Synergies with Multilateral Environmental Conventions towards Smart Policy Making tools, By Nermin Wafa, Head of Programs & Activities Division - The Technical Secretariat of CAMRE League of Arab States, , Land and Water Days in Near East & North Africa, 15-18 December 2013, Amman, Jordan

1. Synergies with Multilateral Environmental Conventions towards Smart
Policy Making tools
Near East and North Africa Land and Water days
15-18/12/2013
Nermin Wafa
Head of Programs & Activities Division
The Technical Secretariat of CAMRE
League of Arab States
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& Activities

2. Why need synergies ?
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We need to produce more food on less land with les water and less energy , In amore
challenging environment.
A growing more affluent world population will demand an increase in global food production of
up to 70% by 2050 ,
By 2050, an estimated 6.3 billion people will inhabit the world’s towns and cities -- an increase of
3.5 billion from 2010. The area directly transformed in the next four decades will be roughly the
size of South Africa,,. Urban growth will have significant impacts on biodiversity, natural habitats
and many ecosystem services that society relies on ,
Biodiversity and ecosystems services are critical natural capital
Maintaining functioning urban ecosystems can significantly enhance human health and well
being , developing urban areas that improve air quality , water purification , climate regualation
and active living.
Ecosystems services must be integrated in urban policy and planning.
Successful Management of biodiversity and ecosystems services must be based on multi scale ,
multisectoral , and multi stakeholders involvement.
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3. Multilateral Environmental Conventions, Mainstreaming into National
Policies
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T ou
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Farmers
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&
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Co
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Bird
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Awareness &
support at
political level
Linkage of
Science into
Policy
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4. Biodiversity & Aichi Targets 2011- 2020
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In 2010, at the 10th Conference of the Parties to the CBD held in Nagoya, Japan . T
supporting implementation of the new Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020.
The Strategic Plan consists of 20 new biodiversity targets for 2020, termed the ‘Aichi
Biodiversity Targets’.
Target 2: By 2020, at the latest, biodiversity values have been integrated into
national and local development and poverty reduction strategies and planning
processes and are being incorporated into national accounting, and reporting
systems
Target 4: By 2020, at the latest, Governments, business and stakeholders at all
levels have taken steps to achieve or have implemented plans for sustainable
production and consumption and have kept the impacts of use of natural resources
well within safe ecological limits
Target 5: By 2020, the rate of loss of all natural habitats, including forests, is at least
halved and where feasible brought close to zero, and degradation and fragmentation
is significantly reduced.
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Target 13: By 2020, the genetic diversity of cultivated plants and farmed and domesticated
animals and of wild relatives, including other socio-economically as well as culturally valuable
species, is maintained, and implemented for minimizing genetic erosion and safeguarding
their genetic diversity.
Target 14: By 2020, ecosystems that provide essential services, including services related
to water, and contribute to health, livelihoods and well-being, are restored and safeguarded,
taking into account the needs of women, indigenous and local communities, and the poor
and vulnerable.
Target 20: By 2020, at the latest, the mobilization of financial resources for effectively
implementing the Strategic Plan 2011-2020 from all sources and in accordance with the
consolidated and agreed process in the Strategy for Resource Mobilization should increase
substantially from the current levels. This target will be subject to changes contingent to
resources needs assessments to be developed and reported by Parties.
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6. Aichi Targets 2020 & Invasive Alien Species
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Target 9: By 2020, invasive alien species and pathways are identified and
prioritized, priority species are controlled or eradicated, and measures are in place
to manage pathways to prevent their introduction and establishment .
Definition of invasive species According to CBD:
"Alien invasive species" means an alien species which becomes established in
natural or semi-natural ecosystems or habitat, is an agent of change, and threatens
native biological diversity
The degradation of natural habitats, ecosystems and agricultural lands (e.g. loss of
cover and soil, pollution of land and waterways) made it easier for alien species to
establish and become invasive.
In addition, the direct economic costs of alien invasive species run into many
billions of dollars annually. Ballast water is now regarded as the most important
vector for trans-oceanic and inter-oceanic movements of shallow-water coastal
organisms.
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7. Major threats of Invasive alien
species
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8. :
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9. •Number of species
Comparing number in the countries,
Morocco occupied the first position with
102 species followed by Egypt (82
species) and Algeria (81 species). The
lowest number of species was
recorded in Palestine (5 species) and
Qatar (8 species
The list of 100 of the world worst
invasive alien species
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Case studies of some invasive species from some Arab
countries
Water hyacinth (Eichlorina crassipes)
Water hyacinth is a free-floating perennial plant that can
grow to a height of 3 feet. The dark green leave blades are
circular to elliptical in shape attached to a spongy, inflated
petiole..
Impact of Water hyacinth
The plant increased evapotranspiration and thus an increase
in the rate of water loss. In Egypt, total amount of water loss
by evapotranspiration : 3.5 billion m3 per year. This amount
is sufficient to irrigate about 432 km2 every year. In Sudan,
the annual water loss from evapotranspiration more 4 billion
m3 per year. in delta-In Sudan, ,, Palestine, Jordan, Ira Syria
and Lebanon
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11. Case studies of some invasive species from some Arab countries
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Date Palm: one of
the oldest fruit trees
in the Arabian
Peninsula , palm
weevil Attacking the
palm under the age
of twenty (20) years,
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12. The most high-risk invasive species in Arab countries
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Red palm weevil, Prosopis
trees, water hyacinth, red
swamp crayfish, Lessepsian
migration of fish, carp,
Acacia trees, goldfish,
whiteflies and aphids on
tomatoes, Conocarpus trees,
Indian Myna bird.
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13. Regional Cooperation
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The first regional Workshop on Invasive alien species , February 2013
identified Operational elements of the National Invasive alien Species Strategy
It is suggested that the National Strategy should comprise the Strategy’s vision of a
nation in which the negative impacts of Invasive alien Species on the economy,
environment, and society are minimised;
1. Prevention;
2. Early Detection and Rapid Response;
3. Eradication; and control
4. Restoration and Monitoring.
Four “Cross-Cutting Elements” cover enabling actions that must be
undertaken if the management elements are to successfully address the
Strategy’s vision.
5. Legal, Policy and Institutional Frameworks;
6. Capacity Building and Education;
7. Information Management and Research; and
8. Public Awareness and Engagement.
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14. The (ABS) ,Traditional Knowledge,
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Target 16: By 2015, the Nagoya Protocol on Access to
Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing
of Benefits Arising from their Utilization is in force and
operational, consistent with national legislation.
Target 18: By 2020, the traditional knowledge,
innovations and practices of indigenous and local
communities relevant for sustainable use of
biodiversity, , are respected,, and fully integrated at all
relevant levels.
The Parties to CBD Convention recognizes the
crucial importance of traditional knowledge to the
objectives of the CBD ,.. Generate benefits for poverty
alleviation & nature conservation.
25 parties to the Convention have deposited their
instruments of ratification or accession, including 2 Arab
States
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Farmers rights
Farmers rights are essential for maintain crop genetic
diversity , which is the basis of all food & agriculture production
in the world , food Security .
Article 9 of the Plant treaty ( ITPGRFA is devoted to farmers
‘Rights) . It recognizes the enormous contributions farmers
have made and will continue to make for the maintenance of
crop genetic resources , that national governments are
responsible for the realization of farmers rights , including the
protection of traditional knowledge related to plant genetic
resources for food and agriculture , equitable benefit sharing ,
right to participate in relevant derision making at national level.
In addition , the right of farmers to save , use ,exchange and
sell farm saved seed/ propagating material are addressed.
The fifth Governing Council of the ITPGRFA (Muscat :2428/9/2013), Consider develop action plans for the
implementation of article 9, , providing financial &technical
support for the implementation of farmers ‘s rights in
developing countries, ( Las , UNEP, AOAD is working on
capacity building )

16. What are wetlands?
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Inland wetlands:
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Coastal wetlands
aquifers,
chott, oasis, rivers, streams,
wadis
: sabkhas
salt pans, mangroves, tidal
flats, sea grass beds, coral
reefs
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17. What are the values of wetlands?
Wetlands provide a wide range of ecosystem services that
contribute to human well-being:
•A source of water, e.g. for household use, agriculture, industry, etc;
•Areas for food production, e.g. coastal and pond fisheries, rice
cultivation;
•Climate change mitigation, by acting as a store of carbon;
•Land formation
•Coastal protection, floods Protection , storms and regulate
sediment transport , thereby contribute to land formation & coastal
zone stability , reducing the impacts from floods and pollution.
•Cultural values, e.g. oasis, sebkhas,
•Economic values , The total economic value of 63 million hectares of
wetland around the world is estimated at $3.4 billion per year.
© Ms. Ikram Qasim
© Ms. M. Kodami
© Dr. M. Fouda
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© Ms. Ikram Qasim

18. 2. Lakes
Lake Bardaweel, Egypt
It is important bird sites due to their
habitat
and
their
geographical
position along the migration routes.
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1. Lagoons
Ghar El Melh, Tunisia
An ancient sea bay now almost totally laden with sediments.
Migratory fish use the site for feeding, especially during the winter
period before reaching the sea. Fishing is practiced by the local
population.

19. The Ramsar Convention in the Arab Region
Designation and Restoration of Wetlands of International
Importance: Protected area Of the 118 Ramsar Sites in the Arab
region, 47 are in Algeria, 24 in Morocco and 20 in Tunisia.
-Development of management plans
•Restoration of degraded wetlands:
•CBD Decisions reaffirm the role of the Ramsar Convention as
lead partner : to provide policy-relevant messages on maintaining the
ability of biodiversity to continue to support the water cycle
Designation and Restoration of Wetlands of International
Importance
Wetland Education and Public Awareness: education center, e.g. in
Ras Al Khor (UAE). Coral Reef Center in Sharm El Sheik.
Promoting wise use of the basins of the Tigris and Euphrates
Rivers. Uncoordinated construction of water control is having severe
impacts on wetlands in the lowers parts of the basin, e.g.
Mesopotamian Marsh, where water levels have dropped dramatically
and the water itself has become more saline; impacts in the adjacent
parts of the Persian Gulf and Kuwait where the fisheries have declined
are also felt
© Dr. M. Fouda
© D. Landenbergue
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© D. Landenbergue

20. Regional strategy for Wetlands
• Cairo Statement, June 2009: ‘was formally approved by the Council of
Arab Ministers Responsible for the Environment at their meeting in Marsa
Alam, Egypt.
• Muscat Action Plan , June 2010: ‘Workshop on Wetlands and the Ramsar
Convention in the Arabian Peninsula, Conducting a study on the economic
value of wetlands in Arab region to raise awareness of their economic,
social and environmental values (one of the recommended activity of the
Muscat Action Plan).
• To encourage all members of the League of Arab States to accede to
the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands;
• The declared Statement by CAMRE in 2010 on the Importance of the
adoption of Regional Study on the Economic Valuation of Wetlands.
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Declaration of more Ramsar Sites of wetland importance in Egypt
AND UAE..
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© Dr. M. Fouda

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Other supporting Initiatives
TEEB is about making nature values visible into decision making. Soil land issues
rarely get attention of policy makers :
the Cairo Declaration on Biodiversity and Innovative financial Mechanisms &
Aichi Targets 2010. has made it clear to incorporate these values into national
action plans,
The estimate economic benefits of nature is 85billion$ excluding health
benefits, In castkill Mountain in New York people were paid to improve farm
management techniques to prevent runn off nutrient running into Hudson river
and other water courses, the alternative man made filtrations system would
have cost 6-8 bn$ , doubled water bills the natural solutions costs 1-5 bn $) .
The available Arable land per in earth habitants will be reduced by 2050 to half ,
10 cm of fertile soil are created in 2000 yrs , soil we deplete in few yrs, erosion costs
70 dollars for each yr per annum,
Cities are grown rapidly ,, , investors have transformed million of hectares of
land, they destroy forests for land for survival. value of forests industry is
growing , , the emission payment agreement recently signed by Costa Rica and
forest carbon partnership facility for 65 m$ for paying countries to conserve
forests , ( TEEB4 me statistics2013)
Many Arab Countries have effectively mainstreamed Biodiversity values into
National Action Plans
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22. Regional Strategy for UNCCD
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The 68 session of the UN , based on the outcomes of 11th COP of
UNCCD ( Namibia :Sept 2013), , has called for immediate action to
combat desertification, Draught on national & regional Level in arid , semi
arid Areas , to achieve SLM , and the outcomes of 2nd Scientific
Conference ( don’t leave our Future for draught , Water Scarcity &
Desertification) , a world free of draught & desertification , by 2030.
• Regional joint Program of Action for Capacity Building for North Africa &
West Asia Region was emphasized by CAMRE 24th session ( IRAQ
2012). capacity building on the Economics of Land Degradation,
FP7( linking science with Local knowledge , ( PRAIS Program ), .
• calling on , financial & technical assistance of UNCCD , ACSAD, UNEP ,
GIZ, GM to implement the regional Program of Capacity Building in
alignment with tenth Strategic Plan.
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23. Thank you
Simply no life without soil ,
it feeds us .
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