This results in habitat destruction, unsustainable utilisation of renewable resources and pollution. The scarce coastal freshwater resources are particularly threatened.
In recent years, the countries of the region have strengthened their capacity in managing coastal and marine ecosystems and the cross-sectoral nature of integrated coastal management is now widely recognised.
The scientific basis is, however lagging behind.
Research undertaken after the 1991 Gulf war provided valuable baselines but in recent years research activities slowed down although “we are still far from fully understanding the patterns and processes sustaining biodiversity and ecosystem services”, Benno Boer, ecological sciences adviser for the Unesco Arab region, told Gulf Times.
All these and related issues would be discussed at length at the second international conference on the State of the Gulf Ecosystem, Functioning and Services, to be held in Bahrain, on March 3-5, said Boer, who is a member of the organising committee.
During the first Gulf conference, which was held in Al-Ain in March 2006, a Middle Eastern Chapter of the Aquatic Ecosystems Health and Management Society (AEHMS) was established and charged with convening biennial conferences dedicated to the Gulf ecosystem. Bahrain was chosen for the second conference.
The conference is organised by Bahrain Centre for Studies & Research and Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management Society, in collaboration with University of Bahrain and the Unesco Office in Doha.
In addition to the man-made reasons, the ROPME Sea Area (RSA) is a unique bio-geographical unit, shared by seven riparian states of Qatar, Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Its northern part, the inner RSA, is an almost landlocked, shallow sea where scarce rainfall and high evaporation rates result in increased salinity, while the annual fluctuation in water temperatures is rather extreme.
These and other factors contribute to a naturally stressful environment for tropical marine flora and fauna. Still, biodiversity and productivity are remarkably high.
Pointing out the importance of the region, he said, the “arid coastal zone, a distinctive feature of the region, supports extensive stands of mangroves, halophytes and springs with oasis-type vegetation and unique biotic assemblages. Shallow waters are characterised by extensive and highly productive seagrass beds and coral reefs, which are critical habitats for many other plant and animal species.
The region is rich in fish diversity and supports many globally important populations of turtles, seabirds and marine mammals”.
Since ancient times, these resources are important for the region’s human population. But, all these features are now under threat because of a variety of reasons, the official said.
Besides increasing environmental awareness, the conference would adopt integrated, ecosystemic, multi-disciplinary, multi-trophic and holistic approaches in science and management of the region. It would also seek to provide possible remedies for problems associated with oil and gas industry pollution in the air and water.
Besides, the meeting would predict future threats by adopting ecosystem, habitat and food web modeling approaches, the official said.
