Ministry of Water & Environment organizes workshop on principles for environmentally-sound coastal rehabilitation [Archives:2006/941/Local News]
Dr. Lia Carol Sieghart
For Yemen Times
ADEN, April 18 ) Minister of Water and Environment engineer Abdul-Rahman F. Al-Eryani inaugurated a workshop aimed at introducing Cairo Principles for Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of Coastal Zones in Yemen. The workshop took place April 17-18 in Aden. Participants included senior government officials from various stakeholder authorities.
Natural disasters such as those arising from seismic and volcanic activity are enduring experiences for mankind. However, they increasingly are being joined by “quasi-natural” disasters, in which human influences are thought to play an aggravating role.
Such influences may impact storm and drought intensity through, for example, increased climate variability or increased damage from natural and quasi-natural events through such phenomena as sea-level rise, landslides encouraged by deforestation or reduced resilience of inhabited or protective ecosystems resulting from past or even historical damage.
The network of causality is complex, but it can be concluded that more must be done to reduce disaster vulnerability. Sound natural resources management, using environmental technology and “soft” engineering solutions, as well as better coastal zone and critical ecosystem management are essential elements in disaster reduction.
The Indian Ocean tsunami and other 2005 disasters like the South Asia earthquake caused tremendous loss of life and destruction of physical infrastructure, while also damaging ecosystems and posing further risks to human health and livelihoods. Lessons learned from the disaster can be employed to ensure that future tsunamis are not as damaging.
“Lessons learned in terms of loss of life, damage sustained and approaches to reconstruction and mitigation are critically relevant to future coast management in the context of increasing severe weather events and other potential consequences of global warming. More than ever, it is essential to consider the full value of 'ecosystem services' when making decisions about coastal development,” said engineer Abdulkhaleq Y. Al-Ghaberi DG of the ministry's Environmental Emergency Department.
Civilian and environmental safety must be kept in mind when dealing with issues of cleaning, rebuilding and protecting the areas. Therefore, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) has developed the Cairo Principles for post-tsunami rehabilitation and reconstruction, which rely on concepts of integrated coastal zone management, including public engagement in local decision making.
“When adopted and applied throughout the affected region, the principles will allow those involved to sequence their actions following a common set of priorities, thus strengthening our collective commitment to rehabilitate and protect coastal communities. Cairo Principles are consistent with an advance to more sustainable forms of coastal development and United Nations Millennium Development Goals.” Al-Eryani noted.
Participants concurred on endorsing Cairo Principles in Yemen, identifying vulnerable pilot areas and discussing how to put the guiding principles into a long-term implementation plan toward sustainable management of Yemeni coastal areas.
“A critical feature to successful practice of coastal management is the ability to tailor the principles to the unique needs and conditions present in our country.” Al-Eryani concluded.
He thanked participants for their contributions, as well as the UNEP Coordination Office of the Global Action Program to protect the marine environment from land-based activities (UNEP/GPA) for its support.
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