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

5. Future options for UNESCO support

Possible areas for UNESCO cooperation and support in coastal resources assessment and oil spill sensitivity mapping are summarised in Table 2. This information, arising from the findings in Table 1 and consultation with UNESCO, is developed further in the form of concept summaries for possible projects. At present, these are necessarily rather generic. Following further review by UNESCO in consultation with GCC member states, it is hoped that some or all of these outlined proposals can be developed into firm project documents/proposals (tailored as necessary to the specific needs of each country).

Table 2. Applicability of UNESCO supported projects in coastal resources assessment and oil spill sensitivity mapping, involving UNESCO support and cooperation
Product/Output Qatar Bahrain Oman UAE Saudi Arabia Kuwait
Abu 
Dhabi		 Other 
Emirates		 Riyadh Jeddah

Coastal protection priority index (oil)

 c, d c, d c, d c, d d
National coastal resources datasets a - d a - d a - d a - d a - d
Capacity building e a, b a, b a, b a, b a, d a, d a
Guidelines document f a - d a - d a - d a - d b b a, d
Habitats guide a a a a  
Other (see country-specific notes) h   h
Possible pilot study area  

Tubli Bay

 Ras al 
Hadd g		 n/a Umm al 
Quwain		     Kuwait 
Bay

Notes for Table 2:

a Scientific/technical support from UNESCO.
b Organisation and/or sponsorship of meetings and workshops by UNESCO.
c Project planning involving UNESCO.
d Guidance and coordination involving UNESCO.
e The following suggested by Oman (in additional to conventional capacity building): include rotating workshop in different GCC countries; attendance of a few students from each GCC country at Gulf oil spill (observe real-life situation involving oil spill assessment and combat); support for national in-country postgraduate studies rather than necessarily overseas training. The possibility of a UNESCO prize for a study of oil spill assessment/coastal protection was also suggested.
f Data collection standards and steps for creating sensitivity indices and maps.
g This should not preclude other potential candidate sites in Oman, which may be equally or better appropriate as coastal Biosphere Reserves.
h Call for UNESCO to coordinate at regional level with sister UN bodies.
n/a  Not applicable because project has already been completed.

Funding will be sought from outside sources to augment the core funds already available to UNESCO, probably as follows:

Figure 4.Physical infrastructure surrounded by sensitive mangrove 
ecosystems
Figure 5.Stranded turtle - possibly drowned entangled in fishing nets
Figure 6.Socotra cormorant colony

 

 

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