ERML Environmental Resources Monitoring in Lebanon

The Arab and Mediterranean Regional Conference on Environmental Resources monitoring and management concluded on 16 May 2013 in Beirut

More than 150 participants from West Asia , North Africa, Gulf countries, Europe, and Kenya including several regional organizations and NGOs, attended the “Arab and Mediterranean Regional Conference on Environmental Resources monitoring and management” organized by the Lebanese Ministry of Environment on the 15th and 16th of May 2013 in Beirut-Lebanon.  Scientists, planners, decisions makers, and researchers met and discussed over the two-day conference the challenges that the coastal areas are facing at the local and regional levels and share experiences on coastal and marine ecosystems monitoring and management on one hand and on air quality management on the other. 

The conference was organized under the “Environmental Resources Monitoring in Lebanon” project implemented by the Lebanese Ministry of Environment under the management of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).  The conference participants emerged with recommendations from conducted parallel sessions, and included the following on the importance of Monitoring in the Coastal Zone conservation, on the multi-faceted Management of the Coastal Zone as well as on linkages between policy and science and its importance for sound decision making.

On the importance of Monitoring in Coastal Zone conservation

Monitoring is a long term and costly process that is considered adamant for the conservation of the marine habitats and their species.  The following conclusions were reached during this session:

• The global awareness on the deteriorating status of the marine and coastal ecosystems has accelerated efforts towards improved assessment, monitoring, and mitigation of stresses on coastal areas.
• There is a need to assess the existing monitoring activities on the marine environments at the regional and national scales so as to identify additional efforts needed to support the national networks of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).
• Partnerships in undertaking coastal monitoring will help to recognize natural, human, social and economic resources in coastal areas and provide a mechanism for communities to learn about issues relating to sustainability of local habitats threatened by urbanization.
• Through monitoring, communities are able to take greater responsibility of their local environment and enhance their capacity to contribute more effectively to the management of coastal ecosystems.
• Major gaps exist in monitoring the coastal resources and such gaps can be covered by providing communities with the tools and support to participate in well-designed monitoring programs.
• It would be important to link existing websites regarding the monitoring of coastal and marine resources monitoring together for the conservation of marine habitats.
• There is a need for studies for the valuation of ecosystem services in the Arabic region, with the support of developing countries and/or international organizations.

On the multi-faceted Management of the Coastal Zone

Coastal zones are areas of particular interest from ecosystems and human activity perspectives particularly as a consequence of their interdependences.  As such, coastal zones need to be managed in an integrated way.  This approach has gained significant interest already as Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) is a multi-faceted concept involving multiple dimensions (environmental, socio-cultural and economic), multiple sectors, and multiple stakeholders/actors.

As the broader context (society, economy, and technology) is changing, this affects environmental management perspectives.  The management of coastal zones is also evolving: New and emerging perspectives in environmental policy and management such as green and blue economy, climate change and adaptation, etc. bring-in fresh input to ICZM highlighting its multi-faceted character.

Re-thinking the policy framework is necessary to incorporate in policy-making and management of coastal zones increasingly complex demands and initiatives at supra-national and supra-local levels, seek organizational partnerships, intersectoral policy collaboration and coordination, create new roles and relationships for the public and private sectors, include the civic society, and mobilize and sensitize the judiciary system, etc.

Furthermore, it is important to enrich policy tools taking advantage of programmes, initiatives and new perspectives incorporating them into ICZM activities, bridging and restoring basic concepts, establishing mechanisms of policy monitoring and evaluation, linking science to policy-making, capacity building, strengthening political commitment leading to improving governance and more effective management of coastal zones.

On the sciences- policy interface

The session highlighted the importance of research and sound scientific approaches for improved and reliable results.  The below summarizes the benefits of relying on science in policy-making:

• Provide answers to questions in a systematic and trustful manner.
• Reduce uncertainty on environmental problems thus enabling policy-makers to take appropriate decisions and establish relevant policies.
• Direct environmental decision-makers towards the most adequate action and focus on relevant topics.

Additionally, recommendations were raised during this session on aligning the scientific approaches for benchmarking and comparability exercises:

• Constantly update research techniques in order to remain abreast of new pollutants introduced in the environment and their impacts.
• Use appropriate experimental approaches and analytical techniques depending on the nature of pollutants.
• Promote scientific collaboration between all stakeholders, including academic institutions, government and private sectors.
• Spread information about newly discovered polluted sites, pollutants and preventive measures.

إنتهاء المؤتمر الإقليمي للدول العربية ودول المتوسط حول رصد وإدارة الموارد البيئية

• ان إزدياد الوعي العالمي فيما خصّ تدهور النظم الإيكولوجية البحرية والساحلية شكل دافعا للجهود الرامية إلى تحسين التقييم والرصد، والتخفيف من الضغوط على المناطق الساحلية
• هناك حاجة لتقييم أنشطة الرصد القائمة على البيئات البحرية على الصعيدين الوطني والإقليمي وذلك لتحديد الجهود الإضافية اللازمة لدعم شبكات المناطق البحرية المحمية.
• إن بناء الشراكات لرصد الموارد الطبيعية ضمن المناطق الساحلية يساعد على التعرف على الموارد البشرية والاجتماعية والاقتصادية المتاحة في المناطق الساحلية وعلى توفير للمجتمع آلية لمعرفة المزيد عن القضايا المتعلقة باستدامة الموائل المحلية المهددة بالتنمية الغير مستدامة.
• من خلال الرصد فإن المجتمعات قادرة على تحمل مسؤولية أكبر في الإشراف على بيئتهم المحلية مع تعزيز قدرتها على المساهمة بفعالية أكبر في إدارة النظم الإيكولوجية الساحلية.
• في وجود ثغرات كثيرة في رصد الموارد الساحلية، يمكن تغطية هذه الثغرات من خلال إشراك المجتمع المدني وتوفيره الأدوات والدعم للمشاركة في برامج رصد مصممة ومناسبة.
• من المستحسن ربط المواقع الألكترونية القائمة بشأن رصد الموارد الساحلية والبحرية من أجل الحفاظ على الموائل البحرية.
• هناك حاجة لإجراء دراسات لتقييم خدمات النظام الإيكولوجي في المنطقة العربية، بدعم من البلدان النامية و / أو المنظمات الدولية.

• تقديم إجابات على الأسئلة المطروحة بشكل منهجي وبطريقة موثوقة.
• التقليل من قلة المعرفة وعدم الوثوق بالمشاكل البيئية من أجل تمكين واضعي السياسات على اتخاذ القرارات المناسبة ووضع السياسات ذات الصلة.
• مساعدة صانعي القرار في اتخاذ الإجراءات البيئية السليمة والتركيز على الموضوعات ذات الصلة.

• إستمرار تحديث تقنيات البحث من أجل الإطلاع على الملوثات الجديدة التي أدخلت في البيئة.
• إستخدام الأساليب التجريبية المناسبة والتقنيات التحليلية اعتمادا على طبيعة الملوثات.
• تعزيز التعاون العلمي بين جميع أصحاب المصلحة، بما في ذلك المؤسسات الأكاديمية والحكومية والقطاع الخاص.
• نشر المعلومات عن المواقع الملوثة المكتشفة حديثاً، والملوثات والتدابير الوقائية المتخذة.