Partnership for Sustainable Development in the Red Sea Coast of Sudan
Mohamed Satti, Finance and Administration Manager, PERSGA
For the longest time, the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden has been a carriageway for
travel and commerce. While old wooden vessels used to bring incense from South
Arabia and spices from India, modern ships and tankers carry oil and other cargo across
this region. The waters of the RSGA are famous for their natural beauty and outstanding
biological diversity.
The Red Sea is partially isolated from the Indian Ocean. It is located in an arid,
tropical zone with sparse and varied rainfall. There are no permanent inflowing coastal
rivers or streams, only brief torrents, occurring during flash floods in winter months;
hence, temperature and salinity are relatively high where sedimentation is low. This
phenomena influences the concentration in seawater of important mineral nutrients
(especially nitrate and phosphate) and also explains the abundance of coral reefs in the
area. The Gulf of Aden is a region of oceanic upwelling, resulting n high productivity of
fishery resources.
The most significant ecological resources found in the region are seagrasses,
mangroves and coral reefs. The seagrass beds provide food for green turtles and dugongs
and a variety of invertebrates and fishes, while the mangroves support much marine life
and contribute to the significant increase of local fisheries. Coral reefs are also important
-- both as a popular tourist attraction and as a shelter, source of food, breeding and
nursery areas for large communities of marine organisms including fishes.
Environmental threats
The most significant threats to the long-term stability of the marine ecosystem in
the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (RSGA) stem from the increase in human population in the
coastal zone and the rapid rise in economic growth. These factors have impacted greatly
on the coastal and marine environment of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden and have
brought about coral reef destruction, the decline of mangroves and threats to the turtle
population. Fisheries issues (in particular, overfishing and the resulting depletion of
valuable fisheries resources), pollution pressures, and physical alteration and destruction
of habitats as a result of dredging and filling operations associated with urban expansion
and the increase in tourist visits and industrial developments have also surfaced because
of the region’s rapid development. Maritime pollution is another threat as he RSGA forms
an important transportation route between the Far East and Europe, particularly for the
carriage o oil and other commodities, carrying 7% of global trade, including around 85
million tones of oil each year. These pressures pose complex challenges to the
management and conservation of the unique environments of the Red Sea and Gulf of
Aden and therefore require urgent attention.
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PERSGA and the regional mechanism to address the development of the Red Sea
and Gulf of Aden
To address the challenges facing the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, the Arab League
Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) initiated a marine research
program in the 1970s. This initiative paved the way to the adoption of the Jeddah
Declaration in 1976 and the establishment of the Programme for the Environment of the
Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. To further strengthen the commitment and initiatives for the
protection of the marine environment of the region, the Regional Convention for the
Conservation of the Environment of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden or the Jeddah
Convention was signed by the PERSGA member countries in 1982; this was followed by
the establishment of the Regional Organization for the Conservation of the Environment
of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (PERSGA) in 1995.
PERSGA is an intergovernmental organization established to develop and
implement regional programs for the protection and conservation of the regional marine
environment in the region. The organization is governed by a Council composed of
environmental ministers in each of the seven PERSGA member states: Djibouti; Egypt;
Jordan; the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Somalia; Sudan and Yemen. PERSGA’s operations
and activities are mainly funded by its member states, while specific regional
programmes are assisted with grants provided by international donors. PERSGA also
carries out its activities in close cooperation with relevant international organizations.
The Strategic Action Programme (SAP) 1999-2005
One of the major endeavors of PERSGA has been the development and
implementation of the Strategic Action Programme (SAP) for the Red Sea and Gulf of
Aden, which aims to safeguard the coastal and marine environments of the RSGA and
ensure sustainable use of its resources. The first phase -- executed with the support of
the GEF and its implementing agencies (UNDP, UNEP and the World Bank), the Islamic
Development Bank, and PERSGA member countries. SAP was a successful endeavor
and a manifestations of change for the benefit of the coastal and marine environment of
the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden in recent years as follows:
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Operation of a new vessel traffic separation scheme in the southern Red Sea;
Substantial rise in national capacity for fish stock assessment, data collection and
analysis, and region-wide collection of essential baseline information;
Establishment of two training facilities and a reference collection centre;
Preparation of Action Plan for the conservation of Habitat and Biodiversity;
Building the Capacity of the countries of the region to carry out their own
biodiversity and habitat studies, and prepare species lists and monitor
environmental changes without the need for external international assistance;
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Establishment of the Regional Marine Emergency Mutual Aid Centre (MEMAC)
in Hurghada to coordinate activities in the event of oil spills; and
Signing of a Protocol Concerning the Conservation of Biological Diversity and
the Establishment of Protected Areas and a Protocol on the Protection of the
Marine Environment from Land-based Sources of Pollution in the RSGA by
Plenipotentiaries.
Current endeavors and future prospects: The PERSGA’s Framework of Action for
2006-2010
Today, more people are aware of PERSGA and its activities. This is a testimony
to the increased exposure of the organization at national, regional and international levels.
Building on its experiences and achievements gained through the SAP, combined
with the commitment and support of member countries, PERSGA is ready to take a
leadership role in the coordination of regional conservation initiatives for the Red Sea
and Gulf of Aden as was envisaged in the Jeddah Convention. The organization is now
seeking new opportunities to engage with partners to meet the long-term challenges that
face the marine and coastal environment.
PERSGA and the Sustainable Development in the Red Sea Coast of Sudan
The Roundtable forum in Port Sudan
In March, 2006 and in the city of Port Sudan PERSGA organized a three days roundtable meeting
to discuss the following:
o The urgent actions required for the implementation of the ICZM Plan;
o An operational five year programme for the implementation of the ICZM Plan
as a tool for sustainable development; and
o Potential partnerships and resources mobilization.
The roundtable included a wide-ranging representation of local, regional and
international participants, organizations and agencies. As the focus was on
conservation in Sudan, the vast majority of participants were local and came from
important sectors necessary for sustainable development and marine protection
efforts, including: Port Sudan State, The Wildlife Administration, the Red Sea
University, Marine Environmental Protection Administration (MEPA), ACORD
Society Sudan , SECS-RSB Sudanese Environmental Conservation Society-Red Sea
Branch, as well as spokespeople for various environmentally-related projects being
conducted in Sudan, such as the Mangrove Rehabilitation Project, ICZM Study
Project, and oil Spill Response Plan.
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International and regional organizations included: PERSGA, African Parks, the
Cousteau Society, Dive Sudan and UNESCO World Heritage Marine Programme
(WMHP).
During the discussion, ten key components of sustainable development were
identified with the intention of solidifying a 5-year Action Plan (Operational
Programme) for marine and coastal conservation in Sudan. The priorities and
recommendations to be included in the Plan consist of the following:
1. Establishment of a Secretariat office under the Governor of the RSS.
2. Capacity building for the RSS in coastal governance in terms of laws and
regulations. Also it should: Encourage public participation and it should
include a conflict resolution mechanism.
3. Prepare land-use plan (already in the process). PERSGA can help accelerate
the process.
4. Monitoring and Research (baseline data): Establishment of a Monitoring
and Research Centre. Red Sea University plus Institute of Marine Science
Research at Port Sudan.
5. ICZM Plan: Finalize the ICZM plan and endorse it by the RSS.
6. Capacity-building: Focus on stakeholders’ empowerment and public
participation.
7. Economic development and poverty alleviation: Focus on Millennium
Development Goals.
8. Education and awareness: Strengthen the educational system regarding
environmental issues and their related land, coast and social components.
9. Regulations and legislation: Enforcement of the existing laws.
Harmonization between the responsible bodies of the law.
10. MPAs and conservation activities: Development of a comprehensive
Environment Plan and expansion of MPAs to include important areas other
than Dungonab and Sanganeb.
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Sustainable Development Programs in the Red Sea Coast of Sudan
PERSGA in collaboration with it partners has carried out many surveys and studies to
pinpoint and solve most of the problems related to the issues f environmental
degradation and sustainable development in the Sudanese Coast of the Red Sea.
(1) Cousteau Society Project:
This project in partnership with GOS, Red Sea Sate, PERSGA, African Parks and
Computer-Man College at Khartoum. The project aim at Phase 1 of its
implementation to achieve the following:
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Develop Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) framework for coral reefs
and coastal habitats management for the whole coast of Sudan. For this purpose,
the project aims to provide logistical and training support to existing
environmental governmental agencies and NGOs. TCS will work in collaboration
with PERSGA, due to its great knowledge of the region and of ICZM approach.
The ICZM program includes the management of the Sanganeb and Dungonab
National Parks - as well as the creation of new Marine Protected Areas . African
Parks Conservation, a Dutch foundation partner of TCS for the project, is already
in charge of the management of the two existing national marine parks: Sanganeb
and Dungonab.
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Ensure appropriate livelihoods for those immediately dependent on reefs for their
income, through the socio-economic development of the Red Sea State, in line
with the Millennium Development Goals.
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Involve tourism and diving industries, and allow a careful development of a first
class ecotourism activity in specific areas, based on non-extractive marine
living resource use and renewable energies. The use of natural resource power
supply (such as sunlight and wind), as well as bioclimatic and eco-building
techniques will be largely promoted. An international school of tropical
professional diving (International School of Tropical Diving) in the Shaab Rumi
Pilot Unit will be created, aiming to train the first Sudanese dive masters, and to
offer, to the international scientific community and underwater cinema business, a
first class training centre for professional divers working in tropical waters.
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Involve local communities in decision-making and management by developing
and consolidating cooperation in the integrated coastal zone management, and by
supporting planning and information capacities to ensure awareness rising of the
local population.
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Promote environmental education, training and capacity building by
rehabilitating for education and capacity building some of the old buildings of
Suakin located on the mainland. The rehabilitation project will include a primary
school, just at El Geif, and one building that will host the Suakin Institute of Art
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Crafts. Programs of education and environmental awareness for the children,
general public, stakeholders, and decision makers will also be designed and
implemented. For the benefit of the majority of the Sudanese people, an
aquarium, using Jean Jaubert’s revolutionary technology for growing corals
species, will be created in the city of Port Sudan. It will be used as a key tool for
education and science, with the partnership of the Oceanographic Museum of
Monaco.
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Establish long term monitoring programs: for this purpose, we wish to create a
body of expertise in Sudan on the techniques and practices of Geographic
Information Systems (GIS), Remote Sensing, Ecotourism and Environmental
Management. In this respect, a new Unesco-Cousteau Ecotechnie Chair has been
created in Computer Man College (Khartoum), aiming to provide future decision
makers, both at a local and regional scale, with relevant data and a strong
expertise in sustainable development.
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Identify mechanisms for sustainable financing, particularly by implementing a
Trust Fund, in compliance with relevant laws and audit controls in order to ensure
transparency.
(2) GEF Red Sea Coast Environmental Capacity Building Project
This project already approved by the GEF and will be executed by PERSGA in
collaboration with Word Bank and expected to start in September, 2006.
The project's objective is to assist the Government of the Red Sea State to establish the
institutional and human capacity to manage and monitor the coastal and marine
ecosystem of the Red Sea Coast for long-term sustainability. This will be achieved
through support for: (a) Improved policy, regulatory, and planning framework for sound
governance of the Red Sea Coast, (b) Capacity building and awareness raising for sound
Red Sea Coast governance, (c) Support to the emerging network of MPAs along the
Sudanese Coast, (d) Ecosystem research, monitoring, knowledge sharing and project
management. The Project will remove barriers critical to mainstreaming biodiversity in
development planning for the Red Sea Coast of Sudan by upgrading the policy and legal
framework, strengthening institutions and building technical capability to address
environmental issues. It will support the implementation and consolidation of Integrated
Coastal Zone Management and will thereby help to overcome critical shortfalls in
sustainable land use planning and good coastal governance. GEF support will make a
significant contribution to strengthening and expanding the emerging network of Marine
Protected Areas in Sudan. The Project will also initiate and strengthen the participation of
local communities residing in and around protected areas in management and sustainable
use schemes to ensure the ecological integrity of the coastal and marine ecosystem. The
emerging national MPA network will be strengthened in terms of institutional and
financial sustainability and will have close links with the regional network of MPAs that
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has been projected in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
Conclusion
PERSGA has many projects and initiatives under consideration for the sustainable
development of the Red Sea coast of Sudan. The Sudanese Red Sea environment is still
in a largely pristine state. However, with the present growth rates of the coastal
population, marine transport and industrial development, threats are increasing rapidly.
PERSGA with the help of its partners are aiming at creating institutional, social and
economic environment conductive for environmental conservation and for poverty
reduction in the Red Sea coast of Sudan over the coming years through innovative pilot
actions and constructive partnership. It focuses; therefore, on strengthen the capacity of
the human capital and the adoption of strategies to ensure sound development resources
management; as well as enabling the private sector, the civil society organizations and the
stakeholders to play a proactive role in the sustainable development process.
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