From: Biniam Haile \(SWE\) (eritrea.lave@comhem.se)
Date: Sat Apr 04 2009 - 09:14:33 EST
Conservation Management of Eritrea’s Coastal, Marine and Island
Biodiversity (ECMIB)
BACKGROUND
Eritrea, as a new member of the community of nations, has many
development priorities. While traditionally the main source of economic
support has been subsistence agriculture and livestock rearing in the
hinterland, and artisan fishing in parts of the coastline, the primary
economic development opportunities for Eritrea lie in its coastal,
marine and island areas. These opportunities include fisheries, trade,
oil exploration and tourism. The development of these sectors could have
significant impact on the environment of the Red Sea as a whole, and on
its globally significant biodiversity in particular. Eritrea is
committed to ensure that this development is sustainable and that the
integrity of it’s coastal, marine and island biodiversity is not
compromised. This was affirmed on March 21st 1996 when Eritrea acceded
to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. As a result of its
commitment, in 1998 the Government of Eritrea initiated a partnership
with the Global Environment Facility and UNDP Eritrea to conceive the
Eritrean Coastal Marine and Island Biodiversity Project. to protect the
biodiversity of its coastal and marine areas.
While the project assures fulfillment of CBD commitments and protection
of Eritrea’s Coastal Marine and endemic CMI (18%) resources, lays ground
for the achievement of Millennium Development Goals in particular MDG1;
Eradicate extreme poverty by sustaining coastal fisheries, and MDG 7;
Ensuring Environmental Sustainability through conserving optimal
ecosystem function.
OBJECTIVES
The four main objectives of the project are:
1 - To collect and analyze biodiversity information for use in
sustainable development planning;
2 - To increase awareness of reasons and methods for sustainable
development;
3 - To integrate coastal management approaches for coastal zone
development, and
4 - To establish a network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).
PROGRAMME DETAILS
The Eritrean Coastal, Marine and Island Biodiversity (ECMIB) Project
serves the dual purposes of conserving the unique and globally
significant biodiversity in Eritrean coastal and marine areas, while
facilitating locally accepted sustainable economic development in the
areas it covers. The approach includes creating enabling environment for
strong participation in communication and cooperation between all
government agencies, the private sector, and local communities;
development of a Zoning Plan and actions plans for addressing
development impacts on the CMI resources; preparing a strategy for
sustainable financing; the establishment of effective mechanisms for
regional and international collaboration and expanding baseline
inventory from being limited to only fish to include all marine and
coastal biological diversity. In its efforts to speed up implementation,
the project will develop capacity in partnerships and stakeholder
coordination by focusing on priorities and strengthening teamwork as
well as project management.
ACHIEVEMENTS TO DATE
By completion of the project implementation, the following results have
been achieved:
1 - Reliable and accurate information on the state of the coast and of
coastal and marine resources have been collected and drafted. IRS images
of the whole coast at 5M has been purchased. State of the Coast prepared
and under publication;
2 - Awareness of coastal communities and the general public raised on
conservation of biodiversity values;
3 - National Coastal Development Policy, ICAM Proclamation and ICAM
Authority establishment Proclamation as well as ICAM Plan Implementation
Guidelines prepared pending final government approval and endorsement;
4 - Three potential Marine Protected areas (MPA) identified, and
management plan prepared; declaration in process;
5 - National capacity enhanced (more than 300 national staff received
training in conservation practices, underwater habitat monitoring
taxonomic identification and GIS and database). Diversified and numerous
equipment, including research vessel, made available to enhance
assessment and planning of biodiversity resources and values.
http://www.er.undp.org/energy
<http://www.er.undp.org/energy&environment/ECMIB.html>
&environment/ECMIB.html
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