Environment and development in coastal regions and in small islands

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Tasks for coastal resources assessments and oil spill sensitivity mapping in the Arab States of the Gulf

4. National status and needs

QATAR

A summary of national needs for Qatar is shown in Table 1. Particularly significant is Qatar's world class information technology infrastructure, and its national policy towards data sharing. On the other hand, data quality is variable and there are major information gaps. For example, coastal biodiversity is well characterised for some areas (e.g. Ras Lafan); but only about thirty percent of the coast has been covered adequately. Similarly, focus tends to be on particular ecosystems (e.g. corals, mangroves), with much less attention on others (e.g. algae, seagrass). Key players in oil spill contingency are the Supreme Council for Environment and National Reserves, the recently established Disaster Management Committee and the oil companies. Despite a data sharing policy interagency integration and coordination seems to be a concern. Capacity in some areas also appears limited (partly or largely due to the low number of PhD candidates compared to other GCC countries). One consequence is that qualified Qatari nationals often get limited opportunities to gain extensive/practical experience before being appointed to senior positions.

BAHRAIN

A summary of national needs for Bahrain is shown in Table 1. The level of capacity is high (regionally), in terms of human resources available per kilometre of coastline length. Much relevant data already exists, and there is significant technical capacity in the area of information systems (e.g. MAGIS system). A new environmental database is to be established at the  University of Bahrain, which should also contribute to coastal protection priority index mapping. There are signs of increasing moves towards openness and democratisation in Bahrain. This is creating greater demand for data sharing (currently problematic), which should facilitate coastal resources assessment and oil spill sensitivity mapping. Currently, the major oil company (BAPCO) has oil spill response leadership. New institutional arrangements, under the aegis of Commission for Marine Resources, Environment and Wildlife, may give (biological) environmental factors greater significance in oil spill contingency planning.

KUWAIT

A summary of national needs for Kuwait is shown in Table 1. Kuwait has substantial experience in dealing with oil spills and indicated a preparedness to share their expertise with other GCC countries. There is an existing (mid-1980s) Sensitivities Atlas, which could form the basis of a protection priorities map. However its data are now in need of update. It was stated that there is a wealth of data and evidence of considerable data collection capability. A need for more effort toward data consolidation and sharing was expressed.

A suggestion for UNESCO to provide methods to enhance communication so as to foster cooperation and eliminate duplication of effort across the region was made. UNESCO sponsored and mediated e-mail discussion groups and websites might be an effective and cost effective technique in this regard.

Interest was expressed with regard to investigating the possibility of extending current efforts toward the rehabilitation of Kuwait Bay to become a Biosphere Reserve. It was suggested that the Bay might be a possible protection priorities pilot project area.

OMAN

A summary of national needs for Oman is shown in Table 1. Despite its very long coast substantial data are available, but information often resides in different organisations (a characteristic to a greater or lesser extent of all GCC countries). Sultan Qaboos University has considerable capacity (e.g. currently has grant to model oil slick fate). However, its potential contribution to coastal resources assessment and oil spill sensitivity mapping is currently under-utilised. Oman is currently upgrading its 1995 National Oil Spill Contingency Plan. This is being coordinated by the Pollution Prevention Department and Pollution Controls Operations Section of MRMEWR. The national oil company (PDO) is responsible for dealing with oil spills inside port areas; other areas are the responsibility of the Ministry of Regional Municipalities, Environment, and Water Resources. Particularly relevant components of the existing oil spill contingency plan include coastal zone resource maps and coastal zone vulnerability maps derived from ecological criteria (both 1992). Updated maps are expected to include new ecological information and details of physical assets and features.

SAUDI ARABIA

Arabian Gulf Coast

A summary of national needs for the Gulf coast is shown in Table 1. King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology has strong capability in the areas of Remote Sensing and applied GIS, with capacity to potentially support the whole region with the satellite imagery required for coastal mapping. The need to involve the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME) which is the National focal point for oil spill response was emphasised. Some of the areas for UNESCO support identified during the consultation include:

• fostering GCC-wide planning and drills to enhance preparedness.

• establishment of a biosphere reserve at a future date.

• the development of awareness raising programmes.

• capacity building in the form of specialised training programmes and student exchange.

One of the key recommendations was for UNESCO to facilitate a technical workshop on habitat and protection priority mapping with one of the deliverables being a Guidelines Document. Saudi ARAMCO expressed a willingness to coordinate this with UNESCO

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Red Sea Coast (Jeddah)

A summary of the needs for the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia is shown in Table 1. The faculty of Marine Science at King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah is well equipped in terms of equipment and expertise and has the capacity to potentially serve the region. The regional United Nations body PERSGA is active in the Jeddah area and offers another avenue of cooperation in the areas of research and development of coastal resources in this part of the region. Some of the salient issues that emerged during the meeting were indications of major gaps in available data, variability in data quality and a general lack of mechanisms for data sharing. The meeting endorsed most of the themes proposed during the Riyadh meeting. In particular, the following areas were identified as areas in which UNESCO support would be appropriate:

• development of awareness raising programmes.

• capacity building in the form of specialised training programmes and student exchange.

• fostering GCC-wide experience sharing in the areas of planning and drills to test preparedness.

• development of protection priority index maps.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES A summary of national needs for UAE is shown in Table 1. Particularly significant is UAE's high diversity in capacity, with Abu Dhabi being advanced in all aspects of protection priority index mapping. A protection priority index atlas is already available for this Emirate, and plans are underway to produce a resources atlas for the Northern Emirates. Also relevant is UAE's federal system, involving devolvement of control/power to individual Emirates. This is unique in the region. It highlights the need for good coordination and integration in national actions in coastal resources assessment and oil spill sensitivity mapping.

Notes for Table 1:

Key to Scores

+ some capacity    + + moderate capacity    + + + strong capacity

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