doum Palm, Jatropha and the magnificent Baobab. “Poor trees in the dessert”, a layman would think, but Renaudin observes: “We only plant local species, starting by the most robust and adapted to the ground. A selection has been made among more than 3.000 local species and in accordance to the villagers’ needs and the possible potential of each species. Planting trees might be the best future for a country like Niger as it will progressively solve their desertification problem, allowing for better development. At Tree-Nation we only plant species that are useful for the local population.

Acacia Senegal and Acacia Seyal, for instance, produce Arabic gum that can be collected and sold on the market. In the case of the Baobab you can sell both the leaves (for cooking) and the fruits. The Moringa is very famous for the huge quantity of vitamins it provides.”

A short look at the project’s community website (www. tree-nation.com) reveals the objective of creating a huge green heart of trees, in the literal and figurative sense. Notes Renaudin: “The idea came from a beautiful photo from Yann Arthus Bertrand, showing a natural heart shape on the surface of the earth. The heart was created by deforestation problems due to human activities. Our project thus aimed to build the opposite,

50

a man-made heart representing how we, people, can counteract and help initiate positive change. Besides the symbolic aspect of this project, it brings real and effective solutions locally.”

Planting trees with Tree-Nation involves, remarkably, innovative tools such as Web 2.0 and social networking.

Tree-Nation’s founder and director continues: “Using the latest in mapping technology, people all over the world can plant a tree on a virtual map and a real tree will be planted in the same place, i.e. in the real world. You can buy trees for yourself and/or offer and send one to someone you love. People are doing this for weddings, valentines, new born babies, birthdays, to advertise a business, or simply to share some thoughts. So far, 200.000 online supporters have joined us in pushing the project forward.”

Tree-Nation’s green dream is definitely catching on; the UNEP-supported project attracted the interest of cooperating sponsors such as Unilever, Alcan, Zipcar and ISIC. Renaudin concludes: “We are very happy the way things are going: more and more companies are joining our effort to reach our planting goals. It’s quite a beautiful thing to see this worldwide enthusiasm towards fighting this major ecological challenge. We always welcome new partners and look forward to plant many more trees!” *W.F. Hulzebosch is a development professional/consultant, with a wide range of experiences in international projects, including on ´environment&development´

BIODIVERSITY

American University of Beirut’s Nature Conservation Center for Sustainable Futures (IBSAR) In 2002, several researchers at the American University of Beirut (AUB) started an interfaculty initiative or IBSAR dedicated to nature conservation and its sustainable use, through interdisciplinary research, development and knowledge dissemination.

by SIMBA RUSSEAU

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I

n 2002, several researchers at the American University of Beirut (AUB) started an interfaculty initiative or IBSAR dedicated to nature conservation and its sustainable use, through interdisciplinary research, development and knowledge dissemination. “ The purpose of IBSAR is to create a cultural contextualization of biodiversity so that we move away from abstract sciences that are often not related to the needs and the reality on the ground in the community,”says Jala Makhzoumi, Associate professor of Landscape Architecture at the faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences at the American University of Beirut. “We work with communities to find out what their interpretation of biodiversity is and then how we as academics, professionals and scientists can reframe those traditional into the context of 21st Century biodiversity.”

Almost one-fourth of Lebanon’s land is cultivable-the highest proportion in the Arab world. Historically, agriculture played a key role in Lebanon’s economy.

Cultivated fields cover 17 percent of Lebanon, and 14 percent is in permanent crops such as orchards and vineyards.

Located at the easternmost corner of the Mediterranean, Lebanon boasts a magnitude of diverse habitats and biodiversity mostly due to the nation and region’s biogeography, geology, ecology, and historic past.

The environment is facing unprecedented challenges from climate change and continued loss of biodiversity, sparking a need for a new era of conservation that embraces sustainable lifestyles and livelihoods as well as endangered species.

For its part, IBSAR seeks to increase awareness of the value of Lebanon’s biodiversity and interest in nature conservation.

The Center expands interest in biodiversity by partnering with municipalities and landscape designers to promote the use of native plants in public open spaces, with private ecotourism businesses and environmental NGOs to expand their capabilities and impacts, as well as with local artists to produce marketable nature-based products.

IBSAR has produced a series of publications and programs catering to school children, farmers, urban dwellers, and rural communities.

Its grassroots approach to nature conservation allows for an open academic platform through the use of community outreach activities and educational programs.

Traditional Knowledge and Biotechnology According to IBSAR, scientific research benefiting from biotechnology is central to the development of rural communities’ livelihoods.

Based on the ancestral Arab knowledge in medicine and the use of cutting edge science and clinical research, IBSAR ocuses on characterizing, verifying and validating the

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beneficial effects of plants and other natural resources, while exploring their safe use and marketability.

By launching the ‘Bio Prospecting in the Middle East Initiative’ IBSAR’s aim was to identify various plant uses as well as developing products attractive to biotechnology industries derived from indigenous Lebanese plants.

“This initiative runs parallel with biodiversity in that, while we were developing the research we also started cultivation and domestication protocols to identify the optimization of the production of these plants, says Dr. Salma Talhouk, Director of IBSAR.” Researchers at IBSAR have successfully identified plants and molecules that possess bioactive properties and their promising market potentials are now being pursued. Many of the plants have roots in traditional Arab medicine and culinary practices.

Plants from the region are collected, extracted, and tested for their potential effects on major diseases such as cancer, inflammation, microbial infections, skin diseases and diabetes as well as their value in nutrition and use for general health purposes.

“In our approach we started the screening process by going and looking into the indigenous practices in the region and identifying candidate plants that are most commonly used to prevent most ailments then we would validate this traditional

BIODIVERSITY and producing products for the international market.

By bio-diversifying Lebanon’s agriculture IBSAR is creating an alternative crop for local farmers that have market potential. Also, by replacing an existing crop that is draining the environment due to the need of pesticides or large amounts of water, contributes to sustainability.

Identification, Characterization and Monitoring of Biodiversity Biodiversity in Mediterranean and arid lands of the Middle East is intertwined with local culture and livelihoods.

The conservation biology group of IBSAR conducts its scientific activities in a context where both nature and people are marginalized. The group constantly seeks transdisciplinary approaches to identify and promote local conservation measures in parallel to scientific species and habitat assessments.

Two key facets is their ‘Orchids’ project and the ‘EARTH partnership.’

Orchids

knowledge,” says Cell Biologist at the American University of Beirut, Rabih Talhouk.

“We identify the bioactive molecules by purifying the active ingredients in search of a collection of bioactive ingredients that are contained in a particular plant extract and then we try to discover how it works.”

In an effort to further IBSAR’s research of plant derived extracts that possess bioactive properties and marketing potentials the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Drylands Development Center has provided funding to initiate a partnership between the Drug Discovery Technology Center (DDTC) of the University of Helsinki in Finland and IBSAR. The main goal of IBSAR is to chemically modify specific plant products and generate computer models that would lead to an increased therapeutic potential of various products as well as testing the effects of the various plant products on human cells.

By partnering with the DDTC, IBSAR offers it’s expertise in screening and identifying natural therapeutics specifically in the field of cancer and inflammation while the DDTC will assist in drug development.

IBSAR’s has impacted biodiversity in the region by raising awareness of the value of Lebanon’s native plants not only through sustainable living education but by also introducing the various economic benefits of cultivating

One research and species inventories has been done and continues to be done using orchids as the species undergoing thorough research in collaboration with environmental organization IBSAR and the American

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University of Beirut whose aim being solely promoting conservation and sustainable utilization of biodiversity in arid and Mediterranean regions.

Being one of the largest families of flowering plants with estimates ranging from 20.000 to 35.000 species, orchids are a good model to study events that threaten biodiversity since the orchid family is diverse at habitat, species, and genetic levels as well as are extremely sensitive to environmental change.

In 2006 IBSAR launched a campaign to preserve wild orchids of Lebanon through gathering field data such as identifying, mapping and monitoring and providing community education as a means of protecting them from extinction.

The “Orchids of Lebanon,” booklet, produced by IBSAR, was the first in a series, which covered many of the orchid species that are found in the Al Shouf Biosphere Reserve.

The booklet was created as a reference tool on the status of different wild orchid species in Lebanon.

EARTH partnership In an effort to foster academic exchange outside of the region IBSAR established the EARTH partnership to conduct collaborative research on bio prospecting and biodiversity mapping in Lebanon and Costa Rica. Under the banner of bio prospecting, IBSAR offers biological testing support of plant extracts and molecules derived from plants native to Costa Rica. A key feature of this program is to produce an atlas of biodiversity hotspots in Lebanon.

This atlas will be based on organisms that have been well sampled throughout the country and with comprehensive knowledge of their taxonomy like insects (butterflies and fruit flies), plants (orchids and mints) and vertebrates (amphibians, reptiles and mammals).

Landscape Approach to Nature Conservation The Landscape Research group of IBSAR develops efficient spatial planning of project sites to ensure the preservation of local landscape character and sustainable use of land resources. The group integrates cultural heritage by focusing on rural practices, and applying a holistic approach that ensures responsiveness to the natural, semi-natural, rural and urban context with a focus on ecotourism and recreation as an alternative for biodiversity activities.

Through research, studying market needs, and modernizing production techniques, IBSAR has partnered with the private sector to generate pioneering ideas leading to the introduction of new products and the creation of new industries.

Two key facets in IBSAR’s landscape approach to biodiversity conservation is their ‘Holistic Landscaping’ project and the ‘Seeds of Hope Campaign.’

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BIODIVERSITY Partnering with landowners Landscape embodies the interaction of nature and culture and is an important tool for recreation and education.

Agriculture in Lebanon is the third most important sector in the country, contributing to nearly 12% of the economy.

Lebanon’s agricultural landscape offers fertile land, landscaped terraces, produce and plants much of which was reclaimed by nature after the civil war.

However, cultivated land is dominated by the private sector, while 15% is represented by public use.

Gradually private landowners are being introduced to and taking advantage of new ventures offered by organic farming and sustainable biodiversity. IBSAR wanted to take advantage of this trend by developing a formula for introducing the concept of biodiversity in a way that private landowners and the local community could experience the economic impacts of preserving biodiversity.

Deir Nbouh is a small village in Zgharta, in North Lebanon.

The landscape in Deir Nbouh is mostly mountainous, and traditionally, rural communities have appreciated the potential and limitations of nature and used their understanding to develop a landscape that is efficient, sustainable and beautiful.

The unique qualities of a 150-hectare site in the north of Lebanon are used to develop a sustainable and contemporary model for rural development.

“The project covers the heritage, the community and the landowner’s aspect because the landowner was also interested in making money from his investment,” says Jala Makhzoumi.

By establishing a partnership between IBSAR and private landowners, the ‘Holistic Landscaping’ project constitutes an innovative approach to keeping alive the traditional Mediterranean rural heritage, both the physical landscape and cultural practices, by adopting a holistic landscape approach to the sustainable utilization of regional biodiversity.

“Within landscape there is the cultural and heritage aspect as well. We investigated the history of the site so that can we can include the historic context. However, in order to work with nature conservation effectively we have to work on an interdisciplinary level,” adds Makhzoumi.

Although IBSAR’s concept was “tailored” to addressing the needs of local communities by acknowledging the mountainous landscapes of Lebanon, the project faced obstacles in locating an open market for their products.

“All of a sudden sustainable use of biodiversity isn’t that evident.

Who is going to pay for marketing and product development when this is not available?,” says Dr. Salma Talhouk. “If you have landowners who is willing to invest in a new way of developing their land there are no clear channels for organizations to plug into and locate open markets. When we wanted to produce the cheese we needed certification and there were marketing protocols and all of sudden the sustainable use of biodiversity stopped where globalization started.”

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“Planting trees gives hope to the Lebanese people because they can witness the fruits of their labour,” says Sarkissian. “We want to encourage the next generation, even in times of war, through the use of land art activities, tree identification workshops and various other tree planting events.”

Currently, IBSAR is cultivating over 30 different species of trees to aid in maintaining Lebanon’s biodiversity.

Sustainable Use of Biodiversity

Seeds of Hope Native trees and plants characterize the natural and cultural heritage of the land. Currently, Lebanon is facing a decline in its biodiversity; resulting in a loss of indigenous and endemic plants and animals.

“This is mainly due to factors such as unrestricted development, overexploitation of natural resources, agricultural expansion and the introduction of foreign or alien species from abroad,” says Dr. Salma Talhouk, Director of IBSAR. “The diverse species of native trees and shrubs, many of which are relics and currently either threatened or endangered, should be preserved before they disappear forever.”

To preserve Lebanon’s biodiversity and natural heritage, IBSAR created the ‘Seed of Hope, Trees for Tomorrow’ campaign aimed at enabling community members to participate in nature conservation activities within their own neighborhoods by planting 50,000 native trees by 2010.

For the past five years IBSAR has been producing native trees and highlighting their use. Educational activities have been conducted in Anjar, the Beqaa, Jwar El Hoz and the Metn Area.

“Our goal is to cultivate 50,000 trees from seeds that began with seeds collected from the wild that have been planted at our nursery in the Beqaa, Arbi Sarkissian, IBSAR’s outreach coordinator. We also plan to implement nurseries within towns and villages near to where these species grow naturally.”

What differentiates this project from other deforestation initiatives is that the campaign is aimed at community planting within towns, with the objective of planting the largest variety of native Lebanese trees throughout Lebanon.

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Through research, studying market needs, and modernizing production techniques, IBSAR researchers have partnered with the private sector to generate pioneering ideas leading to the introduction of new products and the creation of new industries.

Research on wild plants is ongoing to define and characterize qualities of essential oils as part of new commercial products in the cosmetic industry, develop and optimize cultivation practices for commercial use by the landscape industry, and assess and document the nutritional values for food industries. Three key facets in IBSAR’s Sustainable Use of Biodiversity is the ‘Ard w’ Nas’ project, ‘ILO’ and the ‘IBDAA.’

Ard w’ Nas Rural Bus, known as Ard w’Nas or Land and People is a mobile rural development program with the objective of improving rural livelihoods in Southern Lebanon through the provision of agricultural advice, services and small enterprise development. The program’s philosophy is to promote agro-biodiversity, support and encourage the revival of traditional products and the conservation of local foods and crafts through entrepreneurship. Due to IBSAR’s relationship with AUB’s laboratories allows access to testing facilities, seed banks and the latest research, which allows researchers at IBSAR to provide technical support to farmers.

ILO

IBSAR’s local socio-economic recovery in war-affected areas of Southern Lebanon projects involves collaboration with local and international development organizations. Through

BIODIVERSITY the use of rapid and participative approach including the social, cultural, political and economic dimensions of livelihoods, the Local Economic Development (LED) project also supports local stakeholders - including public, private and civil society - in identifying, planning and implementing and monitoring socio-economic recovery.

This project, which is based in the caza of Bin Jbeil, gathered information on the areas’ territory, its economy, resources, institutions and stakeholders as well as identifying and assessing the local socio-economic strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

IBSAR has been recognized as an established local institution, which can implement the process of data collection, compiling and analysis often referred to as Territorial Diagnosis and Institutional Mapping (TDIM).

IBDAA Agricultural biodiversity includes all components of biodiversity related to food and agriculture. Biodiversity in agriculture is necessary to support key agro ecosystem functions and structures, as well as help support food production and security.

In December 2000, the United Nations General Assembly designated May 22nd, International Biological Diversity Day (IBDAA), and in keeping with this tradition, IBSAR, hosted it’s 2nd annual fair highlighting 2008’s theme “Biodiversity and Agriculture.”

For many students, furthering the work of their peers was one way of promoting sustainable utilization of Lebanon’s biological resources.

“It’s the first product developed by AUB students that has the real possibility of being taken to market,” Dina Khoury an AUB junior in Business-Marketing said.

“Our advantage is that is this product is DEET free and all the

ingredients are grown here in Lebanon, and from the perspective of bio-diversity - with a product like this, we can tell people that using the natural ways, through our own plant species, is better for people in Lebanon.”

Despite being mostly known for its political issues, Lebanon plays a major role in world conservation and promoting biodiversity around the region.

Being one of many signatories of the Convention on Biological Diversity in 1992, Lebanon with the aid of local NGOs achieved the title of being one of thirty-four of the world’s biodiversity hotspots.

Over the last ten years Lebanon has seen a number of other reforestation and environmental initiatives by governmental and non-governmental agencies such as the United Nation’s Food and Agricultural Organization, FAO, and the Association for Forest Development and Conservation.

However, IBSAR’s grassroots approach of empowering marginalized communities and aiding in improving living conditions on the ground offers a contributive rather than a competitive approach in sustainable education and development in Lebanon.

“We want to be seen as a viable program with a specific focus on preserving Lebanon’s bio-diversity,” Dr. Salma Talhouk explained, adding, “Nature is a special trust to be enjoyed and conserved for future generations. Conserving the diversity of nature in the Middle East is the foundation on which we can build an improved quality of land and ensure a sustainable future for the people of the region.”

SIMBA RUSSEAU (IBSAR PHOTO JOURNALIST) For any additional information please visit: www.ibsar.org

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BIODIVERSITY WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY REPORTS: ARGENTINA BANS COMMERCIAL FISHING IN KEY MARINE WILDLIFE AREA Wildlife-Rich Burdwood Bank is Now Protected

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he Wildlife Conservation Society announced that the government of Argentina has recently banned commercial fishing along an 1,800 square kilometer (694 square mile) submerged island rich in species found no where else on earth and an important feeding ground for sea lions, penguins, albatross and other marine life.

The area, known as Burdwood Bank, lies 220 km (136

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miles) off the Southern Argentine Coast. Burdwood is particularly rich in hard and soft coral species – some of which are found no where else on earth. It is also the breeding ground for the ecologically important southern blue whiting and Fuegian sardine. The Wildlife Conservation Society has identified the bank as a critical wildlife area as part of its Sea and Sky initiative, which seeks to promote

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management of the vast Patagonian Large Marine Ecosystem – one of the most productive regions in the southern hemisphere.

The Argentine Fisheries Secretary implemented a Federal Fisheries Council mandate on September 26th, 2008, which permanently banned all fishing activities in the area including bottom trawling - an industrial fishing method that employs large, heavy nets dragged across the seabed.

While the method captures the desired target fish, it also incidentally kills corals, sponges, and other animals. The method is known to be destructive of underwater ecosystems that serve as both spawning grounds and ecological storehouses.

“Armed with sound science, Consejo Federal Pesquero has taken a big step in ensuring sustainability in Argentina’s fishing industry by protecting Burdwood Bank”, said Dr. Claudio Campagna, of the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Sea and Sky Program. “With the protection of this small, but critical area, the ocean is better able to replenish what we take from it, and equally important, Argentina’s unique biodiversity is preserved.”

The Patagonian Large Marine Ecosystem which contains and surrounds the Patagonian Shelf, harbors some of the southern hemisphere’s richest marine resources, sustained by the nutrient-rich Falklands-Malvinas and Brazil currents. The living resources of the area, particularly fish and

squid, are of major economic importance. They also sustain breeding and feeding aggregations of albatross, penguins, whales, and seals. The community of top predators and migratory species in this vast area come from as far away as Antarctica, South Georgia Island, and even New Zealand.

The Wildlife Conservation Society’s involvement in the region dates back to the 1970s and has included research, training, education, and policy development. The Sea and Sky initiative seeks to promote precautionary management at the ecosystem level for this vast “oceanscape” – an epicenter of biological productivity.

WCS’s Sea and Sky initiative is funded by the Mitsubishi Corporation Foundation for the Americas and the Liz Claiborne/ Art Ortenberg Foundation.

The Wildlife Conservation Society saves wildlife and wild places worldwide. We do so through science, global conservation, education and the management of the world’s largest system of urban wildlife parks, led by the flagship Bronx Zoo. Together these activities change attitudes towards nature and help people imagine wildlife and humans living in harmony.

WCS is committed to this mission because it is essential to the integrity of life on Earth.

Visit: www.wcs.org

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BIODIVERSITY

French Initiative A Sustainable vision launched to protect nature reserves in Lebanon lebanese mountain chain and the forest is shelter to pure ecosystem flora and fauna communities

by Elsa Sattout

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espite 3 years of political conflict defeating advances in environmental protection, Lebanese conservationists and communities are still pushing hard to preserve the Nature Reserves and Community Conserved Areas.

A French initiative; lead by the French Global Environment Facility [Fond Français pour l’Environnement Mondial] and the French Agency for Development [Agence Française de Développement]; has been launched in August 2008. Two financial agreements amounting to 1,4M€ have been signed at the French Embassy in Lebanon in July to a multipurpose project executed over 3 years. The project, entitled “Appui aux reserves naturelles du Liban”, covers a mosaic of Mediterranean ecosystems integrating 3 national NRs, 1 private and 1 CCA lying on the Western and Eastern slopes of the Mount Lebanon chain. It provides full support for the promotion of eco-tourism activities while conserving biodiversity and leveraging social and economical aspects of local communities living in their buffer zones.

The project was conceived ‘to strengthen the network of Lebanese NRs and CCAs through the provision of financial, technical and administrative support for the implementation of natural resources adaptive management plans as well as to install the institutional and regulatory reform taking place’. It is designed to provide support

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for 4 major components of each reserve; [1] management and administrative structure, [2] biodiversity protection and management, [3] awareness and basic infrastructure for eco-tourism activities and [4] promotion of social and economic local development. A cross-cutting component designed to benefit all reserves will integrate capacity development with technical support from international and regional organizations.

The project gives strong breadth to 6 out of 8 Nature Reserves. Traversing the Western Lebanese Mountain Chain from the North to the South, the project covers Horsh Ehden, Tannourine Cedar Forest, Bentael, Kfarzabad (CCA), Al-Shouf Cedar and Tyr Coast Nature Reserves.

Horsh Ehden, a biodiversity hotspots lying on the foothills of the Mount Makmel and harboring the Cilician fir recognized to have its southernmost limit on the globe in the reserve. It is acknowledged for being the repository of a mosaic of various middle elevation tree communities namely cedar, Aleppo pine, fir, turkey oak and juniper.

Tannourine Cedar Forest, largest cedar forest relic, is engraved in the highest peaks of the northern Lebanese Mountain Chain and the forest is shelter to pure cedar ecosystems flora and fauna communities.

Bentael, the oldest nature reserve, is the only protected site harboring low altitude Mediterranean vegetation type.

Kfarzabad, wetland lying in the Bekaa valley, declared internationally as an important bird area and hotspot for migratory birds.

Al Shouf Cedar, the largest nature reserve in Lebanon, is the southernmost limit of cedar on the globe and it har-

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bors the endemic brant’s oak. The reserve is home to old cedar trees sheltering underneath typical flora and fauna.

Tyr Coast, a repository for migratory birds and marine turtle, is recognized for the importance of sandy dune nesting the endemics sand lily and trifid stock.

In light of developing a sustainable plan for NRs, CCAs and Natural sites in the country, national partnership has been established between the Lebanese Ministry of Environment, Al-Shouf Cedar Society, Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon, Committee of Horsh Ehden Reserve, Committee of Tannourine Cedar forest, Committee of Bentael Reserve and Amwaj El Bi’a for Tyr. This holistic approach came to boost the establishment of a Consortium for NRs in Lebanon. The Consortium vision is ‘to strive to build up a solid partnership aiming at the establishment of a long-term programme for the conservation and sustainable management of biodiversity in nature reserves while leveraging societies’ cultural and economic identities through various development and eco-tourism activities’. This partnership has attracted other NRs and CCAs in Lebanon; the Association for the protection of Jabal Moussa has joined lately. Other contacts were initiated with two new sites; Jabal El Rihane and Jezzine.

After closing up the three years project, the French initiative would have settled the stepping stones to establish a network of nature reserves connected through not only biological corridors but also through social and cultural ones network schemes. information provided by Elsa Sattout: elsa@intracom.net.lb

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To What Extent Are Contemporary Policies for the Protection of Coral Reefs in Saudi Arabia Effective?

There are 260 different species of hard coral, 200 species of sclera Tinian corals, 1350 species of fish, and three different types of sea turtles

by Prince Faisal al Faisal

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T

he coral reef systems around the Saudi coastline are some of the richest in the world, providing a habitat for a wide variety of species. For example, there are 260 different species of hard coral, 200 species of sclera Tinian corals, 1350 species of fish, and three different types of sea turtles, the Green turtle, the Hawksbill turtle and the Loggerhead turtle, all of which depend on coral reefs as a source of food. There are also five different sea grass species, and three different mangrove species. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify any problems evident in the system, to protect this unique resource and help insure its future survival. Doing so holds potential benefits, not only in the context of species survival, but also, for those businesses and individuals such as divers and fishermen who take their living from the reefs.

Many other countries have been through years of policy formulation and development. This provides an insight into the range of different policies that have been employed and help to determine if these approaches used in Saudi Arabia are the most effective in the context of the political, geographical and economic conditions in the country.

Examples of Coral Reefs protection around the World: The Philippines

The coral reefs of the Philippines cover an area of approximately 22,000 km2 but up to 30% are reportedly already dead and another 39% are dying. It is one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems in the world but sadly it is seriously under threat from over fishing, destructive fishing methods and high levels of pollution run-off from urban developments and agriculture.

Coral reef monitoring started in the Philippines during the late 1970s and resulted in the identification of 464 hard coral species and over a thousand species of marine fish.

Unfortunately, it also identified that large portions of the coral reef structure were already severely depleted of marine life. Two presidential decrees prohibited the collecting, possession and exportation of corals. Surprisingly, even with the decrees, very little was done to reverse and stop the damage over the following two decades and the monitoring decreased to a minimum. The population boom in South East Asia over the last 30 years has meant that more and more urban development has occurred and consequently pollution and sewerage has become a major problem. Likewise, agriculture and the fishing trade have also increased substantially as they are the main livelihoods for the increasing population.

In 1994 extensive monitoring of the coral reef ecosystems of South East Asia showed that they had continued to degrade with the areas around the Philippines being by far the worst. As a result, many conservation marine parks were designated but they were badly managed and relatively unmonitored. The worldwide ‘coral bleaching’ incident in 1997 led to a period of monitoring activity that

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was coordinated by the coral reef information network of the Philippines in conjunction with the Marine Science Institute of the Philippines. Again the reef structures were found to have degraded further and so in 1998 the Fisheries Code was developed that promoted the establishment of over 700 conservation marine parks which were subsequently set up and recorded. It also called for each local coastal borough to designate at least 15% of its coastal area a fish sanctuary. However, and because there is no regular monitoring of the reefs by government agencies, over the last decade these marine parks and fish sanctuaries have been badly neglected and it is estimated that less than 10% are effectively managed and reef systems are still continuing to degrade at an alarming rate. Although policies have been initiated, implementation has failed due to ineffective application by government agencies.

The USA

America has coral reef systems in the South Atlantic, the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean. In 1997 the coral reefs around the Florida Keys area were badly degraded by the ‘coral bleaching’ disease that hit tropical reef systems worldwide. As a result the US government was forced to look at the condition of all the coral reefs and marine ecosystems in the oceans around their nation.

In 1998 President Clinton established the United States

BIODIVERSITY Coral Reef Task Force to “map and monitor US coral reefs, research the causes and solutions to coral reef degradation, reduce and mitigate coral reef degradation from pollution, over fishing and other causes, and implement strategies to promote conservation and sustainable use of coral reefs internationally.”

In 2000 a program was developed that resulted in the formation of hundreds of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) that formed larger marine reserves. These MPAs include National marine sanctuaries, fishery management zones and national seashores which are all now protected from the negative effects of human activity. Boats and other marine crafts are barred from anchoring and grounding in the vicinity of the coral reefs and fishing is restricted to designated areas. In addition, the collection, touching and damage of the coral reef systems by recreational users is now strictly prohibited.

In 2001, just a year after the first conservation areas were announced, fisheries in and around the protected areas were found to have significantly improved with regard to numbers and variety. Although, extensive conservation efforts enforced by the US government were working to preserve and restore some of the coral reef ecosystems even after a relatively short period of time , the latest research and monitoring results have shown that even with the strong conservation efforts the health of the American reefs is still declining. The constantly increasing amount of tourism, in

conjunction with the growing populations around the reef areas has meant that human activity continues to damage and destroy the coral reef ecosystems.

However, more economically developed countries such as the United States of America, that have the means and power to enforce intricate conservation efforts, have had more success in protecting coral reefs in the context of those human factors that lead to corals’ decline.

Australia and the Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is the most extensive reef system in the world. It runs for over 2300km along the Northeast coast of Australia and is composed of approximately 2900 individual reefs. The majority of the Reef system is in very good condition but pollutants in the form of sediments, nutrients and agricultural chemicals still threaten some inshore areas.

A reef map of Western Australia (Webref: 9) Before the mid 1970s very little conservation work was carried out on the reef systems around Australia even though a population explosion, large scale coastal developments, industrial developments and an increase in year-round tourism meant that the threats to the coral reef ecosystems were growing at a rapid pace. However, in 1975 the Australian government realized that the ecosystems were being severely and irreversibly damaged and so they established the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act to “provide for the protection, wise use, understanding and enjoyment of the Great Barrier Reef in perpetuity through the care and development of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (Llewellyn, 2005).”

In order to enforce the regulations listed in the act, The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) was created which, along with the Australian government manages both the day-to-day running of the marine park and all long-term conservation and protection issues. The authority aims to protect and conserve the extensive coral reef ecosystem while still allowing reasonable use by tourists, researchers, fisheries and the indigenous people of the area. strict guidelines about the following issues have been implemented:

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• • • • • • • • • •

Cruise shipping.

Dredging and spoil disposal.

Environmental impact management.

Managing tourism permissions to operate in the area.

Mooring.

Managing Bareboat operations.

Managing scientific research.

The collection of protected species.

Sewerage discharge from marine outfalls.

Whale and dolphin conservation.

Many of the environmental issues concerning the Great Barrier Reef are now strictly controlled or have been eliminated by the enforcement of the listed policies. This has been aided by the establishment of the marine park as a World Heritage site in 1981. In addition the Australian government and international agencies such as the “International Coral Reef Initiative” have introduced methods of sustainable development to increase the benefits that the reef gives to its users and to ensure the continuation of the conservation efforts. By setting out very clear objectives, in both the long and short term and addressing how resources should be managed, and the research undertaken, the interests of the indigenous people were safeguarded, and the public informed about the importance of the reefs and the ways in which they can safeguard its future.

Over the following years the environmental policies listed above were developed and instigated in the hope that the issues could be dealt with before they became a major problem.

Such an approach would be of great relevance in the Saudi situation as it is a country at the takeoff stages of development in coastal areas which means that any forward looking polices could have a big part to play in preventing any damage from happening at all.

In July 2004, a policy to protect the Great Barrier Reef, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Zoning Plan, was implemented. The policy’s main proposal centres on areas of the

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A reef map of Egypt (webref: 9) park that are classed as marine sanctuaries (areas where all commercial and recreational fishing are prohibited).

The Australian government along with the GBRMPA are ensuring, through the implementation of their policies, that all forms of damaging human activity are strictly controlled, thus making the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem one of the top conservation projects of all times.

Egypt and the Red Sea

Egypt’s coastline and associated coral reef ecosystems have remained generally ignored until recently. The fringing reef structures along the Egyptian coast were thought to be in quite good condition but research has shown that they are now becoming increasingly threatened by numerous types of human activity. These include:

• Pollution; from poorly regulated Egyptian and Saudi Arabian oil-fields.

• Over fishing; the numbers of lobsters and sharks have both greatly declined, in addition to the damage caused by anchoring and trawling. Some species of marine life continue to be caught and sold as novelty souvenirs

BIODIVERSITY in the markets and small gift shops e.g. sea horses and anemones.

• Tourism; indirectly the sewerage and run-off as well as the land filling and sedimentation problems from major hotel developments have caused various amounts of damage along the coastline. Also, some up-market resorts are importing fine white sand for their beaches, which ultimately ends up smothering the coral reefs.

Directly, the many dive boats and cruise ships are causing anchorage damage while tourist diving and snorkelling trips are allowing people to collect samples of coral as souvenirs (Zakai, 2002).

Egypt has over 1800km of coral reef habitats spanning the length of the Western Red Sea coast and in the Gulfs of Suez and Aqaba. In the last 20 years and because of the huge amount of tourist development, the Egyptian government has begun to recognize the importance of the coral reef marine ecosystem and has introduced some measures to conserve the area.

Two main governmental organisations are responsible for the conservation of Egypt’s coral reefs: “the Regional Organisation for the Protection of the Environment of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden” (PERSGA) and “the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency” (EEAA). Together, and with the help of important non-governmental organisations such as the Hurghda Environmental Protection and Conservation Association (HEPCA), these agencies work to conserve and manage the coral reef.

There are numerous regions of Egyptian coastline in which any kind of development is prohibited. When the coral reefs were exhaustively surveyed in the early 1980s some areas were found to be under considerable threat from human activity and so the EEAA has made use of laws for nature protectorates and designated numerous sections of coastline protected marine parks. By law a Natural Protectorate was designed as ‘any area of land, or coastal or inland water characterised by flora, fauna, and natural features having cultural, scientific, tourist or aesthetic value’ The National Marine Parks established by the EEAA are: • Ras Mohammed Marine National Park • Gebel Elba Conservation Area around the Egypt-Sudan border • Nabq, Taba and Al Galum regions However, and although the areas mentioned have been declared marine parks, only Ras Mohammed has a satisfactory management plan. To date, the establishment of Protected Marine Areas has been the most effective conservation tool as they have allowed sustainable use to occur while protecting the coral reef structures from any major damage.

Most of the countries bordering the Red Sea and including Egypt have signed multinational and international agreements in the hope that PERSGA will help them to implement and enforce the environmental policies that are gen-

erally being ignored, develop public awareness of the crisis that could develop from prolonged negative human activity and adopt working sustainable management strategies.

Presently, about 52% of the Egyptian coastline is protected however; the effectiveness of the management system varies greatly depending on the location. Because of this, the current focus of the Egyptian government is to enforce the policies and laws that are already employed but with a higher level of effectiveness. To help them to do this numerous Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) have been recruited to monitor human activity within their local areas. The Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association (HEPCA) is an NGO composed of the owners of resorts, hotels, dive shops and other tourism establishments in the coastal resort of Hurghada (Kotb et al, 2004).

Saud Arabia, and the Arabian Gulf

Saudi Arabia is responsible for coral reefs in both the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf. Added together the coral reef

A reef map of Saudi Arabia (webref: 9)

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systems run for over 2500km and are threatened by different types of human activity. The Red Sea coast has fringing reefs that are generally in good condition, however, there are no fishing regulations and tourism is steadily growing in an uncontrolled fashion. Because of this there has been a big increase in the amount of sediment deposited in the coral reef areas from industrial and urban development as well as some sewerage runoff and chemical pollution.

These reefs are also threatened by pollution from the poorly regulated Saudi and Egyptian oil fields.

On the Arabian Gulf side the number of reefs is a lot less, however, they are threatened by more severe human activities. The degree of urban development is much greater and so waste disposal, dredging, land-filling, pollution, man-

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grove decimation and the effects of over fishing all have adverse effects on the coral reef ecosystems. In addition, some of the reef structures were extensively damaged by oil spills during the Gulf War. The coral reefs on both coasts of Saudi Arabia are under the protection of the National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development (NCWCD). A Royal Decree established this agency in 1986 with the aim of ‘developing and implementing plans to preserve wildlife in its natural ecology and to propose the establishment of proper protected areas and reserves for wildlife in the Kingdom, and to manage such areas‌’ (Gladstone et al, 2003). The Commission set out a list of ecological and socio-economic criteria for the selection of areas to be protected (Gladstone et al, 2003).

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For example: Protection of habitats of key biological importance.

• The potential of a site to provide tangible economic benefits to the local people.

• Sites which are of greatest value for environmental education and awareness On the basis of these and several other criteria the NCWCD identified 47 marine and coastal sites in both the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf that were suitable sites to declare protected areas. The sites were looked at individually in order to decide which were most at risk in terms of the urgency of the threats to each site and its associated wildlife population. In 1989 one marine region with coral reef ecosystems; Um Al Gammari Island in the southeast of the Red Sea was declared a protected area. The coral reefs around the island lie only half a meter below the water’s surface and so were being easily damaged by passing boats of all sizes.

In 1992 Saudi Arabia joined forces with 119 other states at the Rio Convention and became one of the states to join

the global partnership that implemented Agenda 21, an international agreement that addresses some of the major global environmental problems and the idea of sustainable development. As such, the Saudi Arabian government had to submit a progress report in 1997 and 2002 that outlined the improvements it had made regarding conservation of the environment and its associated ecosystems. The report focused on ‘in situation conservation of ecological areas, both terrestrial and marine’. In the 2002 report the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) declared the NCWCD to be a centre of excellence with regard to the development of protected areas of which two are marine areas. In addition to this the NCWCD instigated a policy to develop a sustainable supply of mangroves that can be used to strengthen and replace the mangrove regions along the Red Sea and the Gulf coasts. This can be seen as directly aiding the conservation of the coral reefs as the roots of mangroves filter and purify agricultural and urban runoff meaning there is less pollution reaching the coral reef ecosystem.

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When the report was published the NCWCD was in the process of developing a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan which called for new policies on the conservation of biological diversity and sustainable use of natural resources to be implemented as quickly as possible. Other recommendations included the conservation of ecosystems and natural habitats, the reinforcement of the marine and aquatic protected area system and the rehabilitation and restoration of damaged ecosystems such as estuaries, coral reefs and mangroves.

In areas that are not as yet ‘protected areas’ some general policies have been approved by the NCWCD with regard to tourist activities such as snorkelling and diving. Diving is a very profitable industry in and around the major cities such as Jeddah. As such it is a huge boost to the local economy and, therefore, as the primary stakeholders such groups have no qualms about employing the various policies. These policies include such things as a ban on spearfishing, the use of fixed moorings rather than dropping anchor, careful diving practices including the careful use of flippers and a complete ban on any kind of marine life collection.

In conclusion it can be seen that Saudi Arabia is working towards implementing a major action plan to conserve the biodiversity of its various habitats and ecosystems and in particular the coral reef systems, but until the action plan is successfully approved and enforced it is continuously employing new environmental policies to deal with any problems at hand.

Coral Reef Protection

Protecting the world’s coral reef ecosystems is a major task because reef systems can be found off the coasts of over a hundred individual countries. Conservation efforts are helping to preserve the reefs now so that damaged areas can rejuvenate and undamaged areas can remain in a state of good health. Many of the present conservation efforts are run by non-governmental non-profit agencies and organisations. However these are only seen in large numbers in the more economically developed countries such as America and Australia; smaller countries tend to struggle when it comes to gaining support, especially financial support from the public. As non-profit organisations their primary aim is to educate the general public about the importance of the coral reef ecosystems and what they can do in their daily lives to decrease the damage done to them. There are hundreds of these organisations around the world and although they make millions of people aware of the danger that the coral reef systems face, the majority don’t have the authority or power to do anything practical to conserve the actual reefs.

Physical conservation is mainly achieved by the actions of individual national governments and international organisations. They, like the non-governmental organisations, aim to conserve the reef structures now but they have the

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added authority to declare areas they think are suffering, off limits to all human activity, thus making them protected marine parks. For example, the entire length of the Great Barrier Reef is under the protection of the Australian government and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.

However, at present less than 0.5% of the world’s seas and oceans are protected from the destructive activities of humans (Roberts, 2002). Education of the coastal communities is another primary aim of government initiatives. If the fishermen, industry owners, tourist agencies, urban development project leaders and any other parties who depend on the reef for their livelihood can be taught the importance of the coral reef ecosystems, both as natural resources and as economic assets then they may change their working practices in order to help the conservation effort.

In addition to the present conservation attempts, government and international organizations can draw up envi-

BIODIVERSITY

ronmental protection policies which outline actions to be taken now and in the future to ensure the continued health of the reef ecosystems concerned. Countries such as America and Australia have had environmental policies in place since the early 1990s when the extent of the damage to their reefs first became apparent, however, less developed countries in which tourism is not a big industry and countries with very small areas of coral coverage have as yet to implement such protection policies. The worldwide organization ‘International Coral Reef Initiative’ is trying to remedy this by asking the countries with successful coral reef protection policies and methods of conservation, to support smaller countries with their efforts be it in a political or economic way (Dight, 1997). In the context of Saudi Arabia such an approach is particularly important as it is in the early stages of tourism development and therefore can benefit greatly from others experiences.

While such global approaches are important, the formulation of policy on a national level is a hurdle that has to be overcome in order to effectively protect marine ecosystems.

For example, in July of 2004 the US congress passed a bill that prohibits the import, export, and taking of all coral reef species’ and marine fish species’ from the coral reef ecosystems of the United States. This bill, while ensuring the safety of the coral reefs and marine ecosystem from poachers and illegal fisheries, doesn’t mention any of the other human activities that threaten the environment. A separate policy has to be written and approved for each of the human activities that threaten the health of the ecosystem, or alternatively for each region affected, as some regions of a large coral reef structure may be wilderness areas. For example, the Australian government has implemented no less than ten policies over the last few years each of which concentrates on an environmental issue thought to be potentially damaging. However, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park has recently been divided into zones and so some of the policies are only applicable in certain zones. When formulating any of these policies many authors highlight the importance of stakeholders.

The stakeholders would include the owners and senior management of the business or industry that is producing the high-nutrient runoff. There may be several businesses involved who release what they see as harmless chemicals in relatively small quantities; however, the cumulative affects of their emissions may be causing severe damage. In addition, any secondary businesses such as suppliers and customers of the stakeholder business would also be encouraged to comment on the draft environmental policy because if the primary business has to pay the costs of chemically cleaning up the runoff or finding an alternative method of disposal then this could impact heavily upon the financial side of the business. Other stakeholders would include the local fisheries and independent fishermen who rely on the coral reef ecosystem for a livelihood.

Much of the coral reef structure may already be protected, meaning that fishing would be prohibited in large areas and so the areas in which fishing is still allowed need to have an abundance of marine life. If the nutrient-rich runoff is causing an explosion in the algae population, it may well be causing the marine life population to grow as well, or alternatively it may be killing them. Either way the fisheries and fishermen and possibly even diving schools and tourist agencies should all be allowed to comment on the proposed policy before it could be approved and introduced into law. The process may take months or even years to reach the state of being an approved environmental policy but if the threat is seen to be immediate an interim policy can be implemented until the final is approved.

In other situations the stakeholders may be different. In the majority of cases it is the members of the tourist trade who have the biggest interest in proposed policies, as tourism is in many countries one of the largest producers of

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BIODIVERSITY revenue. Snorkelling and deep-sea diving are two of the most popular activities in regions that have coral reefs e.g. the Great Barrier Reef, Florida Keys and the Red Sea off the coast of Egypt. Without these industries, many thousands of people would lose their livelihoods. With this in mind, government policies try to compromise so that the coral reef systems remain healthy and protected but the industries that rely on it still have adequate use.

The governmental legislative structure and stakeholder participation are, therefore, important factors will play a large part in the evaluation of the Saudi Arabian situation.

In addition, however, a range of global approaches should be taken into account and their relevance in the Saudi context established. A good example of such a movement is the International Coral Reef Initiative.

In 1994 many of the nations that are responsible for the conservation of coral reefs joined together to form the International Coral Reef Initiative. This is a Partnership between the governments of the USA, Australia, France, Jamaica, Japan, The Philippines, Sweden and the UK, as well as non-governmental organisations and some international agencies such as Greenpeace. The aim of the initiative is to educate the public and the national governments of the countries who have coral reef systems but are not members, on how to conserve their marine ecosystems for the generations to come. Public concern is higher than ever and so with the increased backing from governmental bodies, the conservation efforts that are apparent in some countries might expand to help protect coral reefs in the world. Although, Saudi Arabia has signed these agreements the enthusiasm is not apparent at the local level. It seems that the government of Saudi Arabia has developed strong environmental policies which can be seen in the ‘General Environmental Regulations And Rules for Implementation’, but there is a problem with transforming these policies into implementation.

In Saudi Arabia none of the agencies involved has full jurisdiction over the protection of coral reefs, which hinders the process of transferring policies to the implementation stage. According to Mr. Qurban, Mr. Mansey and Major Alderaan the main cause of destruction to coral reefs in Saudi Arabia is construction. At present the PME have in place environmental regulations to prevent destructive methods of costal construct. But as they all mentioned, as of yet, developing the costal area of Saudi Arabia is still in its infancy. Hence the problems that are facing other coral reefs in the world do not exist in Saudi Arabia. In conclusion, there is a good foundation In Saudi Arabia, for developing strong coral reef conservation policies. As was seen in the literature, the main ingredients for protecting coral reefs are awareness of the importance of coral reef protection, the willingness of both the stakeholders and the public to participate, a government initiative to protect coral reefs, and the effective implementation and monitoring of the policies. In Saudi Arabia three of these four elements are

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Structure of Saudi Arabian Government Agencies Related to Environmental Policies

in existence. There is recognition by both the public and the government about the importance of coral reefs, a willingness by the public to participate, and the government, through signing international agreements on the issue, has shown an interest in protecting coral reefs. The only missing ingredient surrounds the implementation and monitoring aspect. As was discussed, this is due to the intergovernmental structure, which has caused confusion on, and disparity of policies and although the public is willing to participate there is still little effort by the government agencies to give the public a chance to do this. These factors lead to the lack of effective implementation and monitoring of policies regarding the protection of coral reefs.

The other point to make is that as of yet, coral reef in Saudi Arabia has not yet been under threat by major development, so, the initiative to act as not been pressing as of yet. I hope that this study will help the Saudi government in recognizing the problems existing in the current efforts to protect coral reefs before there is a major threat to the health of these reefs.

Furthermore, more research needs to be done on the government structure, in order to find plausible solutions to the main problems hindering the effectiveness of coral reef protection approaches in contemporary Saudi Arabia.

Extracted from a dissertation submitted by Faisal AL Faisal to the Department of Geography and Environment, the London School of Economics and Political Science, in part completion of the requirements for the MSc Environmental Policy, Planning and Regulation.

ECOVILLAGE Ecovillage is a place where people enjoy nature and calmness among outdoor activities

by Roula Yammine

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haring the same dream, a group of friends became partners in creating the first ecological farm of its kind in the region: Ecovillage.As a sustainable resort, Ecovillage is a place where people enjoy nature and calmness among various outdoor activities that suit families, groups and companies.

Located in the heart of the Shouf region in Lebanon, Ecovillage offers special programs for companies focusing on team building, leadership, communication and stress management in collaboration of experienced consultants and trainers in the field.

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Several educational activities are held for participating student groups and interested tourists regarding ecology and nature conservation; such as Eco-Systems program, an interactive approach to understanding biological cycles of mountain eco-systems including plants, animal and human life. Organic agriculture is also an Ecovillage program that shows the importance of creating a healthy soil and to practice how to start a basic herb garden. The Responsible Camping program aims at helping students learn on how to gain a better understanding of how to live more responsibly in nature. Finally the Nutrition program that

ECO-TOURISM offers instruction and practical experience in edible wild plants, as well as the health benefits of traditional nutritional practices.

Once arrived to Ecovillage, a special greeting comes from an Ecovillage guide who will give you an introduction to the village and its facilities, with a general explanation of the concept behind it.

This introduction gives an overall view of environmental and potential solutions, discussing the importance of water cycle, the role of forests and vegetations and climate change. This session also aims at raising awareness of children on the close interaction between humans and their environment and how their daily attitudes and actions can impact their environment both negatively and positively.

Another introduction awaits Ecovillage’s visitors with an objective of raising awareness on the importance of healthy nutrition in order to stay healthy and prevent chronic diseases. It is a true interactive workshop where children can learn how to make more conscious choices about the food they eat.

Visitors also benefit from an introduction to sustainable agriculture and organic farming which shows the major differences between conventional and organic agriculture, highlighting the dangers of chemical pesticides and genetically modifies seeds.

Among all the programs in Ecovillage, numerous activities can be practiced by visitors and Ecovillage members mainly hiking, fishing, board games, painting, football, swimming, donkey rides, library, rock climbing, pottery as well as Yoga, Taichi and Capoeira.

As an organically grown farm, Ecovillage’s restaurant serves all food cooked at 70% organic, mostly grown on our farm. Fruits and vegetables which Ecovillage does not grow itself are mostly brought from organic farmers.

At Ecovillage vegetable and a variety of organic products are sold such as quinoa, beans, brown sugar and coffee.

Through Ecovillage come a positive awareness, an alarm and a sincere wish to preserve Mother Nature and to create a unique opportunity for people to treasure the world’s biggest wonder: Environment...

For further information: www.ecovillage.com

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Discover nature with fun A Unique Environmental Experience

by Roula Yammine

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hen invited outdoors to learn or when exposed to interactive activities, children become explorers, questioners, poets and even artists. Therefore “Discover Nature with Fun” is a unique program designed to help children discover nature in a very innovative way that helps both educators and schools fill the children’s spare time with learning either outside or inside school.

The program’s main goal is to provide a package of solid information and creative activities which helps educators and students learn more about true environmental problems and threats.

This program however is not an educational curriculum one, but a creative collection of activities that aim to reinforce skills which could be used in everyday life; thus by teaching students on how to make careful observation, finding ways to test their ideas and sharing their thoughts and observations with others.

Several environmental topics will be suggested during the program mainly: coastal area management, protected and green areas, animal rights (including hunting) waste management, cultural heritage and natural disasters.

As environmental educators and activists, the team of this special program aims at encouraging children to discover nature and to assume responsibility in caring for the environment.

The team also encourages children to be more curious and concerned about environmental and cultural issues. hoping to help them develop a critical opinion towards all environmental violations.

Lama and Nessrine expressed to Worldenvironment magazine their wish to reach each and every school and invite them to become active members of the “Green schools” club: “we hope the activities and information offered on our program will pave the way for lifetime learning on how to care about our Mother Nature…”

For further information contact Nessrine Nassereddine +961 3 95 86 92 or Lama Awad +961 3 15 90 27

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Auric Colors and Chakras The Chakras and Aura Color fields are as Old as the Earth itself There are seven energy centers within the human body known as “chakras” which drive our emotional, physical and spiritual well being and these are manifested in the “aura” color fields that surround us

by Gabriella Porilli

T

he chakras and aura color fields in which they manifest are as old as the earth itself and in ancient times people would live in daily awareness of their chakras and stimulate them to produce the positive energy so essential to their well being.

In today’s fast paced and stressful world many of us have lost awareness of our chakras and how to stimulate them.

The “Auric Colors” developed by Sentient-Light provide a gateway back to the ancient traditions by providing a medium to influence our aura and stimulate our chakras.

The ways in which the colors can be used are as diverse as the people who use them and simply playing with the colors to create your own artwork and designs can help unlock your creative potential while stimulating your chakras and relieving the stress and strains of modern life.

Auric Colors are made from natural minerals, pearls, precious metal extracts and herbs with an AB certified bio oil base and are infused with natural aroma therapeutic essences. They are 100% biodegradable and can be washed away easily with just water and without the need of any detergents or chemicals which is so essential in today’s world where environment conservation and planetary responsibility has become part of our daily lives.

Blue Blue has positive associations in all known cultures. It is the color of tranquility, relaxation and unity, symbolizing the heavens above and the ocean depths below. Blue has a calming effect on the body and spirit, creating space for healing. It also has psychological associations with contentment and peace.

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Green Green is associated with growth, nature and memory. It symbolizes new beginnings, hope, and change. It has associations with the harmonizing effect of nature, of calm and refreshment.

ECO-LIVING Brown Brown is another color found in abundance in the natural world. It’s the color of the fertile turned earth, of the bark of trees and of potatoes. It carries associations of security, food and home; it is comforting and calming, grounding and centering, and used to relieve tension.

Brown being also the color of your connection with your environment or in a lager sense with planet Earth.

Violet This is thought to be the most spiritually evocative color. If you want to raise your spiritual energies and intuition, surrounding yourself with violet will help to prepare the way.

Psychologically, it can have qualities of daydreaming and wishful thinking, so if you’re not grounded and practical you may want to use it with care!

Red Red is thought of as the color of passion for good reason-it has a profound effect on the circulatory system, which makes the heart race and causes psychological excitation.

It’s also the flush of eroticism and the blood of violence, and is thereby symbolic of desire, action and conquest.

Red’s intensity is considered good luck in many cultures

and can be used to build up flagging vitality.

Not only does it dissolve negativity, but actually it transforms it into the energy of Universal Love.

Yellow From it’s associations with the life-giving warmth of the sun, yellow is the color of happiness, especially for children. As such it has associations of cheerfulness, energy and play. It also stimulates the appetite for food and for activity. Adding a bit of sunflower yellow to your home can increase good cheer.

Black Is where light disappears into space. It is the full of the night and in Western culture it is the color of death. It is the color of dignity and power and can create an enveloping sense of enclosure, which is calming for some and uncomfortable for others. When you want to honor the passing of something or prepare yourself for more responsibility, adding a black symbol to your home can help bring that about.

For additional information: Sonal Choksi, www.sentient_light.com Tel:0032 486 116751

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ECO-LIVING

Baghdad Marathon P e ac e f u l

environments are environments

t h at e a c h h u m a n b e i n g n e e d s t o h av e ...

In

t h e n a m e o f p e ac e a n d

a g a i n s t a l l f o r m s o f v i o l e n c e a g r o u p o f y o u n g r u n n e r s h av e j o i n e d e f f o r t s w i t h o t h e r o r g a n iz at i o n s t o b r i n g p e a c e t o t h e

I r aq i

p e o p l e .........

by Gabriella Porilli

A

ear and a half ago a dream was born among a group of Italian peace activists and this was to organize a marathon in the city of Baghdad in the name of a peaceful environment, an environment of tolerance and of solidarity among people of different cultures. In the past months the world of amateurism roman runners has adopted this dream and decided to run under the Baghdad Marathon flag.

In collaboration with another Italian organization “No One Touches a Woman” and with a clear message on the values of non violence; the organizers wished among other messages to bring forward the event “Sports Against Violence” and insert the Baghdad Marathon within this context.

“It was the way to realize it, a way we called, “Waiting for Baghdad” which consisted to organize sports and cultural events carrying this message” says Nicola Visconti, coordinator of the project.

Sports Against Violence first event was held in Rome, Italy, last June during the period called “Summer of the Caracalla Thermals”. Next year it will be hold at the same place and period but it will last longer and this from the 23d and until the 31st of May.It will especially include sports for amateurs and young people.

During next year’s coming event they will also be a representation of an Arab village with artists, painters, writers, music arts from Iraq and this to introduce the Iraqi culture to the Italian people.

More so, explains Visconti; “We have an agreement with the Italian Minister of Public Education to transmit the values of non violence among middle and superior schools” One of the main supporters of this event is the Embassy of Iraq in Italy as well as a very famous Iraqi Writer,

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who has been living in Sicily, Italy, for more than 20 years, Youssef Aral.

The group has gained support from Human right groups such as “A bridge for”. A very enthusiastic Visconti continues; “All these people have adopted our ideas are trying to help us in order to make this event possible...Today we feel that our project is taking shape....”

The organizers are calling for international recognition and help of all associations that wish to bring back some normality to the Iraqi people.

For now Iraqis of all groups; writers, artists, runners, have offered their support in order to make this dream possible carrying one single message: The situation in Iraq must Change!

So, Let’s Run for Peace!!!!

ECO-LIVING

When will Saudis go green?

Prince Faisal offers concrete solutions for the current environmental disorder in the Arabian gulf.

“Our environment has become the first agenda in the Saudi government policy”

by Jennifer Seligman

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fter studying environmental law and regulation at the London School of Economics (LSE) as well as joint academic research at Harvard, Kent, and Portsmouth University, it dawned on HRH Prince Faisal Bin Turki Al Faisal of Saudi Arabia, and his current partner, Farhan AL-Farhan, to create an independent agency that would analyze the environmental effects of its proposed public and private projects, plans, and programs. In 2006, Prince Faisal founded the Saudi Strategic Studies Institute (SSSI), the first private Saudi Arabian agency specializing in the environmental guidelines and recommendations that are enshrined in either law or policy or referenced in literature on the topic.

“One of the special features when you study in English schools is that you gather more knowledge in every related field of development,” explains Faisal. “I spent almost seven years working in coral reef protection in the west coast of Saudi Arabia, and in 2004, I felt these efforts needed more research.” It was this well-rounded education, combined with Faisal’s practical, hands-on experience, which initially sparked his interest in helping the environment in any way possible. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has already ranked Saudi Arabia as number one for inward foreign direct investment in the Arab world, and Faisal plans to continue to increase these efforts, since Saudi Arabia is a signatory to Kyoto and WTO and both treaties focus on the environmental policies of the kingdom.

No doubt that our leadership in Saudi Arabia knows how it is important to act fast and to invest in specialized fields.

Therefore, it has become crystal clear to any scholar or environmentalist to that preserving our environment is one of the most important tasks we have to tackle. The government released 1.5 billion USD for the environmental research and projects last year; this incentive is to reduce the Saudi obligations in the future and to create new income

from the renewable energy and the carbon credit. If one were to track the government records from 2005 since the kingdom signed the treaties we would have to agree with the following official statements;

King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz AL-Saud Brothers and Friends: “What floats nowadays of talks on the negative impact of oil on environment and climate fuses the truth with falsehood.

And attempts targeting oil with high taxes are more harmful to consumers than producers. I do call for studying the issue of petroleum in relation to environment and climate scientifically and objectively away from political pressures and effects. Accordingly, I am pleased to announce that the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has allocated $300 million as nucleus

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for a program that funds scholarly research relating to energy, environment, and climate change. I do hope that consuming and producing countries will contribute to similar programs in order to reach accurate conclusions that ensure the safety of the environment and satisfy the escalating needs for petroleum.”

HRH Prince Sultan BinAbdulaziz AL-Saud Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, has reiterated the importance of formulating a national strategy for the management of problems pertaining to water, notably the exhaustion of water resources. In a statement published by the magazine of Environment and Development, issued by the administration of Meteorology and Environmental Protection, Prince Sultan said the Saudi officials and citizens are concerned with the exhaustion of water resources.

Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz noted that the establishment of a special ministry for water had embodied the great attention given by the Saudi officials to the issue of water.

Prince Sultan said the Administration Meteorology and Environmental Protection had set up a national strategy for the water resources in cooperation with the Ministry of Water and Electricity and the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs.

He noted that the the Administration Meteorology and Environmental Protection in cooperation with the Ministry of Water and Electricity and the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs. shoulder their responsibility as regards preservation of the environment. HRH’ underlined the importance of collective work for preservation of the environment.

‘It has become an essential matter to work collectively for THE prevention of environmental pollution’, said Prince Sultan.

Prince Sultan reiterated the great attention being given by the Saudi Government to issues pertaining to the environment. “We have been doing our best to preserve the wildlife”, he said. Moreover HRH’ pointed out that the Saudi Department of Meteorology and Environmental Protection has drawn a plan capable of responding immediately to natural disaster and for the protection of marine environment and Saudi shores.”Our great attention to the environmental issues stems from our adherence to the teachings of Islam’” he added.

HRH Prince Saud AL-Faisal Saudi minister of foreign affairs HRH Prince Saud ALFaisal at the 62 session of the general assembly of the United Nations 2007. And I quote: “To continue worldwide economic growth, Saudi Arabia has increased its oil production capacity in order to stabilize oil markets, to ensure the continued flow of sufficient oil, and curb artificially high prices. Saudi Arabia hosts the secretariat general of

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the energy forum, which it established as a forum for discussing areas of cooperation and dialogue between oil-consuming and oil producing countries. Increased cooperation between these countries will contribute directly to the stabilization of oil markets, oil being of course an essential strategic commodity for sustained global economic growth. As a signatory to international agreements protecting the environment, including the Kyoto Protocol, Saudi Arabia participates positively in all international efforts to protect the environment.

The international community is hopefully able to adopt policies that combine economic growth a better protection of the environment. The key to continuing environmental problems, including climate change, lies in the continuing to develop energy efficiency technologies. International efforts in this regard must be based on the principle of shared but varies responsibility

ECO-LIVING

between the developed and developing countries.”

“These actions led to build the main frame work to my research and environmental institutes to be the right tools for the government to make sure that the environmental policies are designed and structured to be applicable to the Saudi systems and are carried out by Saudi experts.”

The purpose of SSSI is to ensure that environmental agendas are enforceable. Such hazards must be integrated into strategic decision-making in support of environmentally sound and sustainable development. In particular, the SSSI process assists the authorities responsible for the plans and programmes, as well as the decision-makers, to take into account key environmental trends, the environmental effects of proposed options, and the implementation of said plans. Measures are then taken to avoid, reduce, or mitigate

the adverse environmental effects and to enhance positive effects and information from relevant authorities, the public, and from potentially affected States.

SSSI plans to integrate their findings into pro-active decision-making and solutions. They also intend to compliment the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and UN Convention on Energy Information Administration (EIA), also known as the SSSI environmental policy. This refers to the evaluation of the likely environmental and health effects, which comprise the scope of an environmental report and its preparation, and the carrying-out of public participation and consultations, all while taking into account the environmental report and the results of the public participation.

SSSI has evolved largely as an extension of any international treaties and Global principles, which focus on environmental activities. SSSI facilitates consideration of the environment in relation to fundamental issues rather than addressing only how an individual project should be developed. The potential for environmental gain is much higher with SSSI than with local and public agencies.

“Some argue it is the government’s duty to handle such matters,” says Faisal, “but this is not true. We as Saudi scholars shall take part of the responsibility and give the government our support in order to speed its progress in this new field of knowledge and international regulations.”

When properly implemented, the SSSI process should provide for a high level of environmental protection, improve the quality of plan and programme making, and increase the efficiency of the government decision-making. It will also facilitate the identification of new opportunities for development, help prevent costly mistakes, strengthen governance, and facilitate transnational cooperation, both regionally and globally. The SSSI’s goal is to avoid irreversible and severe effects, safeguard protected areas and sites, and maintain critical habitats and other important areas for the conservation of biodiversity.

“It helps to consider alternatives, which encourages the search for win-win options that open opportunities for new developments such as the new five economic cities in Saudi Arabia. In such massive developments SSSI can be a strategic partner to the local authorities to upgrade the capacity of ecosystems. SSSI, thus, supports a shift of decision-making towards the genuine sustainable development.”

SSSI facilitates the prevention of costly mistakes by providing early-warning signals about the environmentally unsustainable development options, as Saudis we have to admit to the errors which have been carried out in the past due to the lack of environmental awareness’ or planning.

Today we must learn from those past mistakes and begin to build a new greener kingdom.

A sound application of SSSI may, therefore, limit the risk of costly remediation of avoidable harm or corrective actions. SSSI also helps in saving human and financial resources in the development of plans and programmes as unsustainable options can be disregarded early on, for

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example, the current environmental statues of the major Saudi cities. SSSI also addresses difficult issues concerning the environment and the state boundary, for example, shared protected areas, waterways, transport connections, and transboundary pollution. Such features will help the authorities avoid political tension in the region.

“What distinguishes our institute apart from other similar groups is that we cover a global arena and we bring and build all of the technologies with strategic partners to implement and own the projects in Saudi Arabia in order to make the kingdom the most advanced country in the world in environmental activities,” says Faisal. “Since we are building new cities from scratch, such criteria would give us the flexibility to control the tools, which we will use in order to be ECO-friendly and to teach the notion to our younger generations to protect our natural resources long-term.”

Some of the projects that the SSSI is currently working on include the first Saudi national environmental assessment, constructing the first solar system factory in Saudi Arabia, and establishing the first Saudi recycling factory to produce natural gas. Some other initiatives in the pipeline include creating and trading carbon credit units from the existing oil and gas facilities under Kyoto protocol as well as partnership with JAPANIES institutes such as, NEDO, and additional Canadian institutes.

The Global Strategic Studies Institute (GSSI) is one of Faisal bin Turki AL-Faisal other creative initiatives. The idea for the GSSI was conceived in 2006 and has finally come to fruition after much consideration and extensive academic research. This particular project is concerned with providing a greater good to the world and the environmental

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agenda is an essential, long-term consideration. “Our aim is to provide a role model for local, national and international communities willing to contribute in our initiative,” says Faisal.

“Together, we will increase awareness of environmental issues, tackle problems, and provide effective solutions. The GSSI will support new mega projects in Saudi Arabia, encouraging their development to have an environmentally friendly focus through our eco policies and directive guidelines. we aim to create a new nerve-centre for global businesses that look to Saudi Arabia for investment opportunities.”

A gala dinner in April, which will be held in Montreal, Quebec, has been organized in order to pave the way for foreign direct investors to come and study the growing and emerging Saudi market. “With Faisal’s support, we can build the trust and introduce the Saudi know-how concepts to the new Carbon Credit market and clear the atmosphere to the investors,” explains Farhan. Guests will include all concerned companies and academic institutes as well as some officials from both Saudi Arabia and Canada. “Our law firm F&F and our strategic partner Andre R. Dorais will both be in charge of all the public relations and communications criteria to build the right legal structure following what we hope will be a fruitful event,” says Faisel.

“Through SSSI & GSSI Faisal represents the future and our new goals in the world,” says Farhan. “He has the right knowledge and charisma to remain a leader in this field.”

For further information: www.globalssi.eu http://www.ain-al-yaqeen.com/issues/20031114/feat4en.htm http://www.saudi-us-relations.org/articles/2007/ioi/071117-opecsummit.html

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Statement of Intent We are the first non-governmental and independent environmental initiative in Saudi Arabia, we compliment the Saudi leaderships efforts to reform the local development policies. The following quote from Saudi Minister of Foreign affairs summarises the GSSI project scope, targets, interested parties and goals: “To continue worldwide economic growth, Saudi Arabia has increased its oil production capacity in order to stabilize oil markets, to ensure the continued flow of sufficient oil, and curb artificially high prices.

Saudi Arabia hosts the secretariat general of the energy forum, which it established as a forum for discussing areas of cooperation and dialogue between oil consuming and oil producing countries.

Increased cooperation between these countries will contribute directly to the stabilization of oil markets, oil being of course an essential strategic commodity for sustained global economic growth. As a signatory to international agreements protecting the environment, including the Kyoto Protocol, Saudi Arabia participates positively in all international efforts to protect the environment.

The international community is hopefully able to adopt policies that combine economic growth a better protection of the environment. The key to continuing environmental problems, including climate change, lies in the continuing to develop energy efficiency technologies.International efforts in this regard must be based on the principle of shared but varies responsibility between the developed and developing countries.”

“I strongly believe that this statement will constitute my environmental projects locally, regionaly and globally for a better future to the next generation and to encourage peace and harmony within a healthy environment”

HRH Prince Saud Al-Faisal Minister of Foreign Affairs

HRH Prince Faisal Bin Turki Al - Faisal The Founder

HRH Prince Saud Al- Faisal

Our Founder HRH Prince Faisal bin Turki Al-Faisal Prince Faisal studied at The Lawrence School and Georgetown University. Then more recently at Calvin College, American Intercontinental University and The London School of Economics and Political Science.

He is the Director of Project Aware in association with PADI and the Saudi Arabian National Commission for Wild Life & Conservation. In 1999 he founded Blue Reef Divers which currently has three scuba diving schools across the Kingdom and runs costal conservation projects. He is the Co-Founder of F&F Law Firm and F&F Public Relations.

In 2007 Prince Faisal started the Global Strategic Studies Institute which is the first Saudi environmental NGO.

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Right: Professor Michael Nobel from the Nobel Charitable Trust Foundation and HRH at the dinner held by His Excellency, Ambassador Faisal Trad of the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Tokyo. Held in honour of HRH Prince Faisal bin Turki’s visit to Japan for the UNESCO Global Summit of Ecology at the historic Okuma Memorial Hall, Waseda Univesity, Tokyo. The Summit featured the presentation of an honorary degree to Al Gore for his contribution to raising the global awareness of the threat that the global environment faces.

Left: HRH greeting Dr. Ghanim Alwan Al-Jumaily, Ambassador of Iraq in Japan.

Our Services

CDM Project Development

The GLOBALSSI supports new mega projects, encouraging their development to have an environmentally friendly focus, through our environment policy and directive guidelines. As well as assisting businesses and governments in analyzing projects by providing a list of opportunities for different industries. This helps in acquiring carbon benefits and enables businesses and governments to contribute to environment protection.

Our carbon consultants advise companies and governments on compliance with international, national and voluntary commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We assist in conceiving and initiating projects with developers, introduce potential investors to these projects, and undertake the necessary project approvals and operational monitoring. GLOBALSSI also co-develops projects with investors and project developers. Being a Carbon Consulting firm, We assist companies throughout the CDM project thus, providing long term project supervision.

CDM Advisory Services

Carbon Financing

GLOBALSSI consultants assist project developers in evaluating emissions reduction opportunities, developing baseline methodologies, preparing project documentation, preparing CDM submissions and registration, undertaking project implementation and operation, and providing long term project monitoring and CERs issuance and sale services.

Our consulting team undertake transactions in GHG emission reductions, and work with project developers to secure financing for CDM projects. GLOBALSSI and its international partners also engage in outright purchase of carbon emission credits from developers, and manage a portfolio of carbon credits that have arisen from the various emissionreduction projects undertaken by us.

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Our Services GSSI has worked closely with First Energy Bank, the world’s first bank dedicated to alternative energy. First Energy Bank sponsored the yacht of HRH Prince Faisal Bin Turki Al Faisal at the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Sailing to Barcelona initiative. The successful partnership further strengthened GSSI and its strategic partners in the region as leaders in alternative energy and environmental projects.

More recently another partnership was formed between World Environment TV, the worlds leading environmental broadcaster and GSSI. The linkup will enable GSSI and World Environment TV to highlight the numerous alternative projects and initiatives currently being undertaken around the globe and in particular the Middle East through joint ventures and events that have been planned for the coming year.

Moving from strength to strength a joint venture with F&F Public Relations, of which HRH Prince Faisal is Chairman, and Stakeholder Group, the leading Irish Public Relations agency was announced. With offices in Dublin, London, Belfast, Manchester, Dubai, Riyadh and Jeddah the new entity called Stakeholder Group International will service the ever growing demands of businesses in the Middle East for PR consultancy.

Our newest partner Cherazz with offices in Denmark and Dubai, will take your business to a higher level through strategy and leadership development (executive level, middle management and talent management), culture changes, sales training, team optimizing and communication.

What We Hope To Achieve With the largest reserves of petroleum in the world, the Saudi Arabian oil and petrochemical industries are impressive in terms of their size and the revenues they produce. However, the scale of these industries exposes the country to environmental hazards - such as air pollution from carbon emissions, and land and water pollution from oil spills. Therefore, it is not surprising that environmental protection in Saudi Arabia is taken very seriously.

As awareness of environmental issues has increased, Saudi Arabian environmental laws have developed.

Such development has previously been piecemeal with environmental laws adopted on an ad-hoc basis. This is evident from the fact that environmental laws are either contained in laws relating to other substantive issues, or adopted by ratifying or signing international/regional conventions regarding certain specific environmental issues. Now that the GSSI are independent consultants to the PME (Ministry of Environment) we are able to advise and help pre-

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vent the damage caused by oil production in The Kingdom. We are the first independent (non governmental) environmental initiative in Saudi Arabia.

Mission Statement

Our organization is concerned with providing a greater good to the globe through environmen-

Strategic Outlook World government, institutions and organisations has, for some time, been aware of the threat climate change and environmental degradations poses to economy and societies. Faced with growth pressure, it now started acting decisively to adopt new models of Low carbon growth and sustainable development. In order to deliver the new global environmental agenda, GSSI believes that environmental legislation systems, laws and

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tal agenda. Environmental agenda should be an essential, long term consideration for all companies and goverments. Our aim is to provide a role model for local and international communities willing to contribute in our initiative. Together we will increase awareness of environmental issues, tackle the problems and provide effective solutions.

practices need to be overhauled. New agencies, programmes and skills needs to be established in order save the environment and indeed the world and keep its harmony.

GSSI recognize the need to capitalize on this growing momentum of environmental awareness and is currently developing, testing and delivering programmes to meet the objectives and aspirations of the new global agenda Global Strategic Studies Institute has four core areas of activity. Our Research and Policy unit runs the strategic think-

tank initiative in collaboration with several major policy partners focusing on raising the profile of environmentaldebate and practice globally and regionally. Our Education Programme teaches skills in the area of environmental leadership through seminars and workshops. The Consultancy Unit is involved in the delivery of the practical solutions to raise the level of environmental practices. Our Development Unit engages in live developments with strategic partners to create and test practical solutions, through developing tools, guidance and structured processes.

GSSI activities will be focused towards enabling exchange of current best Global thinking and practices in the area of environmental legislations, tools, techniques and carbon credit systems to all interested parties and engage them proactively in embracing and developing local environmental system.

Delivery To deliver this project, GSSI is working closely with UK/EU based strategic partners building on their expertise in the area of Carbon Credits, sustainable development and environmental legislation and assessment methods.

Emerging Agenda 1. Achieve accelerate Change towards investment in low carbon technologies and practices globally and locally through adopting relevant measure in the new policies 2. Help establish a well aware and trained core group of decision and opinion makers and related agencies to mobilise political support globally for the adoptions of a low carbon growth 3. economy base on sustainable growth and efficient technologies 4. Promote the adoption by relevant Government agencies and departments new environmental frameworks, polices, processes and tools capable of responding to ambitious environmental targets post 2012 5. Ensure the establishment of strategic partnerships between global and local agencies, organisations, cities and academic institutions to help develop detailed low carbon policies in areas such as transport/housing/growth economic policies 6. Promotes and help create and deliver training programme harnessing best global practices to help build capacity locally in the public and private sectors to embrace, deliver and manage the new agenda

Expanding into Japan As independent consultants to the Ministry of Environment (PME), we believe that we would be able

achieve a tremendous amount by establishing an office in Japan. GSSI recognises that Japan possesses not only the state-of-the-art science and technology that the world needs, but also the track

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record and experience gained from its success in achieving a high rate of economic growth. Japan exercises leadership rooted in these achievements in the interest of enhancing the stability and prosperity of international society.

The fundamental phrase for taking on the new challenges that have emerged in the 21st century is “a participatory approach” as described by former Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda. We need to bring about collaboration among governments, the business sector, civil society, and academia by achieving synergies among countries and among individuals. We see a distinct benefit in establishing an Japan based office for the first Saudi environmental NGO. This office would then act as constant bridge between Japan and Saudi, thereby allowing a constant flow of information between the two countries.

After the Kyoto Conference on climate change in 1997, activities to address global environmental problems gained momentum in Japan and expanded across many sectors. Today one can see many initiatives by the central and local governments, industry, research institutes, universities, non-governmental organizations and individual citizens. We feel that every country has

something positive to contribute, and that people in other parts of the world may find useful ideas from Japan, in some of its advanced technologies, systems and partnerships, approaches to information disclosure, and other developments.

There may also be lessons from the past before the modern day Japan had a tradition of sustainability. The Edo Period, lasting about 300 years, from the early 17th to late 19th century, appears from today’s perspective to have been one model of a sustainable society. During that period Japan was self-sufficient in food and energy, had low population growth and recycled almost all materials. One may find clues for a new type of sustainability in the wisdom, craftsmanship and lifestyles of the past.

Only limited information on Japan’s new developments, technologies or even traditional approaches actually arrives overseas. Only a small portion of information on the environment and sustainability gets translated from Japanese into English and even then its distribution overseas is often limited to a small audience. GSSI would like create a open passageway for the constant transfer of information, thereby translating the state-of-the-art science and technology in Japan into practice in Saudi Arabia.

Our Global Offices BRUXELLES GSSI 186 rue hotel DES monnaies 1060 saint-gilles Belgium +32493503535 RIYADH GSSI Riyadh-AL-Sulaimaniyah King Abdulaziz Rd Riyadh 12245 PO Box 8534 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia +966508381107 JEDDAH GSSI Jeddah AL-Nahdah 7630 Prince Sultan Road Unit One Office 6 Jeddah: 23615 PO Box: 5378 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 92

LONDON GSSI 39 A Curzon Street London W1J 7UA United Kingdom +447826182248 DUBAI GSSI Unit-2201 393- Jumeirah lake towers (MAG-214 TOWER) POST BOX 23325 Dubai - UAE

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World Future Energy Summit, JOIN THE LEADERS BE PART OF THE SOLUTION 19-21 January 2009, Abu Dhabi

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f you could develop or grow an oil field, would you? Of course you would. Future energy reserves are currently being created throughout the world. Now is the time to get involved in an industry where the opportunities are endless.

Energy has become a mainstream issue, but how much do we know about the business leaders in the area? The policy makers are going to Poznan in December to debate climate change issues, but in January the business leaders are coming to Abu Dhabi to find practical solutions.

The epicenter of the alternative and renewable industry will gather for three days of global strategy sessions, future energy technical streams and an in-depth look at the green building industry.

Whether the speaker is a head of state or a senior project manager, all have been selected due to their experience in successful commercial projects. The World Future Energy Summit has been developed to be solution-orientated for businesses, politicians and NGOs across the board.

Over 100 speakers from 6 continents will inspire an international audience. Each keynote will feature an impressive line up of influential thought leaders from government, industry and academia. The keynote theme is “Future Energy Policy and Strategy”.

Each session deliberately includes a mix of politicians, policy influencers and industrialists. The heterogeneous make up of the panel will ensure a lively and at times controversial debate. (see some examples of speaker profiles below).

The technical programme (see table) hosts a range of international case studies looking at the success stories and obstacles implementation. Full details of the conference programme can be found online at www.WorldFutureEnergySummit.com The Summit presented by Masdar also features a large exhibition showcasing 300 companies from around the world, including 12 country pavilions and a wide range of features. It will also see the first Zayed Future Energy Prize winner announced at an impressive ceremony and gala dinner on the first night.

A selection of speaker profiles: ANDRIS PIEBALGS, EU COMMISSIONER OF ENERGY Andris Piebalgs became the Energy Commissioner for the European Union in 2004. The EU now consists of 27 member states with a population of nearly 500million people with a total GDP of €11.5 trillion. Between now and 2030, the EU estimates that €1 trillion will be spent on its electricity network and power generation to modernize towards low carbon consumption. The EU Energy Security Plan announced November 13, 2008, is to combat climate change, high energy prices and energy security.

This security plan also covers the ambitious 20-20-20 targets, which involves a 20% increase by 2020 in energy

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efficiency, transportation powered by sustainable biofuels and power generation from renewable and alternative energy. In January 2005 the European Union Greenhouse Gas Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS) commenced operation as the largest multi-country, multi-sector Greenhouse Gas emission trading scheme, reportedly worth $50billion.

FRANK MASTIAUX, CEO, E.ON CLIMATE AND RENEWABLES Frank Mastiaux is CEO of E.ON Climate and Renewables (EC+R), headquartered in Dusseldorf. EC+R is a market unit of the overall E.ON corporation. The E.ON corporation is one of the largest industrial groups in Europe with a turnover of 69billion and some 88,000 employees. EC+R is responsible for overseeing its global renewable energy business and is already one of the largest renewable energy companies in the world.

EC+R operates more than 60 wind farms with total capacity of 1500mw and plans to increase to 4000mw capacity through investment and expansion, such as the London Array project with the MASDAR initiative. Their portfolio includes biomass, tidal, wave, nuclear, energy efficiency projects such as thermal efficient coal powered electricity plants. Frank Mastiaux will be speaking in the technical stream on wind alongside Ditlev Engel, CEO of Vestas.

DR SUSAN HOCKFIELD, PRESIDENT, MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Susan Hockfield has served as the President of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) since 2004; she is a director for General Electric and the World Economic Forum Foundation and was formerly provost for Yale University.

MIT is a private institute in Boston and is continually ranked the top engineering and scientific university in America. It is one of the leading research institutions in the world and has a leading technology transfer program.

Hockfield will speaking on Jan 19 about ‘Sparking an Energy Technology Revolution’, such as the information technology and biotechnology booms we have seen. These revolutions created new industries, thousands of jobs and most of the 21 century technology that we now take for granted – how do we do that in energy? Hockfield will highlight the need for basic research and how to transform today’s energy research into tomorrow’s economic growth and environmental opportunities.

VINOD KHOSLA, FOUNDER, KHOSLA VENTURES Vinod Khosla is the founder of Khosla Ventures and formerly, founding C.E.O. of Sun Microsystems. Khosla is considered a Silicon Valley evangelist of venture capitalism and cleantech; he is ranked by Forbes in the top 400 richest Americans. He recently reported that he is looking for alternative energy ideas that are revolutionary and unforeseen.

ENERGY

SPECIAL ABU DHABI Khosla Ventures was set up in 2004 and investments in 65 start-up companies across wind, solar, biofuels, geothermal, clearer battery technology and green building materials.

Khosla says cleaner energy has to be more competitive with fossil fuels, not just its carbon emission but its price and mass production ability.

Khosla will be speaking on Jan 21st, 2009, about what he considers to be the most scalable sources of clean energy alternatives.

DITLEV ENGEL, CEO, VESTAS Ditlev Engel is C.E.O and group president of VESTAS since 2005. VESTAS is the world’s largest wind turbine producer and has a 23% market share. They have installed more than 35.500 wind turbines in 63 countries in 5 continents.

Their wind turbines generate more than 60 million MW of energy every year.

Engel is one of the most visible faces of renewable energy, regularly cited on CNBC, BBC, Financial Times and beyond.

Recently, he says that it is time to keep a cool head and that the fundamental of our energy needs have not changed and a solution is required regardless of the financial crisis.

Engel will be speaking in Abu Dhabi on January 20th, 2009, in the technical stream on wind energy, about ‘Renewable Energy and the Transition to a Low Carbon Economy’.

Ministers presence confirmed at the world future energy summit Sigmar Gabriel, German Minster of Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety will represent German Chancellor, Angela Merkel. France’s No2 to President Nicolas Sarkozy, Jean-Louis Borloo, French Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development will also speak on France’s role and plans for the development of future energy resources. A total of 8 ministers and 1 commissioner have now agreed to join the Summit’s line including H.E. Mohammed bin Dha’en Al Hamili, U.A.E. Minister of Energy, H.E. Connie Hedegaard, Danish Minister of Environment and Andris Piebalgs, EU Commissioner of Energy.

The US high-level presence at the summit will be everywhere with technology giants, GE Energy and Applied Materials also in the exhibition and senior management representatives expected from Exxon Mobil, Conoco Phillips and Occidental Power. The future of US innovation and research will be explained by two of America’s leading minds, Dr. Susan Hockfield, president of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Dan Arvizu, Director of the National Renewable Energy Lab. Tony Blair, the Former Prime Minister of Great Britain, will report on the state of the deals on climate change with the closing speech at the World Future Energy Summit 2009. “It is a huge challenge” said Blair about brokering a climate deal.

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Technical Streams of the Summit PROJECT FINANCE Developing project and structured nance opportunities for the future energy market can become extremely complex when they involve an array of industries and projects in the growing “climate change” sector. Our expert panel will assess current business opportunities, what to do when things go wrong, carbon funds and project developments.

AUTOMOTIVE Man and his car will never be parted. The automotive industry recognises this as a fact of life and is addressing ways to reduce the environmental impact of the car.

This session will look at each of the key technologies in turn including electric cars, hybrids, future fuels and sustainable mobility solutions.

CARBON CAPTURE STORAGE

Our 2009 conference will have two solar streams: solar thermal and solar PV. The Solar PV stream will have expert speakers explaining the cutting edge of nancial incentives, capital costs, new technologies, solar cells, PV arrays and PV modules and other major commercial factors involved in the PV sector.

One method that can achieve signicant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions is CO2 capture and storage (CCS).

CO2 capture and storage technology (used in combination with the other mitigation measures) could help reduce CO2 emissions without the need for rapid change in the energy supply infrastructure.

This session draws together international experts to discuss key aspects of CCS technology and the necessary economic landscape.

WATER

BIOFUELS

SOLAR PV

One of the big questions in the Middle Eastern region is how governments will manage investment in the region’s water and wastewater infrastructure. The combination of a fast growing population, highly stressed natural water resources and the challenge of industrialisation means that developing new water sources and putting wastewater to better use is a priority across the region. This session will look at new commercial technologies assessing key factors for successfully managing the region’s water.

Within the biofuels industry, sustainability is the keyword: nancially, environmentally, and socially.

The sector is constantly developing and extensive research is going into second generation non-food chain feedstocks.

The biofuels stream at the conference will focus on both rst and second generation biofuels, with presentations covering key topics.

WASTE TO ENERGY

Companies are investing huge amounts of capital in new technologies, strategies and clean development mechanisms. This session features some of industry’s experts in the CDM focusing on how it can help deliver energy eciency.

The Waste-to-energy stream at the conference will focus on sustainable solutions to managing resources and energy recovery in the future. It will cover issues relating to new processes that create energy from a waste source.

Presentations will cover both new technologies and case studies of implementations that reduce or eliminate waste that would otherwise have gone to landll.

SOLAR THERMAL

INVESTMENT

ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CARBON

The solar industry had a total investment of $28.5billion in 2007. The rise in demand for expertise and commercial success stories has lead to our 2009 conference separating our solar stream into two streams: Solar Thermal and Solar PV. Topics to be covered inc: heating, cooling and ventilations, storage, technological design and an in-depth look at thermal management of dierent temperatures.

WIND Wind energy can help to match growing energy demand without an increase in fossil fuel consumption and is vital in addressing issues of security of supply, while delivering energy diversity and providing sustainable economic growth. The session will concentrate on technological progress in the industry and projections for the future.

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An estimated total of $148.4bn was invested in clean energy technologies, companies and projects in 2007. This session draws together some of the world’s key experts to analyse this investment activity, across all the key markets for clean energy.

Other (geothermal, fuel cells, ocean power) A session that includes key future energy technologies that unfortunately we were not able to devote a whole session to including geothermal, fuel cells and ocean/wave power.

Information provided by www.turretme.com

Technology pavillions from international governments at the world future energy summit

The Netherlands will host twenty five companies in its ‘Energy Forest’ national pavilion, including clean technology, water technology and waste to energy technology

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bu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 15th December 2008: Governments from all over the globe are bringing their leading technologies and ‘R+D’ specialists to Abu Dhabi to participate in the World Future Energy Summit.

Combined with over two hundred exhibiting companies, the summit exhibition looks set to be the world’s leading technology trade fair in the renewable energy and green buildings market.

In a week, when the United Nations has gathered the world’s environment ministers to agree how to fight climate change, there is only one word on everyone’s lips, TECHNOLOGY. In this spirit, we look at three of the twelve national pavilions that will be participating at the World Future Energy Summit, January 19-21, 2009.

The Netherlands will host twenty five companies in its ‘Energy Forest’ national pavilion, including clean technology, water technology and waste to energy technology. They will be running a seminar on January 20th, ‘Sustainable

Energised Society’ covering sustainable construction, Dutch architecture, clean technologies and water management.

The Crown Prince of the Netherlands, Prince WillemAlexander and Mr. Frank Heemskerk, the Minister for Foreign Trade, will be officially opening the pavilion. The Netherlands will be launching the export organization ‘Cleantech Holland’ and signing a number of Memorandum of Understandings.

Netherlands’ companies participating include leading water experts as part of the Netherlands Gulf Region Water Platform (NGWP), Genap, producers of flexible water storage reservoirs and Sunweb, producers of break through multi crystalline back contact solar cells. LED lights from participant LEDNED will be used in the trees in the pavilion’s ‘Energy Forest’.

The Spanish Pavilion will host a number of companies, dominated by the national expertise, Solar technology.

Torresol Energy, the joint venture between the engineering

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group SENER and Masdar announced at last year’s summit, will have a virtual model of its first project, Gemasolar, on show. Other leading Spanish technologies at the summit will include Generalia’s high accuracy PV suntrackers for solar plants and their launch product, Spintracker: the new cost competitive suntracker for HCPV. Siliken is a leading turnkey system integrator for off-grid and on-grid solar PV systems.

Aries Ingeniería y Sistemas will be exhibiting a model of a thermosolar electric plant and have engineering specialists from solar, wind, bio-fuels, biomass and fuel cells. Abengoa solar will be exhibiting its leading international developer of Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) and PV plants and technologies.

The Swiss pavilion looks set to be a hub of activity with the Swiss Minister of Environment and Energy, H.E. Moritz Leuenberger, signing a ground breaking Memorandum of Understanding with Abu Dhabi government on January 19, 2009. On the pavilion will be fourteen leading Swiss companies participating, using Abu Dhabi as its base to spread its technology and know-how across Arabia and the world. Myclimate, one of the world’s top carbon offset providers, will have their top management to explain Clean Development Mechanism projects and carbon offsetting solutions across the emerging world. 3 S Industries AG is an expert in the production equipment for the manufacture of solar modules and will have experts from its 3 affiliates Companies 3S Swiss Solar Systems, Pasan and Somont at the Summit.

NEWSGENS will be introducing a revolutionary hydrogen plant on the Island of Corfu at the Summit. The plant uses hydrogen technology to produce electric electricity and eliminate 120,000 tonnes of waste a year. Huber + Suhner will also be participating in the pavilion.

The fight against climate change becomes a real business opportunity when surrounded by leading technology providers. It may be December 2009 in Copenhagen before the United Nations secures a global deal on pollution limits and investor security for renewable energy.

However, being positioned with the right technology to feed that market is the clever thing to do. Join the leaders, be part of the solution and the economic growth that results from being ahead of the market at the World Future Energy Summit, 19-21 January in Abu Dhabi.

ABOUT THE WORLD FUTURE ENERGY SUMMIT The World Future Energy Summit held its inaugural event on 21-23 January 2008 in Abu Dhabi under the patronage of H.H. General Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

The first summit in January brought together 11,272 attendees from 77 countries, 213 exhibitors from 23

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countries, over 80 speakers and 423 international and regional media.

Hosted by Masdar, WFES 09 will be hosted in the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. It is proudly supported by its principal sponsor, Credit Suisse and principal international media partner, TIME magazine.

Please visit the official website for additional information, www.WorldFutureEnergySummit.com

ABOUT TURRET MIDDLE EAST Turret Middle East is a leading organiser of conferences and exhibitions and a foundation partner of the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Centre. It organises the World Future Energy Summit on behalf of REED Exhibitions.

The company organises some of the region’s biggest events including the internationally acclaimed World Future Energy Summit, winner of the AEO Best Launch Event this year, The Middle East Waste Summit, Dubai, and consumer shows such as the award winning Taste of Dubai food extravaganza, and a new event for 2009 – The International Motorsports Festival, Abu Dhabi.

With a new publishing department expanding rapidly into new markets, the Turret ME team is going from strength to strength. For more information go to www.turretme.com

ABOUT MASDAR The Masdar Initiative is Abu Dhabi’s multi-faceted, multi-billion dollar investment in the development and commercialization of innovative technologies in renewable, alternative and sustainable energies as well as sustainable design.

Masdar is driven by the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (ADFEC), a wholly owned company of the government of Abu Dhabi through the Mubadala Development Company.

In January 2008, Abu Dhabi announced it will invest $15 billion in Masdar, the largest single government investment of its kind.

Photo caption: SENER will be exhibiting at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi on January 19-21 For more information about the Masdar Initiative, please visit www.masdaruae.com For more information on WFES please contact: Thaisa Alvarez Sr. PR Account Manager V Public Relations Tel: +971 2 6449444 Email: thaisa@viola.ae

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ABU DHABI WATER AND ELECTICITY AUTHORITY TO SET UP A SOLAR ENERGY TRIAL IN THE EMIRATES According to recent energy statistic, the UAE will need US$10bn to satisfy energy demand for the next 10 years

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n 2006 the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA) announced that it is to set up a solar energy trial in the emirate. It was estimated that the project will last for year and will involve placing solar panels on car park canopies and benches at various locations in the capital where the electricity generated will be fed into the city’s power grid. The electricity generated through the solar panels will be used to supplement the power grid at peak times. It is believed that due to plenty of sun, the potential for using solar power is large. While it is understood that excess heat reduces the efficiency of the panels by about 1%, methods of harvesting and maintaining the solar

panels must be developed.

Recently, it was announced by ADWEA that the demand for water in Abu Dhabi is expected to grow by 43% during the next five years, while it is estimated that the demand for electricity will almost double in this period.

However, with the absence of adequate resources of ground water or flowing rivers, Abu Dhabi depends largely on desalination of the seawater for sanitation. While desalinated water constitutes the major source for drinking water, agricultural and industrial needs. The Abu Dhabi Distribution Company is constantly upgrading its networks to keep pace with the ongoing expansion of townships in

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the emirate. During the past few years, the Company has completed distribution networks in forty various projects, which included new townships, development of islands, workers’ residential complexes and industrial sites.

ADWEA abide by the principles of sustainability in its strategy and expansion projects. Recently ADWEA participated in the celebrations of World Water Day (WWD) observed under the theme of sanitation, and upheld the principle of sustainability.

UAE’s investments on water projects have increased by 20% from US $11.62 billion in 2007 to US $14bn in 2008.

The number of projects is expected to rise further due to continuous increase in population and sustained economic activities. The figures, seen by Emirates Business, show that about 26% of the new generation capacity would come from Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Agency (ADWEA).

The state-owned agency gave US $1.3bn for the expansion of its five existing desalination plants; one is scheduled for completion within this year, the other one next year and the remaining three by 2010. Under ADWEA’s fiveyear strategy, water production will increase from the current 626 million gallons per day to 969 million gallons by 2013. Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Company (ADWEC) – the single buyer and seller of electricity and water in the UAE’s capital related the increasing demand for water to changes in land ownership laws during 2005 and the constant release of surplus oil revenues for major infrastructure developments and mega projects, where it is understood that the development boom will require significant quantities of extra electricity and water capacity over and above the normal developments assumed in past ADWEC demand forecasts.

Three demand forecasts have been developed considering the schedules of mega-projects, the number of new expatriates and the number of projects that are to be announced. Under the high demand forecast ADWEA expects a 33.25% increase in demand. 28.5% and 23.125% are expected in the most likely demand and low-demand forecasts, respectively. According to recent energy statistics, the UAE will need US$10bn to satisfy energy demand for the next ten years, due to increasing land developments and projects that increase by 12 per cent each year. The UAE has already consumed up to 25% of Gulf water – a fifth of which has been used for electrical energy, while over 100 energygenerating projects are currently being developed in the region. Due to the steep increase in demand for water in the GCC countries, and with conventional water resources such as fresh surface water and renewable groundwater extremely limited, alternative sources such as wastewater reclamation and desalination have been adopted since the 1960’s.

To meet the increased demand for water across the UAE, the UAE has announced that it will build 68 extra dams in the next five years. The measure does not only aim to meet the high water demand but also to protect the UAE’s natural water resources. The measure does not only

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involves building new dams but also the Ministry of Water and Soil Affairs has announced that it was a new federal law draft to protect the country’s water resources in a bid to meet the future water demand. The new dams are going to rechargeable to help the UAE save more water. However the costs that would be incurred in building the new dams have not yet been announced.

Although the UAE has 140 dams already built, new dams are proposed to ensure maximum usage of water resources and avoid wasting water. Except the two dams in Fujairah, all other dams across the country are rechargeable.

Industrial and agricultural sectors are outlined to be the major consumers of water resources. The government aims to use desalinated water for only domestic purposes, and to the demands of industrial and agricultural sectors using treated wastewater.In conclusion and as it can be said from recent announcements with regards to environmental issues, that the increased demands for both water and electricity capacities create a need for more new IWPP capacities along with more opportunities for investors.

New IWPP capacities are predicted to be in need from 2011-2012. Additional IWPP capacities must be purchased to meet demand increases.

ENERGY

SPECIAL ABU DHABI this was followed by a noticeable increase from 2003-2004 and then a steady increase towards 2007. This can be contrasted to the capacity of Non-IWPP companies. Even before IWPP companies commence production, the capacity of Non-IWPP was lower to that of IWPP. The trend with respect to the desalination capacity of Non-IWPP companies’ matches the trend demonstrated in the electricity capacity study, both showing an increase in capacity in 2005.

There is a stand still in capacity of Non-IWPP companies demonstrated in both studies 2003 – 2004.

Generation Capacity (Gross MW) at 31st December (Dependable Capacity) IWPP companies have a greater generation capacity than Non-IWPP companies. Data also shows that overall the total generation capacity has increased to over the double from 1998 – 2007. The data demonstrates that generally companies after joining the IWPP produce more than before joining.

Desalination Capacity (Gross MGD) at 31st December (Dependable Capacity) Overall IWPP companies tend to have greater desalination capacities during most of the period between 2001-2007.

Again the total desalination capacities have increased from 1998 – 2007 to over triple the amount in 2007.

Generation Capacity by Technology (Gross MW) 1998 -2002 (Dependable Capacity).

Analysis and comparison of the Capacity Statistics: Comparison between Abu Dhabi IWPP v. Non-IWPP Electricity Capacity The study shows noticeable increase in the capacity of IWPP from about 4300 MW in the year 2000 to over 8000 MW in 2007 indicating a double increase in IWPP electricity capacity. The study also shows a general decline in the capacity of Non-IWPP companies from 2000 to 2004, an increase in capacity from in 2005 followed by a sharp decline from 2005 to 2007. From 2003 onwards, IWPP companies produce double or more the capacity of Non-IWPP companies.

Comparison between Abu Dhabi IWPP v Non-IWPP Desalination Capacity IWPP’s desalination capacity exceeded that of Non - IWPP capacities since its commencement in 2001. From the period of 2001-2002 there was a general increase in IWPP capacity, followed by a stand still from 2002–2003, and

Gas powered turbines are more effective in generating capacity than steam turbines or diesel engines in that they yield more capacity. The figures demonstrate that IWPP companies overall generate more capacity than Non-IWPP companies. The trend with respect to IWPP companies is that the capacity increases yearly. Whilst Fujairah IWPP maintained the same capacity from 2005 to 2007, AMPC has maintained the same capacity from 2002 to 2007. The total generation capacity has increased overall during the period from 1998-2007.

Desalination Capacity by Technology (Gross MGD) 1998 – 2002 (Dependable Capacity) Multi-stage Flash Desalination (MSF) is the most commonly used method for desalination. Again IWPP have an overall greater production rates than Non-IWPP. Most Non-IWPP companies’ production over the period from 1998 – 2007 levels off at lower capacity rates than IWPP companies. UANPC has used Multi-effect Desalination (MED) at a constant rate and has maintained this rate after becoming APC IWPP, while GTTPC has introduced this method of desalination at a greater rate, which it has maintained from 2002 – 2007. Fujairah IWPP is the only IWPP

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The annual average line trend is expected to match the demand line of the Abu Dhabi region.

Water Peak Demand Forecast Range 2007 – 2020 It is demonstrated that the High, Most likely, and Low forecast demand lines will increase over the stated period to over the triple amount of 2007, with the most likely forecast lying exactly in-between both the high and low demand lines.

company to introduce and use the desalination method of Reverse Osmosis (RO).

IWPP v Non-IWPP Generation Capacity (Gross MW) (Dependable Capacity at 31st December) In 1999, before the introduction of IWPP companies, Non-IWPP companies dominated the market with 100%.

However after 2000 the introduction of IWPP companies led the dominance of Non-IWPP to decline gradually over the years until 2007. The cause of this could be the decline in the capacity production rates over the period of NonIWPP companies. The peak in the generation capacity in 2005 of Non-IWPP companies is due to the introduction of a new company called Union Water & Electricity Company (UWEC).

In 2007, IWPP companies achieved a generation capacity of 96% compared to 4% belonging to Non-IWPP companies due to more companies joining IWPP and this could be due to increased benefits of joining than not.

IWPP v Non-IWPP Desalination Capacity (Gross MGD) (Dependable Capacity at 31st December) The study follows the trend shown in IWPP v Non-IWPP Generation Capacity, but commences in the year 2001.

Again, IWPP has gained market dominance by 2007 with 91% compared to 8% of Non-IWPP.

Analysis and summary of Forecast Statistics: Electricity Peak Demand Forecast Range 2007 – 2020 The studies show that the High, Base and Low demand lines will rise from 2007 onwards to over double the demand of 2007 by 2020.

Base Peak Electricity Demand Forecast 2007 – 2020 The study shows that for both the Al Ain and the Western Region, the Base Peak Electricity Demand will very slowly rise during the forecasted period. This can be compared to the Abu Dhabi region where the demand is expected to rise gradually to over triple the demand forecasted in 2007.

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Electricity Capacity v Demand Winter 2006 / 2007 Base Demand Forecast New capacity obtained during 2006 to avoid capacity shortfalls during 2009/2010. The Shuweihat S2 station is added in 2011 to satisfy demand later on. Capacity can be maintained until 2011, however after 2011 a new capacity must be introduced to meet demands after that. It is suggested that 4 years (from 2007-2011) are plenty of time to bring on and produce a new capacity for 2012. It is worth noting that Abu Dhabi is the only part of the GCC that has not suffered any capacity shortages since 1999.

Water Capacity v Demand Winter 2006 / 2007 Demand Forecast Again, the study demonstrates that the capacity can be maintained up until 2011, and so before the end of 2011 new capacity must be brought and produced in order to meet the demand after that. Again, it is believed that a period of 4 years is enough to bring on this new capacity.

Electricity Peak Demand Forecast (Gross MW) and Water Peak Demand Forecast (Gross MGD) The study shows and proves the trends outlined above in

ENERGY

SPECIAL ABU DHABI that the demand for both the electricity and water capacity will increase from 2007 onwards.

ADWEC Forecast of Electricity & Water Capacities Base / Most Likely Demand Forecast According to the research, demand will be met during the period 2007-2011 with surplus capacity generated however after 2011 capacity demands will not be met (deficits shown) unless a new capacity is produced before the end of 2011 to meet the demands of future years. This is true for both the electricity and water demand forecasts.

It can be concluded that higher demands create a need for more new IWPP capacities and creates more opportunities for investors. New IWPP capacity is most likely to be needed from 2012/2013.

Analysis and summary of Water Statistics: Water Production by Company (MG) IWPP companies produce more than Non-IWPP companies since starting production. This may be due to betterbuilt stations with higher generation capacities.

Average Daily Water Production (MGD) From 1998 – 2006, the average daily water production has increased. This could be due to factors such as economic growth and population increases over the period. The increase in demand could be said to have been met by introducing new capacity, with Fujairah IWPP achieving the highest average daily water production in recent years.

Annual Water Production by Station (MG) 1998 – 2006 IWPP stations could be seen to have higher annual water production figures than Non-IWPP, in addition to NonIWPP production rates declining over the period stated. It is demonstrated that the overall annual water production has increased from 1998 to 2006 due to increase in demand. Demand increase returns to growth in both population and economy. Monthly water production by station 1998 – 2006 tables support the findings and show that generally during the summer months (April to September) the demand seems to be at its highest levels than in the rest of the months of the year and after September it seems to decline.

Annual Water Production by Region (MG) The Abu Dhabi region has had the highest annual water production rates from 1998 to 2006. The increase in demand in all regions over the stated period, as noticed have more than doubled from 1998 to the end of 2006.

Annual Average Daily Water Production by Region (MGD) Again, it is shown that the Abu Dhabi region has the highest average daily water production, where figures have risen from 1998 onwards.

Peak Daily Water Supply (MGD) The table shows that the Abu Dhabi emirate remains the highest exporter of daily water supplies compared to other emirates.

Annual Water Supply by Company (MG) 1999 – 2006 IWPP companies produce more than Non-IWPP companies, with a general decline in the figures for Non-IWPP companies towards 2006. Again, the fact that the demand for water has increased and thus it has increased in overall water supplies.

Monthly Water Supply by Company (MG) 1999 – 2006 The study supports the findings above including the fact that during the summer months (April to September) the demand seems to be at its highest levels than in the rest of the months of the year and after September it seems to decline.

Average Daily Water Supply by Company (MGD) 1999 – 2006 The trend shows that as the demand for water increased over the years, the total daily water supplies have also increased. During the summer months (April to September) the demand seems to be at its highest levels than in the rest of the months of the year and so explains the high figures.

After September it the output seems to decline.

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Water Resources Strategy for Abu Dhabi Emirate The water policy in the Emirate has been largely based on supply, rather than demand management, and now relies on large, expensive desalination plants to supply drinking water.

T

he EAD strategic goal in Water Resources Management is to develop and implement a plan to help “manage the overall water resources of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in a sustainable, economically viable and environmentally sound way that will allow the long-term socio-economic development of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi�.

Key Issues The Emirate has an arid/hyper arid climate with less than 100mm/yr rainfall, a low groundwater recharge rate (c.4% of total annual water used) and no reliable,

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perennial surface water resources and yet, currently, one of the highest per capita water consumptions in the world. Overall water scarcity and ongoing depletion and potential for pollution (especially Nitrates from the extensive use of inorganic fertilizers) of the Emirate’s useable, natural (ground) water resources, which have arisen from rapid social /economic development in the last four decades has placed considerable stress on sectoral water use.

Unplanned and uncontrolled groundwater withdrawals, especially in the agriculture and forestry sectors, now total over 2 billion cubic meters per year and have resulted in declining groundwater levels and quality in many areas.

The water policy in the Emirate has been largely based

WATER

SPECIAL ABU DHABI on supply, rather than demand management, and now relies on large, expensive desalination plants to supply drinking water. In the past, lack of regulation and control on the development of water resources has been largely responsible for the current poor water situation, and since no single authority had the mandate for water resources management, water resources development has been largely adhoc and unplanned, and duplication of efforts has led to wasted resources.

The Future Recent changes in assigned responsibility for the various aspects of water resources development and management in the Emirate has now created the opportunity for improved Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) and the outlook is much brighter.

In 2005, the newly formed Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) was assigned total responsibility by the Executive Council for water management and during 2005 and 2006, the new and enlarged water resources department have commenced projects which focus on the following activities, all of which are essential to effective IWRM: • Protection, conservation and monitoring of water resources • Continuous monitoring for the exploitable groundwater aquifers • Planning, policy-making and regulation of water use

• Water well inventory and registration • Water Well Drilling Permitting • Management of data and information on water (establishment of a centralized water resources database) • Coordinated groundwater exploration and assessment • Capacity-building and institutional development within the water sector • Local, regional and international cooperation and collaboration • Management of strategic emergency water resources

Available Water Sources The water resources components found within the Emirate are as follows: • Traditional or conventional: rainfall, springs, wadis, sabkhas, lakes, ponds and groundwater.

• Non-Traditional or unconventional: desalinated water and treated wastewater.

Groundwater occurs in the Emirate as either consolidated or unconsolidated surficial deposit aquifers or as bedrock / structural aquifers and contributes 71.2% to the total water demand, followed by desalinated water (24%) and treated wastewater (4.8%).

Groundwater supply is decreasing and the imbalance between supply and demand is being filled by ever increasing amounts of desalinated water.

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SPECIAL ABU DHABI

Water Use Irrigation in the agriculture, forestry and amenity plantation sectors accounts for a massive 76% of the total Emirate water use, the remainder is taken up with domestic and industrial consumption, both of which is supplied in bulk by the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA).

As a major step towards conserving the water resources EAD developed a water resources strategy including Key Performance Indicators with 2 and 5 years targets. These targets can be achieved by collaboration and cooperation with other agencies by various actions such as: • Using new water saving technologies either in domestic sectors or agriculture sector

• Revision of the agriculture and forestry policy in the light of dwindling groundwater resources and increasing reliance on desalinated water.

• Raising the public awareness on water conservation and efficient water use.

• Encouraging industrial water users in water recycling and reuse of treated wastewater in activities that don’t require potable water.

• Special care should be given to monitoring, evaluating, modeling and sustainable development of groundwater resources, especially to stabilize the over-exploited aquifers.

• Implementing artificial recharge to enhance groundwater storage.

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

BASELINES

2 YEAR TARGET

5 YEAR TARGET

Domestic Water Consumption per day per capita in Abu Dhabi

550/lit/day/person

400lit/day/person

350/lit/day/person

Water Consumption per sq. km in Agricultural zones

23,500m3/ha

21,500m3/ha

18,000m3/ha

Water Consumption per sq. km in the forestry sector

3,500m3/ha

3,000m3/ha

2,500m3/ha

Water Quality in Abu Dhabi

Salinity-800ppm-70,000ppm

Nitrogen Loading 5-80 ppm

Salinity-500ppm-70,000ppm

Nitrogen Loading 5-70 ppm

Salinity300 ppm-70,000ppm

Nitrogen loading 5-45 ppm Groundwater Reserves/Availability

Fresh water=16.25 km3

Brackish =115.80 km3 Saline=508.6 km4

Fresh water=16.50 km3

Brackish =114.25 km3 Saline=507.0 km3

Fresh water=17.00 km3

Brackish =113.00 km3 Saline=505.00 km3

For Further Information Sobhia Al Masry Senior Media Relations Coordinator Environment Awareness Sector - Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi Tel: +9712 6934637 - Fax: +9712 4464799 - Email: selmasri@ead.ae Website: www.ead.ae - Mobile: +97150 4450323

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Air Quality Management The Environment Agency Abu Dhabi

announces

n e w i n i t i at i v e s f o r n o is e a n d a i r q u a l i t y m a n a g e m e n t

A

s part of its efforts to ensure sustainable balance between economic growth and healthy environment, the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) has outsourced its Air Quality management activities for the period 2008 – 2012 to the Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU).

The initiative comes as part of the Agency’s continuous efforts to protect the environment for generations to come, especially under the major development the Emirate is witnessing in economic, social and technological fields.

The scope of work of this agreement will focus on implementing the priorities for noise and air quality management, where a comprehensive survey of noise levels in the Emirate will be conducted to deliver a Strategic Noise Map for Abu Dhabi.

NILU will also be responsible for the management, operation and maintenance of air and noise quality monitoring network currently operated by the Agency. A source emissions inventory including point, area and line sources will be prepared in addition to an assessment of the compliance of industries and areas with the relevant standards and guidelines.

NILU will also help in developing a strategy to reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions, as well as develop and determine sector specific emission limits for different sectors including power sector and transportation. NILU will also be responsible for establishing a state of the art Internet solution for on-line data presentation and dissemination of the ambient air quality in the Emirate around the clock utilizing all relevant data from the monitoring network and give different end-users their required information in an easy to use interface.

In this frame the first Abu Dhabi Air Quality Website and Online Index was launched on October 2008.

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GLOBAL WARMING SPECIAL ABU DHABI

These tools, which are a landmark achievement for Abu Dhabi, will provide essential information for anyone related to the field of air quality across the Government and private sector.

The index helps to explain, via a colored scale of 0-500, how clean or polluted the air we breathe is each day. The index is easy to read, color-coded and broken down into six quality categories. They range from good (green) to hazardous (maroon).

NILU will be responsible for the management of the website while the joint EAD-NILU Team will provide effective and reliable air quality monitoring data from across 10 fixed and 2 mobile monitoring stations across the Emirate. The data from these units is calibrated in Abu Dhabi’s Central Laboratory and updated throughout the day, onto the website. These activities are within the five year scope of work agreement signed with NILU. They are being implemented to improve air quality and reduce the impact of Climate Change.

This five-year agreement comes as a continuation of the Abu Dhabi Emirate-wide Air Quality Management Study initiated in 2002 to determine the impact of current and future development activities on the quality of ambient air in Abu Dhabi. The scope of work of the study included analysis of the emissions and dispersion of flue gases from industrial stacks and vehicular traffic in the Emirate.

The study subdivided into four distinct stages, the first of which constituted baseline data collection and assessment in collaboration with a multi-disciplinary, multi-sectoral

technical team.

The second stage, in which NILU took part, comprised of analysis of the emissions and dispersion of flue gases from industrial stacks (point and area stationary sources) and the emissions from vehicular traffic in the Emirate by using internationally approved air dispersion models.

The outcome of the second stage helped to steer the implementation of the third one, which comprised of the purchase, construction and operation of a Central Network System, and a fully equipped and functional Air Quality Management System.

The continuous operation and manipulation of the installed state-of-the-art system comprise the fourth and last stage of this project. Experience will be built throughout the previous stages and will continue throughout the life of the project to ensure maximum utilization of this invaluable planning and prediction tool.

For Further Information Sobhia Al Masry Senior Media Relations Coordinator Environment Awareness Sector Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi Tel: +9712 6934637 Mobile: +97150 4450323 Fax: +9712 4464799 Email: selmasri@ead.ae Website: www.ead.ae

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Towards a Sustainable Environment for a Sustainable Future ead aims, through its activities and projects in environmental management

and

Sustainable Development, to ensure human health and safety,

protection of the environment and conservation of its natural resources.

T

he Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) has been working hard, in concert with many organizations, businesses and individuals, to address the environmental challenges that we face and to build on the Emirate’s unique environmental strengths. Much has been accomplished in a few short years; however there is much more work to be done. We know the goals of protecting the environment and building a dynamic economy can be achieved simultaneously.

HE Majid Al Mansouri, EAD’s Secretary General said that during the past few years, Abu Dhabi Emirate’s environment has seen many changes in the governance and operating environment which have resulted in the development of this strategy. We are aware of the inclusive nature of the process and recognize that multiple sectors of society have

Environment Agency Abu Dhabi Secretary General Majid Al Mansouri

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a role to play in all aspects of environmental protection and conservation and would seek and appreciate their important roles. It is understood that, in general, stakeholders share a commitment to integrating environmental and socio economic progress and will support the framework as presented in this Strategic Plan.

“With a determined Abu Dhabi leadership projecting a vision for Abu Dhabi emirate to achieve ‘developed’ status within the next 20 years, the challenges to environmental protection and the opportunities it opens for more concerted effort towards our environment is magnified. But while we have achieved a great deal, we recognize that much more work remains” Al Mansouri added.

He noted that “As the environmental agency for the Abu Dhabi Emirate, we are committed to protect human health and the environment through protecting and managing the rich biodiversity of Abu Dhabi, providing a clean environment and promoting sustainable development patterns in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi”.

“Our commitment is guided by our efforts to create a better understanding about the natural resources of the Emirate and leave a rich legacy for future generations” Al Mansouri said.

Abu Dhabi boasts a diverse environment, home to globally important wildlife such as the Arabian gazelle, migrating birds, and countless marine fish and animals. The Policy Agenda provides guidelines for the future directions of EAD for supporting long term environmental conservation and protecting human health and safety for all inhabitants.

The Environment Agency will achieve excellence in the protection of environment, health and safety through partnerships between Government entities and the private sector, so that activities within the Emirate of Abu Dhabi are undertaken in a responsible, safe and sustainable manner.

Ensuring a clean environment is critical to sustainable economic growth in Abu Dhabi.

The Environment Agency has incorporated the guidelines

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT SPECIAL ABU DHABI

provided by the Abu Dhabi Policy Agenda into its Strategic Plan 2009-2013.

Our new vision is “Towards a sustainable environment for a sustainable future” and our mission will be “To protect and conserve the environment for people’s well being and a better life for all”.

Sustainable Development EAD aims, through its activities and projects in environmental management and Sustainable Development, to ensure human health and safety, protection of the environment and conservation of its natural resources. This is being achieved by setting the appropriate mechanisms to prevent pollution and minimize negative impacts resulting from different development activities across the Emirate.

Activities and projects that are being carried out by EAD to achieve this goal are many, among which are: the development and implementation of an Environment, Health and Safety Management System (EHSMS) at the Emirate level in cooperation with the concerned parties, the implementation of the concept of Green Buildings

in the Emirate, and following up the procedures for implementation of projects within the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) in order to reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions.

Ead also assesses the impacts of development projects through a permitting process and through inspection and auditing. In addition to the management of chemicals and hazardous substances, radioactive substances and pesticides through release operations and inspection, implementation of sound management of wastes, monitoring of ambient air quality from fixed and mobile sources and emergency management. During 2007, EAD carried out a project to implement a Quality, Environment, Health and Safety (QEHS) Management System to streamline its operations and was awarded ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001.

These activities and projects fall within the Abu Dhabi Environment Strategy 2009 - 2013, mainly under the following priority areas: environmental sustainability, implementation of EHSMS at Emirate level, management of hazardous substances and wastes, air quality and emergency management.

On the federal level, EAD is also supporting UAE efforts

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SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT SPECIAL ABU DHABI

which are directed towards reduction of emissions such as implementation of projects within the CDM, support of the adoption of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) under the CDM as a new technology and through implementation of renewable energy technologies in different other projects.

To fulfill its commitments to the Convention, the UAE submitted its First Initial National Communication report to the UNFCCC secretariat in January 2007. It goes without saying that the EAD contributed effectively in the preparation of the First Initial National Communication by preparing the document to be submitted to the UNFCCC. The UAE inventory of greenhouse gas emissions in the report was based on the year 1994. Data on emissionsgenerating or sequestering activities were collected mainly from national sources as much as possible, as well as secondary sources such as international statistical databases, published research, statistical reports, and related studies.

The 2nd UAE National Communication will be prepared based on the year 2000 as the baseline. In this regard EAD is preparing a study on the vulnerability and adaptation of the UAE to climate change and response measures adverse effects on the UAE. Five projects in the oil and gas sector have been approved by the UAE Designated National Authority (DNA) for the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).

To promote and encourage reduction in carbon emissions, especially by the oil industry, EAD supports UAE effort to raise awareness and understanding of CDM and how it can be beneficial in achieving win-win-win projects. Win for the investor, win for the country hosting the project, and win for the environment.

In this regard EAD, in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar), organized a workshop in March 2008. It was designed primarily to provide guidance on how to implement environmental investment projects, under this mechanism. The workshop discussions will focus on the sustainable development criteria, approval procedures and project submission.

For Further Information Sobhia Al Masry Senior Media Relations Coordinator Environment Awareness Sector Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi Tel: +9712 6934637 Mobile: +97150 4450323 Fax: +9712 4464799 Email: selmasri@ead.ae Website:www.ead.ae

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THE MOHAMED BIN ZAYED SPECIES CONSERVATION FUND Species Conservation An Endangered Environmental Priority

“...when the last individual of a race of living things breathes no more, another Heaven and another Earth must pass before such a one can be again.”

William Beebe

Highness-General-Sheikh-Mohamed-Bin-Zayed-Al-Nahyan

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BIODIVERSITY SPECIAL ABU DHABI D

ue to a lack of funds being made available for species conservation efforts, and ultimately, a potential wave of extinctions a decline in the competitive marketplace of sustainability and conservation has been noticed. Thus, it is not just individual species that are endangered, but species conservation as a whole. The world is facing challenges in the species conservation as a discipline, and species conservationists as a community of committed individuals and organizations. It considers the potential impact for species and the environment as a result of both of these trends. A new fund that places species conservation at the forefront of the environmental debate was announced on the sidelines of the World Conservation Congress (WCC) in Barcelona in October 2008 The Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund is a 25 million euro endowment fund established by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, who hopes to make a genuine contribution to species conservation worldwide when the Fund’s operations commence in January 2009.

Speaking at the WCC, Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Managing Director of the Emirates Wildlife Society, made the announcement by saying; “It is not just species, but species conservation as a whole, that is endangered. And by that, I don’t mean the threats facing individual species and habitats, but the predicament facing species conservation as a discipline, and its declining status as an environmental priority.“ Too often, species conservation is expected to benefit from the trickle down effect of our efforts to address the world’s ‘bigger picture’ environmental issues, and is not being addressed in its own right.

“Challenges to the cause are well documented and include the lack of funds, basic support for people on the front line and the focus of environmental debates moving towards climate change.”

The Fund will provide targeted grants to individual species conservation initiatives, recognize leaders in the field and elevate the importance of species in the broader conservation debate. Its focus will be global and eligibility for grants will extend to all plant and animal species conservation efforts, without discrimination on the basis of region or selected species. It also aims to reduce the unwieldy processes usually associated with the award of donations, especially for smaller projects where a huge amount of administration can negate the benefits of a contribution.

Decline of Species Conservation Until the 1970s conservation was dominated by an agenda of species and habitat preservation. However during the 1980s environmental conservation changed focus and started exploring the interrelationship between development and conservation. Several organizations

moved away from the image of species conservation at that time to reflect a wider view of the conservation debate.

During the 1980’s the context of sustainable development matured (World Conservation Strategy 1980) and Caring for the Earth (IUCN, UNEP and WWF, 1991), culminating in 1992 with the UN Conference on Environment and Development (the Rio Summit). At that time the conservation movement ceased to be the exclusive domain of scientists, naturalists, hunters and animal lovers and started to involve development specialists, economists, social science specialists and businesses. With the Millenium Development Goals (UNDP, 2000), poverty alleviation and sustainable development dominated debate in civil society and many large government aid agencies geared their funding to these priorities.

All of these changes in policy rightly recognized the imperative for poverty alleviation and sustainable development, and their undeniable connection with environmental outcomes.

However, an unintended consequence of this rapid evolution in priorities has been the dramatic decline of species conservation in the dialogue of global sustainability.

This shift was also happening within many large conservation NGOs resulting in a change from tackling the direct threats to biodiversity to addressing the underlying mechanisms responsible for those threats (trade, globalization, subsidies).

More recently the meager funds available globally for environmental protection are even further stressed with the realization of climate change as the major environmental threat f our time. As a result, a large proportion of the limited funds recently made available for species conservation have been diverted from critical, hands-on initiatives in the field, to the equally important priorities of policy work and lobbying. Species conservation has effectively become a peripheral preoccupation, based on a hope that addressing the seemingly bigger environmental issues, or crises, will have a beneficial effect on species-status in the long-term.

As a result the dedicated, detailed field based focus that is needed to conserve a species is increasingly being viewed as archaic and irrelevant. Often such work is seen as at best a luxury or at worst a distraction from “bigger” issues.

This trend is a serious cause for concern, and its impact on individual conservation workers, and individual species conservation projects, can be witnessed in many corners of the globe. For example, budgets for field stations and protected area research facilities have declined dramatically.

In many parts of the tropical world the forest guards and wardens, who often have an intimate understanding of the species in their custody, are chronically under funded and very poorly resourced. The provision of basic field equipment would dramatically improve their contribution to conservation, but alas, the support required to provide this basic equipment ceases to exist.

A worrying trend has started to emerge where some

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critically threatened species are being dismissed as beyond help and condemned to premature extinction. However, this undervalues the impact of focused management for such species. For example, work with endangered birds and plants in Mauritius and elsewhere shows that such members of the “living dead” can be recovered and reinstated as functioning members of their local biota. Without the determination by a few individuals, we would have lost the round island bottle palm, echo parakeet, Californian condor, Mountain gorilla and Arabian oryx. There is no telling how many other species could be brought back from the precipice of extinction with some relatively small, but targeted, contributions to species conservation efforts across the world.

However, time is of the essence, for both the species whose existence is endangered, and the conservationists who are committed to their protection. If we were to lose the passion and dedication of the species conservation community, we would be deprived of one of the world’s most potent and agile weapons against extinction: the energy and applied knowledge of the experts in our field.

The results would quickly become evident, in a sad and massive wave of extinctions. Species Conservation: An Endangered Environmental Priority

Recommendations Based on the threats to species conservation, and species conservationists as a community outlined above, there is an urgent need to refocus conservation priorities on the species. There are a number of compelling reasons to do this. Perhaps the most important is the urgent need to secure and salvage species before they are lost for ever. Secondly, we have the opportunity to reinstate the excitement of discovery. There are still biological frontiers where new species are being discovered (for example the primates in Brazil, bovids in SE Asia, palms and lemurs in Madagascar, amphibians in the Caribbean, coral reef communities off Australia) and areas yet to be explored. We need to reinstate the attraction of species work to the next generation of conservationists, and reignite the “romance” of conservation.

Key to rebuilding species conservation is the need to maintain a close partnership between the professional conservation community and the amateur. In many parts of the world the amateur conservationist is a key player and a vital lobbying force for conservation.

As such, we propose a series of key actions to secure a future for species conservation: • Facilitate the work of those dedicated species conservationists who are at the frontlines of efforts to prevent species extinctions • Support of the work of organizations dedicated to species conservation • Firmly establish species conservation as a fundamental

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component of protected area and landscape management species conservation has frequently acted as a catalyst for habitat and ecosystem conservation initiatives, for example the Golden Lion Tamarin in Brazil and the Arabian Oryx in Arabia • Establish and quantify the value of species as a substrate for sustainable development and poverty alleviation-the management and harvesting of species will continue to be a vital resource for millions of rural communities • Train and develop the next generation of species conservationists within government agencies, NGO’s and academia • Increase the status of species conservation work in key institutions around the world through support for such activities in research institutions • Establish higher levels of public concern and political commitment for species conservation-after all species feed us, provide medicine, timber and textiles, our daily lives are supported by species both wild and domesticated

BIODIVERSITY SPECIAL ABU DHABI • Promote species conservation through the media and production of education and awareness materials.

The Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund

Underpinning all of these individual initiatives, there is an urgent need to re-stimulate a broad discussion on the subject of species conservation and biodiversity, and to better integrate individual environmental initiatives addressing individual issues such as species conservation, climate change, habitat destruction and unsustainable development.

Ultimately, the conservation community must end the era of promoting one environmental cause at the expense of another, because if one of these causes (or any of the others competing for attention) fails, all of them are far less likely to succeed.

Just like the species of a complex ecosystem, our individual conservation efforts are more interdependent than we tend to recognize, and we will all only be as strong as our weakest links.

Species Conservation: An Endangered Environmental Priority

Recognizing the crisis facing species conservation, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, is establishing a dedicated fund for the provision of support to individual and coordinated species conservation initiatives.

To retain the species and habitats we treasure, and indeed need, the Mohammed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund will seek to support the on-the-ground champions of species conservation; the individuals in the villages, field stations, laboratories and homes, that are dedicated to conserving their local (and the world’s global) threatened species. The fund will help their work through focused financial support and will nurture the next generation of species conservationists by making the best conservation practices available to them using innovative methods of communication.

Through additional events and activities, the fund will also seek to recognize individual leaders in the field of species conservation whose passion and commitment often goes unnoticed, and in doing so, to inspire others with an interest in the field of conservation.

It is proposed that the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund will be established with an initial endowment of 25,000,000 (Twenty Five Million Euros), and will commence operation in January 2009.

It is expected that the fund’s focus will be global, and eligibility for grants will extend to all plant and animal species conservation efforts, without discrimination on the basis of region or selected species. The fund will truly be open to conservationists around the world, with an interest in an infinite number of species, subject to the evaluation of an independent selection committee.

The final details of how the fund will be governed, how the grant application process will be carried out, and the potential evaluation criteria for successful applications, are all still being developed in consultation with species conservation experts from across the world. The fund is committed to complete transparency in all of its operations, and will make all relevant policies and guidelines available to the public at the time of its commencement of operations.

An Endangered Environmental Priority

Information provided by Mohammed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund available at www.mbzspeciesconservation.org

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The Arabian Oryx Freed Spirit of the Desert In 2008, the number of released individuals increased significantly reaching to 120 free roaming animals.

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he freed spirit of the desert best describes the fascinating story of the Arabian Oryx and its release into its natural habitat, after 40 years of extinction. In 2007, for the first time, in memory of his late father and founder of the UAE and in hopes of creating a self-sustaining population, H.H Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, released 98 Oryx into the vast open spaces of their natural habitat. This reintroduction was part of EAD’s long term commitment to conserve the country precious biodiversity.

In 2008, the number of released individuals increased significantly reaching to 120 free roaming animals. As part of a habitat restoration programme, EAD constructed 35 artificial shades, provided water sources and planted more than 20 patches of trees to provide shelter and food. A team of specialized researchers continued to monitor the Arabian Oryx on a daily basis via satellite transmitters. A

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new system will be implemented soon using GSM cards.

Throughout 2008, preparations were ongoing for the second release which is planned to take place in early 2009.

Historically, the Arabian oryx roamed in the Nafud and the Empty Quarter (Al Rub’ Al Khali). The northern Nafud population ranged over the entire northern shield of the Arabian Peninsula including the western part of UAE, in the Manasir, Dhafra and Liwa areas, their range extending into the Rub al Khali. The Arabian oryx also had a range covering Palestine, Syria, Jordan and Iraq.

In the early 1960s, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Founder of the UAE, arranged, just in time, for the capture of two breeding pairs of the Arabian Oryx for the nucleus of a captive-breeding programme. Hunting and habitat destruction were the main reasons behind the oryx’s disappearance after it had once roamed the Arabian Peninsula.

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that took place in the region was in neighboring Sultanate of Oman during the mid 1980’s. Further reintroduction projects into large reserves have also taken place in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

In the same area and as part of H.H Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, initiative to release Arabian Oryx into Jordan’s Wadi Rum Protected Area, after more than seven decades of extinction, EAD, which chairs the Coordinating Committee for Conservation of Arabian Oryx, signed a sponsorship agreement with Al Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority in April 2008, under EAD will be sponsoring the $1.19 million scheme.

The three-year project entails several components, including the reintroduction of the Arabian oryx into the Wadi Rum Nature Reserve, rehabilitating the Arabian oryx habitat and helping local residents start income-generating projects to improve their living standards.

Today, the UAE hosts the largest group of Arabian oryx in the world with approximately 4,000 of these animals existing within the UAE. Around the world, it is estimated that there are around 6,000 Arabian oryxes.

The only other reintroduction project for the Arabian oryx

For Further Information Sobhia Al Masry Senior Media Relations Coordinator Environment Awareness Sector Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi Tel: +9712 6934637 Mobile: +97150 4450323 Fax: +9712 4464799 Email: selmasri@ead.ae Website:www.ead.ae

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Abu Dhabi Marine Protected Areas Marawah Marine Protected Area was declared in 2001 with a total area of 4255 km², and is the largest MPA in the region.

The island hosts 60 % of the population of dugongs in the world.

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he UAE is a signatory to the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) and the Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES). These two conventions request countries to establish a system of protected areas to conserve biodiversity, develop guidelines for the selection, establish and manage protected areas and to promote the ecosystem, natural habitats and species conservation.

As part of its commitment to the conservation of natural resources, ecosystems, wildlife and wildlife habitats, the Agency was given the responsibility of establishing and managing protected areas in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

By the end of 2008, the total area of the declared marine protected areas was 5019 km2 which represents 5% of the geographical area of the Emirate. Other potential sites for marine protection are estimated collectively at about 7% of the marine biome or 4% of the total area of the Emirate.

Marawah Biosphere Reserve Marawah Marine Protected Area was declared in 2001 with a total area of 4255 km², and is the largest MPA in the region. The island hosts 60% of the population of dugongs in the world.

The protected areas is a good representative example for the gulf region that it contains coastal areas, sabkhas, shallow waters and shallow islands as well as sea grass habitats. Also the protected area contains scattered mangrove patches (Avicennia marina) which considered important habitats for many of terrestrial and marine species.

The island has great cultural and archaeological significance with the presence of more than 20 sites dating back to the Stone Age. Houses as old as 7,000 years from Stone Age were unearthed a few years back along with the remains of the oldest inhabitants of the island.

Archaeological sites identified on the island date back to the Bronze Age, Iron Age the late pre Islamic period as well as Islamic period. A large Islamic graveyard, with over 60 burials, and an important fragment of pottery from the Late Stone Age were found.

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Biodiversity Four species of marine turtles, 70 species of fish and coral reefs, and kilometers of mangrove make up the unique environment of Marawah.

Resident and migratory bird species, such as ospreys, sooty falcons and several tern species, are also part of

BIODIVERSITY SPECIAL ABU DHABI the ecosystem, making the area important because of its biodiversity.

Bottlenose and humpback dolphins are also found in the surrounding waters. Preserving the natural diversity and quality of coastal and marine environment is what the management of the island aims at. A 12-member Marine ranger force carries out the surveillance and control programme here.

Marawah is, however, just one island of the whole protected area that includes 20 islands. It is surrounded by Abu Al Abyad island in the east, Sir Baniyas in the west, a coastal line in the south and Jarnain Island in the north.

The agency has carried out several fishery studies and detailed surveys to facilitate the setting up of a fish stock database that can eventually lead to a better management regime for fisheries.

Interestingly, the island inhabits more than 107 families who have lived here for several years. Some families hold the license to fish issued by EAD but many have moved on to the city or are not completely settled here.

Marawah Becomes a Biosphere Reserve Marawah Protected Area was added to UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere Program global network of biosphere reserves

making it the first declared Marine Biosphere Reserve in the UAE and the region.

Essential infrastructures for MPAs management were procured and maintained. Rehabilitation activities commenced in order to rehabilitate a mangrove site at Marawah Island. An experimental artificial reef project was established at Al Bazm Island to evaluate the suitable artificial structure to replenish fisheries stock and to set guidelines for the artificial reefs in Abu Dhabi.

Al Wathba Wetland Reserve Al Wathba Wetland Reserve was established in 1998 upon the request of the late President of UAE, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Al Wathba Wetland Reserve is a complex of natural and man made surface water bodies with a total area of 5 km². The main objective for the establishment of the reserve is to provide suitable habitats for migratory birds and as breeding area for breeding Greater Flamingo as well as conserve biodiversity in all forms whilst allowing visitors to experience and enjoy the reserve.

This 5 km² area is home to nearly 232 species of birds that depend on the wetland either for resting, feeding or

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BIODIVERSITY SPECIAL ABU DHABI with around 8 coral species present.

• The islands have irregular coastlines with both rocky and sandy shorelines, providing a variety of habitats.

• The MPA has suitable foraging habitats for the critically endangered Hawksbill turtles.

• The MPA also has significant populations of marine fauna including the endangered Green turtle and the Dugong.

• Desert hares are present on the islands, where they make use of the natural landscape and vegetation for shelter, food and breeding.

• Upper Yasat has an important breeding colony of Socotra cormorants, a near-endemic bird species for the UAE, which is one of less than 15 existing colonies in the world.

Cultural and Historical Importance of Al Yasat breeding. It provides a safe refuge for many other species of reptiles, small mammals and insects and is an important area for biodiversity conservation in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

Al Wathba Wetland Reserve Detailed Development Master Plan was developed in 2008 aims to promote Al Wathba Wetland Reserve as Environmental Education Centre that focuses on the importance of biodiversity in general and wetlands in specific. According to the plan, Al Wathba Wetland Reserve shall provide a unique opportunity through creating a new tourism destination for nature lovers.

Al Yasat Marine Protected Area Al Yasat Marine Protected Area was declared in 2005 to cover a total area of 482 km². The Yasat group consists of four islands in the far west of the UAE. They are Upper Yasat, Lower Yasat, Esam and Karsha.

The Al Yasat MPA is expected to provide effective protection for the area’s fish stocks at various stages in their life cycles, when they are dependent on specific habitat types or locations. In the absence of fishing pressure inside the protected area, fish will be able to grow to maturity and increase in abundance.

Ecological Importance of Al Yasat The Al Yasat group of islands and the surrounding waters included in the new MPA are of considerable ecological importance.

• The islands are surrounded by coral reefs which act as important marine sanctuaries to many species including the already over-exploited Hamour, Shaari and Farsh.

The reefs have good coral growth and high coral cover

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• According to surveys undertaken in this area , the Yasat islands were once the site of human settlement in the late pre-Islamic period (1st - 6th Century AD).

The remains of shelters and other sites, which demonstrate evidence of occupation during the Late Islamic period, have also been found, including shell middens which demonstrate the way in which local inhabitants exploited the food resources present in nearby waters. Several of these sites are considered to be of national or regional importance.

Restrictions of Al Yasat Marine Protected Area • Any form of hunting, killing or catching wildlife is banned.

• Damaging the nesting areas of birds and marine turtles is banned.

• Changing the geographical features of the islands is prohibited.

• Berthing of boats in non-designated areas is banned.

• Fishing is restricted within three nautical miles from the nearest low water mark (shoreline) in the MPA.

Establishing More Marine Protected Areas In 2008, EAD concluded that Ras Ghanada (as a Coral Reef Reserve); Saadiyat (as a National Marine Park) and Muhayimat area (as a Wildlife Sanctuary) had the most potential to be added to Abu Dhabi’s network of MPAs. For Further Information Sobhia Al Masry Senior Media Relations Coordinator Environment Awareness Sector Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi Email: selmasri@ead.ae - Website:www.ead.ae

uNITED ARAB EMIRATES ENVIRONMENTAL TIPS Create and use note pads from once-used paper Use rechargeable batteries...

Environment and Health 1. Protect the Ozone Layer‌..use ozone friendly aerosols.

2. Switch to ozone friendly refrigerants; ensure your refrigerator has a CFC-Friendly label.

3. For washing at home, try to use phosphate free detergents.

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4. Use water based latex paints and finishing’s because they contain fewer hazardous chemicals than oil-based coverings.

5. Protect yourself in summer, always apply sun block SPF 15 or more to protect your skin from solar UV radiation.

6. Read the label. Use pesticides safely, always follow the instructions on the can or container label.

-LIVING ECO SPECIAL ABU DHABI 7. Protect children from poisoning by household 10. Are you going to bed! Don’t leave your electronics chemicals, lock pesticides and other chemicals safely away from children.

Energy

stand by…Switch them off.

11. Don’t use a regular bulb, use an energy saving bulb.

12. Make the switch, buy or switch to energy efficient lighting fixtures and bulbs.

13. Switch off any lights or electronic appliances not in use.

1. UAE has one of the highest per capita commercial 14. Hang “Turn It Off” signs above all light switches to

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energy consumption rates in the world. Reduce your energy use – this means less contribution to the emission of greenhouse gases which leads to Climate Change.

Switch off lights during the day, and in rooms not being used. Wasted energy contributes in the change of the climate.

Replace regular light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs.

Look for Energy-Efficient Appliances; If you’re shopping for new appliances for your home or office always look for the Energy Saving Recommended logo. These products are the most energy efficient in their category so will therefore cost less to run and help reduce carbon dioxide emissions associated with climate change Use natural light, instead of artificial lights by letting the sunshine in where there are windows.

Before you travel, unplug your TV and VCR or other electronics that use electricity even when “off.”

Before running the dishwasher or washing machine, wait until you have a full load, you will save water and energy and help to protect the environment.

Invest in printers that print on both sides Clean or change air filters on you’re A/C units in the summer so that they work more efficiently.

remind yourself and your children at home.

15. Set your washing machine at 30oC whenever possible.

16. Switch the AC off during the cooler months.

17. On hot days, run major appliances in the morning and evening, when A/Cs aren’t working as hard as during the day.

Pollution 1. Switch off your car engine if you anticipate a lengthy 2.

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wait to eliminate harmful exhaust pollution.

Try to avoid using your car for short distances. Walk or cycle whenever possible and car pool with your friends.

Don’t keep opening your refrigerator door because CFCs are emitted every time you do so.

Use odour-free paints that don’t emit volatile organic compounds, to avoid production of ground level ozone.

Plan your trip wisely so you don’t retrace your route and emit more pollutants.

Unless you’re going to come back wiser (or richer!), is there any point in going to that conference abroad?

Airplanes pump their fuel waste directly into our atmosphere.

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-LIVING ECO SPECIAL ABU DHABI 2. Dry clothes naturally wherever possible rather than using the dryer.

3. Turn off taps if you do not need them, for example when cleaning your teeth.

4. Take a quick shower. A full bath tub requires about 70

Waste 1. Proper maintenance reduces waste. Maintain and

repair products and keep appliances in good working order.

2. Did you just spot a litter bug? Let them know nicely to keep your city clean.

3. Leave messages for family members or colleagues on a reusable message board. Don’t always rely on post-its!

4. Join your community’s clean-up campaigns.

5. Train your office staff to use the photocopier and printer properly so that paper is not wasted.

6. Always donate your old useful stuff (clothes, furniture, dishes, books, sports equipment, magazines, appliances, and electronics, computers, etc).

7. Reuse your bags.

8. Stop the junk mail overload.

9. Avoid products with an excessive packaging.

10. Use old newspapers as stuffing for shipping.

11. Use mugs rather than Styrofoam cups.

12. Switch to using the “greenest” paper available.

13. Use e-mail wherever possible and avoid paper.

14. Reduce the number of newspapers delivered to your home or workplace. Read the newspaper online.

15. Switch from disposable to reusable products: food and beverage containers, cups, plates, writing pens, razors, towels, shopping bags, etc.

16. Direct your recyclable garbage items (plastics, papers.. etc) to any recycling facility wherever possible.

17. If you print documents, print on once-used paper and/ or bleach-free, recycled paper with the highest postconsumer waste content available.

18. Create and use note pads from once-used paper.

Water 1. Make it a full load. Run your dishwasher only when it’s full; use the rinse-and-hold dishwasher feature until you’re ready to run a full load.

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gallons of water, while taking a five-minute shower saves water by using 10 to 25 gallons.

5. Install water-saving shower heads and low-flow faucet aerators 6. Fix that leak! Leaky faucets can waste thousands of gallons of water each year, like money down the drain.

Repair or replace old or damaged fixtures.

7. When washing dishes or vegetables in the sink, don’t leave the water running.

8. If you have a pool, use a pool cover to cut down on evaporation. It will also keep your pool cleaner and reduce the need to add chemicals.

9. Minimize evaporation by watering plants during the early morning hours, when temperatures are cooler.

10. When you clean your fish tank, use the water you’ve drained on your plants. The water is rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, providing you with a free and effective fertilizer.

11. Don’t buy recreational water toys such as water guns for your children. They may be fun but they waste water.

12. Don’t buy bottled water. Invest in a water cooler.

13. Don’t overfill the kettle when making a cup of tea. Only fill and boil what you need, this will save you money on your energy costs too.

General 1. Stay off the sand dunes. Give growing vegetation a chance!

2. Going out for a picnic outdoors? Collect your rubbish

before you leave!

3. Ensure that your children have access to books about the environment.

4. Encourage your child’s school administration to have a school environmental club.

5. Donate unwanted items to charity such as old school textbooks.

6. Use rechargeable batteries.

7. Replace paper napkins with cloth napkins and replace paper towels with a special set of cloth towels/ napkins.

8. A single tree can absorb more than one ton of CO2 over its lifetime.

9. Take your own reusable bag with you to the supermarket when you know you are going to buy a few items.

10. Avoid plastic bags at all costs.

11. Buy less, and think before you buy any product - do you really need it?

12. Use a real camera instead of disposable ones.

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